We at The Licensing Book are in a very good mood today! Why, you ask?
1. Our biggest issue of the year is all done, and will be ready in time for you amazing people to get your hands on it at Licensing Show in Vegas next week!
2. The entire Licensing Book team is going to see Conan O’Brien tonight at Radio City Music Hall.
3. I finally remembered to charge my iPod.
4. A second trailer for the super-amazing Scott Pilgrim v.s. the World has debuted, reconfirming the belief of the TLB staff that this movie is going to be freakin’ awesome! (The film will be in theaters August 13). Watch the new trailer here:
Movie trailer time! Today it’s for Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, the new superhero-type movie from Universal starring Associate Editor Jennifer Sinclair favorite Michael Cera, who must defeat his new love’s seven exes in order to win her love.
Universal Partnerships & Licensing (UP&L) has announced licensing and promotional opportunities for several films from Universal Pictures.
The action-comedy Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, coming to theaters August 13, already has Ubisoft on board for licensed interactive products, and all other categories are still available.
Blending animation with live action, Hop stars Russell Brand as the Easter Bunny and James Marsden as an out-of-work slacker named Fred who accidentally injures the bunny and must take him in as he recovers. All licensing categories are available for this film, opening in April of next year.
All categories are also available to be licensed for Fast Five, part of the Fast and the Furious series to be released in 2011; the live-action adventure Cowboys & Aliens from Universal and DreamWorks set for July 2011; and The Thing, a suspense thriller about a shape-shifting alien, also releasing in 2011.
The Tetris Company, LLC, the exclusive licensor of the Tetris brand, and its merchandising agent, Licensing Works!, signed two sub-agents to launch new merchandise licensing programs. The Tetris Company welcomes aboard Caroline Mickler, Ltd and Plus Licens as part of the global Tetris family. The new partnerships will allow manufacturers [...]
Beanstalk has appointed Allison Ames as president, North America. In her new role, Ames will oversee Beanstalk’s operations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and South America. She will continue to report directly to Michael Stone, CEO. Effective immediately, Ames will assume full responsibility for all clients operating in the North [...]
Entertainment licensing veteran Ashley Maidy has joined Activision to head the newly formed licensing division. Maidy has more than 16 years of experience, building licensing and merchandising programs for Sony Pictures and Saban Entertainment. In her new role, Maidy will extend Activision’s properties into complementary product categories, as well as [...]
U.S. retail sales of toys generated $21.18 billion in 2011, a decline of 2 percent compared to 2010 numbers, which totaled $21.68 billion, according to market research company The NPD Group. While the average retail price for a licensed toy was 57 percent higher than that for non-licensed toys, licensed [...]
Howard Roffman is passing the baton to Paul Southern as head of Lucas Licensing. Roffman will remain with the company as a senior advisor. Both Roffman and Southern will report to Micheline Chau, Lucasfilm president and COO.
Lionsgate has completed a transaction to acquire Summit Entertainment for a combination of cash and stock valued at $412.5 million. The transaction unites two studios with powerful brands and complementary assets. By acquiring Summit, Lionsgate enhances its feature film and home entertainment offerings, and further broadens its 13,000-title filmed entertainment [...]
Schylling and Pretty Ugly released a new Uglydoll Rocket Ride Wind Up Toy that has a lever mechanism instead of a key, stands eight inches tall, and is suitable for ages 3 and up. They also released new youth umbrellas in three styles, Ice-bat, Ox, and Uglydoll Rainy Day, suitable [...]
WME Licensing’s client Patti Stanger, an American matchmaker and television producer with her own Bravo TV show, The Millionaire Matchmaker, and the founder and CEO of Millionaire’s Club International, Inc., has signed a license with Hyper Interactive to create a full line of PS I Love You Cosmetics. The initial [...]
Jazwares is slicing into the mobile app category after being awarded the master toy license for Halfbrick’s popular app, Fruit Ninja. Inspired by Fruit Ninja’s fruit-slicing, action-packed adventures, Jazwares’ new range will include fruit figures and plush, featuring “splat” sound effects, slicing features, ninja blades, and branded bandanas, as well [...]
Art Impressions has licensed Commonwealth Toys to produce a line of So So Happy plush toys, beanies, plush backpacks, and related products featuring the brand’s quirky cast of friendly monsters, robots, and other oddball characters. The companies’ first collaborative series will roll out nationwide in May at specialty chains, boutiques, [...]