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NEWS


Lolirock would make a great doll and play-set line, says Zodiak Kids CP Paris


by Billy Langsworthy


LOLIROCK, THE new animation property from Zodiak Kids, arrives brimming with toy potential, the firm has told ToyNews. The show, produced by


Zodiak Kids company Marathon Media for France Televisions and Disney Channel in France, follows a teenager who joins girl band Lolirock and enters a ‘new world of music, mystery and magical powers’. “Because of its many appealing girl characters, magical elements and settings, Lolirock is extremely toyetic,” senior vice president, consumer products, at Zodiak Kids CP Paris, Patricia De Wilde told ToyNews. “It features magical girls


who live the life of popstars and are fashionistas, lending themselves perfectly to an exciting doll line.


Bulldog: ‘More international interest


than ever’ with PvZ and Dragons Duo are ‘strongest new boys’ brands in the country’


By Robert Hutchins


MOVIE, TV and mobile driven licences are proving a strong performer for Bulldog Licensing this year, as the company reports ‘more international and retailer interest than ever.’ The firm’s popular


“The multiple locations in


the show would make great playsets such as the concert stage and smoothie bar.” De Wilde believes Lolirock has the ingredients to make it a hit with the tween market. “There hasn’t been a fresh


and exciting music-based animation for girls in a long time, especially with such toyetic potential,” she added. Zodiak Kids CP Paris: +33 (0) 1 53 10 70 21


property based on the gaming-app Plants vs Zombies is leading the charge, having already seen great reaction among major retailers across Europe. Rob Corney, group managing director, Bulldog Licensing, told ToyNewsat last month’s BLE: “This year we have more international clients and miles more retailers than ever. A lot of our meetings with the major players across Europe have been them coming to us, really wanting to talk about the brands, Plants vs Zombies and How to Train Your Dragon.” Electronic Arts’ Plants


One key toy deal to come out of Brand Licensing Europe was the new partnership between Mind Candy and Carte Blanche Group, which will see a plush and gifting collectable line hit retail as early as spring 2014. Michael Acton Smith, founder of Mind Candy, is pictured sealing the deal with Stephen Haines, chairman and founder of Carte Blanche Group. Carte Blanche Group: 01243 792600


IN BRIEF


RASTAMOUSE COMPANY BRINGS ITS UK LICENSING IN-HOUSE The Rastamouse Company is to take over the management of all UK brand activities for its Rastamouseproperty. DHX Media will continue to handle Rastamouse licensing and TV distribution across the rest of the world. Rastamouse Company: 020 3056 0980


www.toynews-online.biz


THE CLANGERS TO RETURN TO TV AFTER 45 YEARS Classic animation The Clangersis returning to TV, in a co-production between Cbeebies, Coolabi, Smallfilms and US pre- school network Sprout. The new series will air in 2015, with BBC Worldwide on board for its international channels. A £5 million production is underway Coolabi: 020 7004 0980


WARNER BROS. HONOURS GOLDEN BUNNY WINNERS LEGO, Rubie’s, Character Group and George@Asda were among the winners at Warner Bros. Consumer Product’s Golden Bunny awards at BLE. The accolades honoured firms for their contribution to product, retail and commercial excellence in the last 12 months. WBCP: 020 7984 6100


IMMEDIATE TO LAUNCH PETER RABBIT MAGAZINE Silvergate is partnering with Immediate Media for the launch of a standalone Peter Rabbit magazine. The title will arrive with a special All About Peter Rabbitin spring 2014, followed by a regular four-weekly mag priced at £2.49 and bumper issues at £2.99. Silvergate:


020 7151 0124


ANGRY BIRDS RACING GAME REVEALED Rovio has unveiled Angry Birds Go, the first non slingshot-based game in the franchise. Due on December 11th, it will feature Hasbro’s Telepods technology, allowing players to teleport new karts into the game. Players will be able to race their favourite in-game characters on 3D tracks. Rovio: +358 207 888 300


November 39


vs Zombies 2 launched back in August, with downloads rocketing the brand to the firm’s biggest ever mobile game launch. And Corney is excited about the popularity now translating into the property’s extensive licensing programme. “We have had a massive reaction to Plants vs


Zombies, it’s a great brand and has translated really well into cross category licensing programmes,” he said. “There is a huge amount going on with the brand at the moment, we have Character Options on toys, we have Penguin on books, Cooneen, Smith & Brooks and Bio-World on soft binds and Character World has just launched a range of bedding.” The firm also holds the UK licensing rights for Dreamworks’ movie and TV property, How to Train Your Dragon, and with the sequel movie, How to Train Your Dragon 2 launching next year, Corney believes it will be ‘another massive brand’ to watch, with Spin Master signing as the master toy partner.


He continued: “We are also really excited about


How to Train Your Dragon. It’s huge. It’s going to be a massive movie next year, so we are really excited to have this brand. “Between Plants vs


Zombies and How to Train Your Dragon, we have two of the strongest new boys’ leading brands in the country.” BLE saw the launch of the firm’s most recent property, Monkey, a licence based on the hero of the recent PG Tips TV adverts. “We have just launched


a new autobiography about Monkey from the PG Tips ads,” continued Corney. “The book by Igloo is going to do really well, it has amazing retail distribution and we’re really excited about that.” Bulldog Licensing: 020 8325 5455


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