NEWS Studio 100 mulling over UK plans
Maya the Bee likely to be first brand to launch in territory Firm is in talks with a potential agent By Samantha Loveday
AMBITIOUS STUDIO 100 is eyeing up the UK as the next territory in which to launch its Maya the Beeproperty.
The animation is on air
in over 130 countries, with consumer products programmes at various stages depending on the area. As well as the UK –
where talks are currently taking place with a potential agent - Studio 100 is also looking to expand Mayainto Asia, South America and Japan. Key lines performing
well include toys (particularly plush), Maya
DHX Media swoops in for Ragdoll
DHX MEDIA has acquired Ragdoll Worldwide for £17.4 million in cash. Under the deal, DHX Media obtains 12 series – including The Adventures of Abney & Teal, Dipdap and Brum– as well as 365 episodes of Teletubbies, 52 episodes of Teletubbies Everywhere and 100 episodes of In the Night Garden.
DHX Media acquired the firm from BBC Worldwide and a group including Ragdoll founder Anne Wood. She will continue to manage and operate Ragdoll Productions with her son, Christopher.
IN BRIEF
SEASON THREE OF MATT HATTER CHRONICLES GETS THE GREENLIGHT ITV has given the thumbs up to a further 13 22-minute episodes of Matt Hatter Chronicles, coming in 2014. The news follows the signing of Simba Dickie Group as master toy licensee. The firm will launch action figures, vehicles, play-sets and die- cast in 2014.
Simba Dickie: 01274 765030 48 October
SEGA ADDS MASK-ARADE TO SONIC LINE-UP Busy Mask-arade has added a Sonic mask to its growing portfolio after striking a new deal with Sega. Ray Duffy, managing director, said: “Sonic is one of the world’s best known video game characters, and marks the start of a new genre for Mask-arade.” Mask-arade: 01926 814292
ZAPPIES TEAMS WITH ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION Zappies has released a new 2.4ghz digital controlled RNLI Severn Class model lifeboat. A minimum of £15,000 from the sale of the boats will be paid in support of the RNLI. In 2012, its lifeboat volunteers rescued an average of 22 people a day. Zappies: 01273 467624
STEPPING STONES TO DISTRIBUTE BABAR TOYS THROUGHOUT THE UK ITVS GE has struck a UK distribution deal with Stepping Stones Marketing for a range of games and puzzles based on Babar. The Wooden Magnetic Shapes set and the Babar Deluxe Puzzle Wheel from Mudpuppy will launch in early autumn. ITVS GE: 020 7157 6163
HAYNES MANUAL UNVEILS DEATH STAR SECRETS Arriving on November 7th, Star Wars: Death Star: Owner’s Workshop Manual from Haynes is the latest edition in its licensed line. The £16.99 book traces the origin of the Death Star and includes computer generated artwork, floor plans, cutaways and diagrams. Haynes: 01963 440635
www.toynews-online.biz “The sale of Ragdoll
Worldwide will procure future growth for Ragdoll Productions and, with the passing of creative control for the future
development of our catalogue of award winning programs to DHX Media, we are confident of their continued success for many years to come,” Wood commented. DHX Media:
www.dhxmedia.com
Flair Leisure Products was one of the big winners at last month’s Licensing Awards, which were held in The Great Room at The Grosvenor House Hotel, London on September 10th. The firm picked up the Best Licensed Toys or Games Range for its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line. Marketing director Nic Aldridge and product manager for boys’ toys, Mercedes Munoz, collected the award from Clare Piggott, head of merchandising at BBC Worldwide Consumer Products and host Ed Byrne. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesalso scooped the Best Schoolers, Tween or Teen Licensed Property. Other winners on the night included Peppa Pig(Best Pre-school Licensed Property), One Direction (Best Celebrity Licensed Property) and The Beano(Best Classic Licensed Property).
figurines, board games – one of which has been nominated for Toy of the Year in The Netherlands – publishing, DVD and clothing. One of Studio 100’s core
strengths in the Benelux region is in joint promotions (Unilever is just one example of this), and the firm will be hoping to replicate this in other territories. “We are new to the UK
market and it is really something that we want to build up,” Sandra Vauthier- Cellier, chief brand officer at Studio 100 told ToyNews. “It is such an important
market for toys and licensing and it’s really one of the focuses to develop our businesses in the UK.”
Vic the Vikingand Heidi
will also be key properties going forward for the company, and will have a strong presence at Brand Licensing Europe this month. The firm is also heavily
investing in the digital side of the business, so that it can be present everywhere that its consumers are. “For me, it’s about looking
at our brands and how we can really grow our business, making sure whatever we develop becomes an evergreen brand and having the right positioning,” Vauthier-Cellier continued. See Studio 100 at BLE on Stand D010 Studio 100:
www.studio100.tv/contact
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