world licensing
Disney buys Lucasfi lm for $4.05b
Disney has agreed to pay $4.05 billion to buy Lucasfi lm, the owner of the Star Wars properties; Disney will also purchase LucasArts, the video game development arm of Lucasfi lm. Along with the announcement of the deal came the announcement of Star Wars: Episode 7, slated for a 2015 release. George Lucas, the chairman and CEO of Lucasfi lm,
said: “For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next. It’s now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of fi lmmakers. I’ve always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime. I’m confi dent that with Lucasfi lm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organisation, Star Wars will certainly live on and fl ourish for many generations to come. Disney’s reach and experience give Lucasfi lm the opportunity to blaze new trails in fi lm, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products.”
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BinWeevils.com partners with Inspiration Works
A range of electronic, novelty, pocket money toys and accessories will be developed for the Kurio tablets. Product is currently in development for a launch from mid-2013, with the Kurio accessories hitting stores from the start of 2013.
Amelia Johnson, co-founder and commercial director for
BinWeevils.com, said: “The success of
BinWeevils.com as an online platform for kids is largely about the opportunities the community offers players to ‘interact’ with the characters and the ever-evolving social world on a daily basis. Inspiration Works is renowned for their tremendous innovation around ‘interactivity’, particularly in the area of electronic toys, and we’re delighted to be working together on the development of a range of exciting lines that embody these brand attributes.” Early November will see a new Sticker Collection launch from Panini which will have 208 stickers to collect. Other products coming to market before the end of 2012 include puzzles from Ravensburger, nightwear from Aykroyds TDP and t-shirts from Somerbond. New product lines from further licensees, which now total 20, will expand the licensed product range from Spring 2013.
Golden Bear signs three-year deal for Woolly and Tig
Brands with Infl uence has announced that Golden Bear Toys has signed the master toy licence for the CBeebies show, Woolly and Tig. The three-year deal covers plush, feature plush, animated plush, plastic toys and electronic toys. Christine Nicholls, product and marketing director at Golden Bear Toys, said: “The Woolly and Tig master toy licence is a great coup for Golden Bear and we look forward to developing a fabulous range for this great property.”
HTI secures long-term Tonka deal with Hasbro
HTI has announced a strategic licensing deal with Hasbro for the Tonka brand, which covers a range of product categories including vehicles, playsets, characters and Tonka Classic. This range will bring Tonka back into the world of pre-school boys
today, with its original values at its core; tough, durable and quality play. The deal covers a range of product categories including a brand new segment Tonka Town which incorporates vehicles, playsets and characters, and Tonka Classic, giving a refresh to the original steel trucks. HTI has secured the rights to all countries across Europe in this long-term deal, with product being available at retail from Autumn/Winter 2013. Andrew Coplestone, licensing director at the Lancashire-based fi rm, said: “Securing this deal further strengthens the company’s long-term strategy to build its international business using evergreen brands that we believe will deliver steady and sustainable growth.”
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