Discovery Enterprises International (DEI), the international licensing and merchandise division of Discovery Communications has executed a first-ever global deal with Nukotoys for a series of Animal Planet games that are interactive and connective, and that will appeal to today’s digital generation of kids. The games will include apps for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch devices, as well as next generation collectible trading cards. The new Animal Planet games are set to launch in Fall 2011.

Nukotoy’s various games for Animal Planet will engage boys and girls aged 3-8 years who are curious about their world and passionate about animals. The first products to launch will be the Animal Planet Living Flash Cards, a series of virtual cards and physical trading cards – called Nukos – come magically to life within a digital environment. By playing with the Flash Cards kids can interact with and learn more about a wide variety of animals and their natural environments.

Nicolas Bonard, SVP Discovery Enterprises International says, “Animal Planet is becoming established as ‘the’ animal brand for young children and a sound choice for retailer partners around the world. We continually look outside traditional licensing categories for our special brands and this partnership with Nukotoys is a good example. Nukotoys’ technical expertise and creativity will introduce new ways for kids to find out about the natural world and to experience the Animal Planet brand.”

“The Animal Planet brand plus the wealth of its media archive combined with Nukotoys’ Silicon Valley innovation and creativity is extraordinarily powerful,” said Doug Penman, co-CEO of Nukotoys. “This Fall, we’ll launch and iPad and iPod Touch game that uses Nukos (next-generation trading cards) to extend to the real world and back. Our goal is to entertain and inspire kids with the natural world.”

The Animal Planet licensing program, for kids aged 3-8, celebrates all living creatures and provides children with innovative and fact-filled products based on the animal kingdom. The international licensing programme for Animal Planet is extensive and in the last year DEI has signed 50 licensees including a global publishing deal with Weldon Owen for family reference books, which launch later this year. The first Animal Planet Kids magazine was published by DC Thomson in the UK in February and in 2012 the magazine rolls out to more territories.