There has been a strong broadcast and licensing response to YooHoo & Friends 3D, the brand-new animated series based on the line of plush toys made by Aurora World. More than 80 million YooHoo & Friends plush toys have been sold since the worldwide launch of the line in 2007, driving enormous interest in this year’s animated version. The licensing programme already has Panini on board for publishing with a worldwide agreement, along with Mondadori. The master toy category licensee is close to being finalized. The master toy plush licensee is, of course, Aurora. Other categories have been agreed and will be announced soon.
For the first time in the history of Mondo TV, the group is co-producing a live action teen drama, through its subsidiary company Mondo TV Iberoamérica. The 60x45’ series Heidi, Bienvenida a Casa reinterprets the classic children’s novel, Heidi, adding comedy, humour, and music with some modern twists for a moving and charming story the whole family will love. The series starts on Monday, March 13, 2017 across Latin America, including, for the first time, Brazil. Mondo TV has built a strong network of agents throughout Latin America and will be working with most renowned licensing agencies in the region, all with wide expertise in the industry. Two appointments have already been announced: Smilehood, which will manage licensing rights in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia, and Agosin, which will manage Chile and Perú. In addition, Mondo TV is finalizing a major worldwide publishing deal for Heidi, the details of which will be announced soon. Mondo is the TV distributor and licensing agent in Turkey, Middle East & Africa, Portugal, Spain and Italy for Robot Trains, a new 32x11’ HD CGI animated children’s series for 4-7-year-olds, produced by CJ E&M, South Korea’s largest media group. Regular trains become spectacular robot heroes in this exciting story, which is expected to enjoy strong licensing support, most notably in toys but also in games, apparel, homeware and publishing. Silverlit has the master toy licence, and the Italian toy distributor is Rocco Giocattoli. Mondo TV has recently announced license agreements with Preziosi Food and Grani & Partners Preziosi Group. Matteo Corradi, Mondo TV CEO, says: “2017 promises to be an exciting year for Mondo TV, both in terms of innovative productions and collaborations and in terms of major new licensing opportunities. We are looking forward to sharing our plans and meeting established — and potential — licensing partners at this important event.” |
At the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair (3-5 April), Mondo TV, one of the largest European producers and distributors of animated content, will be highlighting a number of exciting properties launching this year and already attracting strong licensee interest. Come to pavilion 31 Stand B/19 to hear about the major licensing opportunities offered by YooHoo & Friends 3D, Heidi, Bienvenida a Casa, Sissi the Young Empress Season 2 and Robot Trains. 
The first season of Sissi the Young Empress, the adventures of a free-spirited empress, was a big success with its target audience of young girls. With the brand-new 26-episode series arriving in spring, toys from Grandi Giochi, as well as colouring books, sticker books, an official magazine, and a Sissi storybook, are available or planned. Already at retail are puzzles and board games, Sissi’s home video, Easter eggs, epiphany socks, personal care products, carnival costumes and a Dress Up Your Sissi game app.