• Baumhaus Verlag purchases book rights for the French market as well
• Company of Kids publishes Dragon audio books in the BeNeLux countries
• Mondo Home Entertainment sells “Dragon” DVDs in Italy

The production firm scopas medien AG continues to commercialise the subsidiary rights of its brands. The company is focusing on the brand management of “Dragon” and its expansion into other European countries. Susanne Weisheit, Sales Director for the organisation and development of the Licensing division, presented new, successful merchandising opportunities for the popular pre-school series at the Bologna Book Fair (24-27 April).

scopas medien was involved in the development and co-production of the stop-motion cartoons featuring the “little blue dragon” and his friends in 2004. The third season of the show was recently completed, consisting of 26 eleven-minute episodes. One of last season’s episodes was recently nominated for the “Goldener Spatz 2007” (“Golden Sparrow 2007”) – one of Germany’s most prestigious children’s film awards. Following successful television syndication in over 40 countries (including Germany, ZDF/KIKA; Belgium, Ketnet; The Netherlands, z@pp; Italy, RAI; USA, Qubo; Canada, Treehouse), the company is now intensifying its merchandising efforts across Europe. Baumhaus Verlag presented the first three of five “Dragon” books planned for this year at the Leipzig Book Fair and even purchased book rights for the French market. The colourful, illustrated adventures of “Dragon” are expected to be released in autumn 2007. In Germany, scopas medien is now working with heunec, Clementoni and Ufa as licensing partners for plush toys and games.

Pre-school kids in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg can look forward to audio book episodes of their beloved star “Dragon”, who loves to eat chocolate cookies in orange juice with ketchup. The Dutch licensee “Company of Kids” will launch the first two episodes on the market in May. “Dragon” will also embark on new adventures in Italy as well: Mondo Home Entertainment will offer DVDs for family home entertainment starting in June.