| ||
|
Brand management and licensing powerhouse 4Kids Entertainment International will again be at Brand Licensing Europe this year, bringing to Stand 399 a powerful brand list and updates both on new properties and on others that have attained classic status. “Classic” is certainly an appropriate description for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, whose 25th anniversary in 2009 will be celebrated with a retro licensing programme that is already under way. Targeting the 17-30-year-old age group that loved the Turtles as children, this retro programme includes such categories as apparel and accessories, collectibles, gifts and publishing. Already, the programme is swiftly gaining momentum, with the apparel industry leading the way. A number of lines of retro t-shirts are expected to launch at retail in the period leading up to Brand Licensing. 
The Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise, meanwhile, is being taken to a new level with the brand new animated TV series – Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s - featuring new duellists, vehicles and an exciting new storyline. The series will be accompanied by a licensing programme to include a toy line, a trading card game and a revolutionary video game for the Nintendo DS and Wii. The exceptionally successful Artlist Collection photography properties, The Dog and The Cat, from Artlist International, Inc. have been joined by Artlist’s latest addition, The Pig, which, is believed to have the potential to become as popular in Europe as its furry predecessors. And then there's the Japanese hit Dinosaur King, the top-rated action adventure TV series based on the hugely successful arcade game from SEGA. Already growing in the UK and about to stomp into continental Europe, the show is being closely followed by a licensing programme in the main European markets. Also new for Brand Licensing is the animated series GoGoriki. Already a smash hit in the Russian licensing market, the phenomenally popular adventures of a hilarious group of colourful, roundly-shaped characters is now ready to conquer new markets. 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. has been appointed licensing, marketing and promotional agent for GoGoriki in the Americas, Asia and English-speaking territories by rights holder FunGameMedia GmbH of Munich. 
The continuing success of Monster Jam, the world’s leading monster truck tour, will also be a focus at the show. Both the tour and the hit US video game it inspired have now come to Europe. With the 2008 tour already a hit across Europe, plans are currently being made to bring the tour back next year, kicking off at the capital of Welsh sports, the Millennium Stadium, on 6 June 2009. The Jim Henson Company is renowned for its iconic characters, and among its newest creations are the Pajanimals. This is a brand with a difference: It both entertains and comforts, easing young children through the stress and fear that can be associated with bedtime through stories told by a group of friendly, pyjama-wearing, soft and cuddly plush puppets. With a new TV series scheduled to air in the US in November, the brand offers opportunities for marketing both to children and their parents. “The properties we are highlighting at this year’s Brand Licensing Europe emphasize both our commitment to developing new, exciting brands and the strength and longevity of our established brands,” said Stephen Gould, Co-Managing Director, 4Kids Entertainment International. “We are looking forward to a very busy and very successful show.” Sandra Vauthier-Cellier, Co-Managing Director, 4Kids Entertainment International, added: “This is a diverse, attractive and, above all, exciting portfolio of brands, and one that underlines our focus on high quality, long-lasting properties. We expect Brand Licensing Europe to be a great place to do business.” 4Kids Entertainment will be one of more than 200 European exhibitors showcasing thousands of exciting new licenses at Brand Licensing Europe in London, 1-2 October. For more information, please click here. |
