Page 12 - Toy & Hobbby Retailer Magazine Nov-Dec 2018

LICENSING NEWS
FROM INSIDE THE LICENCE
IN BRIEF
◗ PEPPA PIG TO CELEBRATE CHINESE NEW YEAR
Peppa Pig will make her debut in cinemas in China, in time for Chinese New Year in 2019.
Entertainment One (eOne) and Alibaba Pictures Group Limited announced the partnership on 22 August, which will see their first Peppa Pig co-production coincide with 2019 Year of the Pig.
The full-length feature film, titled
Peppa Celebrates Chinese New Year, will be a combination of live action and animated content based on the Peppa Pig television show.
President of Alibaba Pictures, Wei Zhang, said that the partnership is an opportunity to exchange values between China and the rest of the world.
“This cooperation is an important opportunity to promote cultural exchange between China and the West. Alibaba Pictures is excited to share China’s traditions and culture with the rest of the world with a new fun filled storyline featuring a character as popular as Peppa.”
The film is slated for release on 05 February 2019.
Dreamworld welcomes Lego exhibition in Australian-first
GOLD Coast theme park, Dreamworld, welcomed the Lego Brickman Awesome exhibition to its portfolio of attractions in September.
The exhibition showcased 39 exclusive Lego models, including the tallest Lego model in the Southern Hemisphere, a NASA SLS rocket, which stands at 7.5 metres tall.
General manager of marketing at Dreamworld, Philip Hancox, said that the new attraction represented an Australian-first.
“We [were] thrilled to announce the launch of this new attraction [which came] to Dreamworld.
[It was] the first time this impressive Lego brick
exhibition has been on display at an Australian theme park.
“The Brickman
Awesome exhibition
[was] about all things
amazing, unique, record-
breaking or just plain awesome – and
Dahl signs Global Licensing NZ
CLASSIC stories from Roald Dahl will be brought to life in Australia and New Zealand, after the Roald Dahl Story Company (RDSC) signed a deal with Global Licensing NZ.
The merchandise licensing program will
extend popular Dahl titles such as Charlie and
the Chocolate Factory, The BFG and James and
the Giant Peach to consumer products across toy, puzzles, games, homewares and apparel categories.
RDSC licensing and design director, Stephanie Griggs, said that the Roald Dahl brand is well- known in Australia.
“Australia is a key market for the books, and brand awareness is extremely high, with both Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake beloved across the territory. I can’t wait to begin working with some fantastic licensees [in the region],” she said. ❉
we [were so pleased] to [be able to] offer our guests another [fantastic] experience.”
Australia’s own Lego certified professional, Ryan ‘The Brickman’ McNaught, said that the exhibition showcased other life-sized models.
“The exhibition featured one of our biggest ever builds – a life-sized Lego Toyota Camry with working lights. [It also] showcased the only life-sized Lego Harley Davidson ever made and
so much more.”
Hancox said that the exhibition
echoed the fun visitors experience at Dreamworld.
“A small block quickly became a familiar staple in any child’s toy box,
which instils the development of creativity while fostering imagination. This is what
a theme park represents – fun, nostalgia and a place of adventure,” he said. ❉
Left: Ryan ‘The Brickman’ McNaught.
A flocking good time
POPULAR children’s brand, Shaun the Sheep, will cement its place in Australia through a themed entertainment partnership.
Launching in December, Paradise Country – an Australian farm experience park on the Gold Coast – will host the new Shaun the Sheep entertainment attractions which will include Shaun’s Tractor Ride and Shaun’s Adventure Camp. The park will also feature specially designed sculptures, a twice daily live show and a retail store. Merchantwise Licensing – the firm who brokered the deal between Aardman Animations and Village Roadshow Theme Parks – said that the Shaun the Sheep brand is loved in Australia.
“Shaun the Sheep and its related preschool series, Timmy Time have
long been mainstays on
ABC TV and iView,
attracting more than 130,000 daily viewers. “So what better place
in the world is there for Shaun the Sheep to make his home than Paradise Country!” ❉
◗ LICENSE THIS! FINALISTS ANNOUNCED The 2018 finalists in Brand Licensing Europe’s (BLE) License This! competition are:
Character and Animation: Oddcats!
Real Monster Show
Gail Grisham
Brand and Design:
Blubz
Animals!
Pabuku
12 TOY & HOBBY RETAILER NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018
ODDCATS! – ZARA PICKEN