Page 16 - Toy & Hobby Magazine Feb-Apr 2021
P. 16

                  LICENSING NEWS
FROM INSIDE THE LICENCE
   IN BRIEF
◗ HAVEN RECEIVES AGENT OF THE YEAR AWARD FROM SESAME WORKSHOP
Sesame Workshop named Haven Global as its Agent of the Year for 2020 in December.
During 2020, Haven helped to celebrate Sesame Street’s 50th anniversary in Australia and New Zealand, rolling out key activations, campaigns and partnerships including the 50 Years and Counting art exhibition, the world’s first Sesame Street Circus Spectacular in partnership with Showtime Attractions and a joint toy venture with The Wiggles and master toy partner, Headstart International.
Merchantwise signs Activision for ANZ
MERCHANTWISE Licensing was announced as the Australian and New Zealand agent for Activision in February.
Since its appointment, Merchantwise has been seeking out new licensing opportunities for the gaming house, whose properties include Call of Duty, Spyro The Dragon and Crash Bandicoot.
“Merchantwise Licensing prides itself on its gaming and digital licensing expertise and we are incredibly thrilled to be welcoming Activision to our portfolio of pedigree brands,” Merchantwise GM of Licensing, Kerryn McCormack said.
“With exceptional brands like Call of Duty, Crash and Spyro as well as all the classics range, Activision is one of the top game publishers in the world and globally recognised for its fun, thrilling and engaging entertainment experiences.
“We can’t wait to explore local licensing opportunities for Activision and to provide fans with a fully immersive merchandise experience with their favourite gaming brands,” she said.
Founded in 1979 as the first independent video game software developer and distributor, Activision launched a series of multi-million unit selling titles in the early 1980s for the Atari 2600 including Pitfall, Kaboom! and River Raid. ❉
  Moose expands in preschool
 ◗ CLARKS TAPS INTO POP-CULTURE BRAND WITH 126 MILLION FANS
Clarks teamed up with Minecraft to bring Australia's first-ever Minecraft school shoe to Aussie kids.
Minecraft is the most popular video game brand among Australian kids aged 7-14 years, and is the best-selling video game in history, with over
126 million unique monthly players and over 200 million copies sold worldwide. Each pair of the Clarks
x Minecraft school shoes came in a themed Minecraft box and contained a hidden Minecraft collectible toy.
 ◗ NIKKI WEBSTER HOSTS TROLLS DANCE PARTY Universal Brand Development called on
Australian icon Nikki Webster to host Australia's Biggest Trolls Dance Party in December.
In celebration of the home entertainment release of
Trolls World Tour Dance Party Edition, Webster hosted the dance party on 11 December.
MOOSE Toys has expanded its presence in the preschool and licensing markets, signing on to produce a new toy line for Silvergate Media’s Octonauts.
The collection will support the preschool animated TV property and the upcoming release of its new spinoff show, Octonauts: Above & Beyond.
The Octonauts deal follows Moose’s success in the preschool and licensing categories with its own preschool property Kindi Kids and its master toy deal with Australia’s Bluey.
“We’re incredibly honoured to partner with Silvergate to bring the next chapter of Octonauts to fans across the world,” Moose Toys senior director of global marketing, licensed brands Joe Smith said.
“The rich storyline and characters make for an incredible sandbox to develop fun, original toys.
“Octonauts is widely regarded as one of the top preschool properties, and this partnership further solidifies Moose’s strength and expertise in the preschool aisle,” he said. ❉
    16 TOY & HOBBY RETAILER FEBRUARY / MARCH / APRIL 2021
 




































































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