Licensing Expo 2014 UNIVERSAL
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niversal Studios is behind film classics such as Jaws and E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, as well as modern hits including Bridesmaids and The Fast & the Furious series. The studio has already announced its summer 2015 slate, which features plenty of new installments to popular franchises. Minions is a spin-off of the Despicable Me franchise that centers on the zany sidekick characters introduced in 2010’s Despicable Me. First teased during the ending credits of last year’s Despicable Me 2, the new film places the unpredictable Minions in unexpected settings, alongside human characters voiced by Sandra Bullock and Jon Hamm. Minions’ licensing program features a number of returning licensees from Despicable Me 2. Thinkway Toys, the company behind last year’s Talking Minion Action Figure, serves as master toy partner, while Hasbro and Hybrid JEM will provide games and apparel, respectively. It feels like a glacial period has elapsed since the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park last appeared on the big screen, but the wait is finally over. Steven Spielberg returns to produce the latest installment of the blockbuster series Jurassic World. Colin Trevorrow will direct from a screenplay written by Trevorrow and Derek Connolly. The original Jurassic Park still stands as one of Spielberg’s highest-grossing films ever, at more than $1 billion in box office receipts. Among the licensees for Jurassic World, Hasbro returns as the master toy partner, continuing the relationship enjoyed by Universal and Hasbro since the first Jurassic Park film, which was directed by Steven Spielberg and released in 1993.
114 • THE TOY BOOK
NICKELODEO
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ickelodeon Consumer Products’ (NCP) portfolio features popular shows and characters for preschoolers, kids, and adults. NCP is set to launch merchandising and promotional programs for Peter Rabbit, a CGIanimated preschool series based on the children’s books by Beatrix Potter. A toy line from Cartwheel will roll out this fall with plush, play sets, and role-play products. For Paw Patrol, 25 partners, including Spin Master, Rubie’s Costume Co., Raskullz, Random House, and Dora and Friends LeapFrog, have signed on with products that will hit shelves this fall. Dora and Friends is a new preschool series featuring the iconic Dora the Explorer character. NCP has teamed up with Fisher-Price to expand the Dora franchise with interactive dolls, play sets, and accessories. Timed with the August 8 release of Paramount Pictures’ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Nickelodeon will unveil customized merchandising and marketing programs with Playmates Toys, Rubie’s Costume Co., Activision, Insight Editions, Richard Leeds, Freeze, and MZ Berger. SpongeBob SquarePants has a refreshed roster of licensees, including master toy licensee Just Play, offering collectible figures, talking action figures, vehicles, plush, and role-play products. NCP also introduces two new preschool series. Blaze and the Monster Machines, premiering this fall, is a preschool show that features a curriculum dedicated to all areas of STEM. Shimmer & Shine, premiering next spring, is a 2D animated show that features an emotional-intelligence curriculum that highlights making mistakes as a path to learning and doing better next time. The retail programs for these series will hit shelves in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
MAY/JUNE 2014