SESAME WO
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SONY PICTURES
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ast year, Sony Pictures launched The Smurfs 2 merchandising program with retail placement and strong sales throughout North America. With more than 70 North American licensing partners covering every major category, the Smurfs brand has wide distribution. With a new animated film scheduled for release next summer, Sony looks forward to working with its existing and new partners to build a broad merchandising program for the Smurfs brand. In the children’s space, Sony looks to build on the success of the first Hotel Transylvania film in 2012 with another film in the franchise releasing in September of next year. The production company celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Ghostbusters franchise this year with new partnerships and marketing-related events. For 2016 and beyond, Sony will work closely with Scholastic on a new Goosebumps film merchandising program and with King Features on a program for allAmerican superhero Popeye.
MAY/JUNE 2014
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esame Workshop has signed new licensing deals for the classic Sesame Street brand and The Furchester Hotel, the new children’s series featuring the furry friends kids have known for decades. Sesame Workshop has partnered with the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) and Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) to promote fresh fruit and vegetable consumption to kids, making healthier choices a little easier for families. First Lady Michelle Obama was onhand for the announcement. The agreement allows PMA’s community of growers, suppliers, and retailers to take advantage of the Sesame Street brand’s strength and the influence of the Sesame Street brand without a licensing fee—using iconic characters such as Big Bird, Elmo, and Abby Cadabby to help deliver messages about fresh fruits and vegetables. Sesame characters are expected to be on produce in stores by this fall. The Furchester Hotel has begun filming at BBC Children’s home in MediaCityUK, Salford. The Furchester Hotel is about a close-knit family of cheerfully incompetent Muppet monsters who own and operate an “almost” world-class hotel. The proprietors are Funella Furchester, the welcoming monster owner; her husband Furgus Fuzz; and their daughter Phoebe FurchesterFuzz. The Furchester family is joined at the hotel by Elmo, Phoebe’s cousin who is on an extended visit, and Cookie Monster, who has landed his dream job as room service and dining-room waiter. Sesame Workshop is currently in deElmo velopment on a comprehensive licensing program around this new series, which will debut in the fall on CBeebies. This year will see a whole new line of Sesame Street toys, including Playskool’s Let’s Imagine Elmo, which was unveiled at the American International Toy Fair in February. This 13-inch Elmo pal comes with three different hats that unlock different imaginary themes and play modes. Kids can place the crown on Elmo’s head to play a game of “Prince Elmo Says,” pop on the cowboy hat to learn about numbers in the “Countin’ Cowboy” game, or put on the sea captain hat for a fun “Sounds of the Sea” game. Kids can tickle his belly, squeeze his nose, or bounce him for a fun reaction.
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