Celebrities have been making appearances, in cartoon form, across key storytelling and communications platforms. The initiatives are mostly for children, but there is sometimes appeal for adults as well, depending on the project. They involve a variety of media configurations: Animated TV shows and films. In June, Ellen DeGeneres’ Ellen Digital Ventures and Warner Bros. […]
Archive | Character/Entertainment
Creators as Brands
A handful of celebrity- and estate-licensing programs exhibiting this year at Licensing Expo, held last week in Las Vegas, were centered not on actors or musicians, but on creators of entertainment properties. For example: Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment was founded by the late comic book creator to manage and license newly created IP not owned […]
Moonlighting Beyond Late Night
The hosts of several of the leading late-night talk shows in the U.S. have been moonlighting in other areas of the content business. They are becoming involved in side projects, sometimes spin-offs of their main gig and sometimes ventures entirely unrelated to their primary series. These initiatives occasionally lend themselves to licensed products. For example: […]
Comfort TV
Some very wholesome TV shows from the past have spurred merchandise programs in recent years, and their efforts continue to expand. Modern consumers likely gravitate to these brands in large part due to their nostalgic appeal, but also, at least to a degree, because they serve as an antidote to today’s digitally driven, politically charged, […]
Sticking to the Message
Characters and other imagery associated with instant messaging apps have given rise to a number of licensed product initiatives, many of which have become strong programs globally in terms of retail sales. Such initiatives can be organized into three major groups: Proprietary characters created by messaging apps. LINE Corporation oversees a wide range of products […]
It’s Not Just an Elf on the Shelf
A mini-explosion of Elf on the Shelf-like properties has occurred over the past couple of years. All are book-and-doll properties with many elements in common, although each has a slightly different objective, positioning, storyline, and target audience: My Buddy McSpuddy. Known in its home market of Ireland as the Irish Elf on the Shelf, My […]
Magical Mash-Ups
By Karen Raugust on February 21, 2019 in Character/Entertainment, Design and content themes, Licensing, Toys/Games
Ultra-cute, ultra-positive, and often-magical characters and images have permeated the toy industry and other categories of late and continue to represent a strong trend. Examples include unicorns in particular, as well as mermaids, rainbows, kittens, and the like. A newer, but already ubiquitous development consists of hybrids of some or all of the above, with […]
Pretty as a Picture
The love affair between (mostly) classic characters and adult-focused cosmetics, lip care, and nail care products continues to intensify. More properties and more marketers—often of the niche variety—are entering into relationships to produce limited-edition beauty collections. Some recent pairings: • The latest collaboration for Hello Kitty, licensed by Sanrio, is The Crème Shop’s October 2018 […]
The Unicorns of the Sea
By Karen Raugust on December 13, 2018 in Character/Entertainment, Design and content themes, Licensing
At New York Toy Fair last February, one of the trends noted was the emergence of narwhals—members of the whale family with long, unicorn-like tusks—as a design and content trend. This was especially true in the plush category, as manufacturers looked to add new dimensions to the still hot but crowded world of unicorns. Since […]
Flipping for Pancakes
By Karen Raugust on December 6, 2018 in Character/Entertainment, Food/Beverage, Licensing, Promotion
Licensors are looking beyond yogurt shops, donut bakeries, and hamburger chains for character and entertainment tie-in partners in the QSR and restaurant world. Pancake houses seem to be a preferred destination in 2018: Universal Partnerships & Licensing, Illumination, and Dr. Seuss Enterprises paired with IHOP for Grinch-themed pancakes, French toast, omelets, and hot chocolate to […]