Winter light displays in Japan, of which there are many, are festive events meant as destinations to bring people together in the dark winter months and to put forth an aura of hope and magic. The practice began in a big way in the 1990s. The peak time period each year occurs during the Christmas […]
Archive | Character/Entertainment
Not The Same Old Song and Dance
Established cartoon characters have appeared in pop stars’ music videos occasionally over the years, including Beavis and Butt-Head in a recording of Cher’s “I Got You Babe” (1993), Popeye and Friends in Wilco’s “Dawned on Me” (2012), and Rick and Morty in Run the Jewels’ “Oh Mama” (2018). In the second half of 2025, there […]
Start Stitching
Licensed crochet patterns and kits, particularly of small, amigurumi-style stuffed creatures, are experiencing a high in 2025, with many new deals building on the steady growth of the craft, and licensing’s role in it, since the early 2000s. Easily available patterns on the Internet, the rise of crocheting influencers, and sales of finished products by […]
Rubbing Shoulders with Plush Greatness
By Karen Raugust on September 4, 2025 in Accessories, Character/Entertainment, Licensing, Toys/Games
An article last week in The New York Times detailed how Disney theme parks’ adult superfans are embracing shoulder plush of Disney characters as their go-to accessory during their visit. The product was introduced in 2018 with a Baby Groot version, according to the article, and there will be 45 different versions across all the company’s […]
Keeping Tabs on Streamer Strategies
This summer has brought an abundance of news on the streaming front, with implications for owners of entertainment, sports, celebrity, and other property types looking for ways to get their IPs in front of TV viewers: Revenue growth. Several leading entertainment companies called out the revenue increases for their streaming businesses in their recent financial […]
Characters in the Pit
Characters from TV, films, and gaming have increasingly been linked with racing—a high-profile sector within the licensing business these days—for promotional initiatives that, in some cases, include merchandise. Auto racing has been seeing growing interest from younger fans in recent years, and these collaborations serve to both take advantage of that fact and further the […]
Crossover Events Age Down
By Karen Raugust on June 30, 2025 in Character/Entertainment, Content, Demographic groups, Licensing
In the character and entertainment world, crossover events pairing two different universes have long been regular occurrences in sectors such as comic books, superhero movies, and tween and adult sitcoms and dramas. This technique has historically been rare in the preschool and younger elementary-grade landscape, but that has changed in a big way in the […]
An Experience Steeped in Tradition
By Karen Raugust on June 23, 2025 in Character/Entertainment, Experiential licensing, Food/Beverage, Licensing
Afternoon teas got their start in the mid-19th century and have become a classic British custom, popular both with visitors, as a unique experience to remember from their trip, and with some local U.K. residents, as an occasional indulgence. The practice is also established in other countries, especially in Asia. Licensed versions of these experiences […]
Full of Beans
BBC Studios’ deal with Bush’s for Bluey Baked Beans, announced last week, brings attention to a product that is not often top of mind in the world of licensed merchandise. But agreements in this category are not unheard of. In fact, several partnerships involving baked beans, mainly featuring character properties and food brands, have bubbled […]
Movie Fans: Passionate But Disorderly
A handful of recent film releases, most based on underlying properties with major licensing programs backing them, have been in the news lately for the in-theater behaviors of some of their fans. These audience members sing at key times, yell out dialog, throw things at the screen, or otherwise interact with the film, often spurred […]