The “girl power” trend that has been so prevalent in entertainment, toys, and other products for the past few years is not limited only to children. There are also more female-focused initiatives geared toward teen and adult consumers—of both genders—especially in the video game, comic book, and other segments of “geek culture.” Examples include: Books […]
Tag Archives | Marvel
Family Fandom
By Karen Raugust on September 17, 2018 in Character/Entertainment, Demographic groups, Infant products, Licensing
It wasn’t that long ago that a property associated with violence, swearing, and/or adult themes would be unlikely to find its way into the baby products category. But things have changed, as three recent deals illustrate: • Blizzard Entertainment licensed Líllébaby for baby carriers made of a printed fabric inspired by Battle of Azeroth, the […]
In Tune with the Times
By Karen Raugust on July 26, 2018 in Character/Entertainment, Demographic groups, Design and content themes, Licensing
The “girl power” trend in children’s media and entertainment has been ongoing for several years, but it continues to intensify and diversify, perhaps assisted by the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements. Some of the recent permutations include: Female superheroes assuming leading roles in film and TV. Some examples are original, including TV animation such as Nickelodeon’s […]
Focus on the Hispanic Market
Over the last year, licensors have continued to launch licensing programs meant to appeal to Hispanic consumers. Increasingly, these programs view the Hispanic market as one strong component of a broader audience, rather than as a standalone focus. Some of the properties are expanding into the U.S. market from a Latin American base. Chivas Guadalajara, […]
Fright Night
If you live in a country that celebrates Halloween, especially the U.S., there will probably be a superhero at your door tonight. The top Halloween costumes each year—whether licensed or DIY—tend to reflect current social and pop culture trends. And according to this year’s crop of consumer surveys focusing on Halloween shopping in the U.S. […]
Exploring the Universe
As always, properties with roots in comic books and videogames commanded a lot of floor space and interest at last week’s Licensing International Expo. These types of IP are characterized by deep and rich worlds that can often serve as a shared backdrop for a variety of mostly separate properties, offering opportunities for characters to […]
More Trends in Adult Coloring
Even as it starts to slow, the adult coloring book sector remains both a product category of interest to licensors and, increasingly, a source for licensed properties. As Publishers Weekly put it in an April 29, 2016 article, “Adult coloring book sales have slowed somewhat since the holiday frenzy of 2015, but the category is […]
Guitar Slingers
For decades, musical instruments have been a leading area of interest for licensing-savvy musicians, attracting well-known instrumentalists and music industry types such as Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, and Randy Jackson, to name just a tiny fraction. They have signed licensees for signature guitars, or whatever their instrument may be, as well as accessories such as […]
The Many Hues of Adult Coloring
Although publishers report continued strong sales for adult coloring books (at least in the U.S.), and licensors are still entering the market or looking into doing so, this now-crowded sector is starting to mature. One indication is its diversification and expansion in several directions: Adjacent categories. Buffalo Games has a line of puzzles that come […]
Seriously Comical
A large percentage of the top-performing entertainment/character properties in recent years come from the comic universe, most prominently from the two industry titans, Disney-owned Marvel and Warner Bros.-owned DC Comics. Other comic book publishers also are involved in outbound licensing. Their activity, which has long been a fact of life but seems to be on […]