The Licensing Letter

Experiential Licensing

Experiential Roundup

Nickelodeon and Spin Master take Paw Patrol to Visionworks locations as part of a back-to-school initiative. Kids who have completed their annual eye exam get a free gift, which includes a Paw Patrol activity sheet, crayons, stickers, and a character mask. Beginning this July, the retailer will also debut it first-ever kids’ line of Paw Patrol frames, designed and distributed … [Read more...] about Experiential Roundup

Snacking on Branding

Fans will be able to snack on Shopkins macarons, enjoy a Shopkins manicure, play with their favourite characters, check out the full European line in Shopkins World Vacation, enjoy photo opportunities, and more. The Parisian-themed, limited-time pop-up shop—Shopkins Macaron Café—opens in New York City from June 17–19. Moose Toys will be there to celebrate the collectibles … [Read more...] about Snacking on Branding

Entertainment in Experiential & Social

Sanrio joins forces with Snapchat to bring over 30 character stickers to the app, including Hello Kitty, My Melody, Badtz-Maru, Chococat, and Keroppi. The month-long partnership coincides with Sanrio Character Ranking 2017, an annual competition where fans get the chance to vote for their favorite Sanrio character. Each sticker used will count as a vote for the chosen … [Read more...] about Entertainment in Experiential & Social

Legal Updates

The sale of the Margaritaville Resort Casino in Bossier City might be in jeapordy after a federal court documents revealed an arbitation finding that current owner Bossier Casino Venture (BCV) is contractually obligated to use the Margaritaville brand through the end of its 40-year agreement—or the next 35 years—with licensor Margaritaville. Even if the casino is sold, BCV is … [Read more...] about Legal Updates

Paramount, Disney & Masha Expand Attractions

Paramount is bringing a $4.3 billion (£3.5 billion) theme park to Dartford, Kent by 2022. The London Paramount "U.K. version of Disneyland" will feature over 50 attractions, including rides and a 2,000-seat theatre. As well as Paramount properties, the park will boast licensed attractions from BBC Worldwide (possibly including Doctor Who) and Aardman Animations (Shaun the … [Read more...] about Paramount, Disney & Masha Expand Attractions

Upcoming Branded Attractions at Theme Parks Worldwide

The amusement/theme park business is ramping up, and for licensed brands, it's only getting better. Global theme park spending totaled $40.4 billion in 2015, up 7.4% from 2014, according to the Intl. Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA). See the full story here. Upcoming Branded Attractions at Parks Worldwide Data Source: Brand Finance. Note: Numbers may … [Read more...] about Upcoming Branded Attractions at Theme Parks Worldwide

Licensing in the $40.4 Billion Theme Park Business

The amusement/theme park business is ramping up, and for licensed brands, it's only getting better. Global theme park spending totaled $40.4 billion in 2015, up 7.4% from 2014, according to the Intl. Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA). The IAAPA points to a 5.2% increase in attendance, the largest gain during the past five years, as the biggest reason for … [Read more...] about Licensing in the $40.4 Billion Theme Park Business

Content & Experiential Roundup

Mattel and Otoy join force to bring original episodic "Batman: The Animated Series" content to the View-Master VR Viewer this fall. The new content is developed in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros.’ digital studio Blue Ribbon Content. Cartoon Network will release a new Adventure Time virtual reality mobile game and a Jake the … [Read more...] about Content & Experiential Roundup

With VR, Top Entertainment Properties Weave a Web Around Fans

Virtual reality technology is giving entertainment licensors a way to immerse fans more fully in their favorite franchises, with perennial properties including Shrek and Star Wars positioned to reach fans in three dimensions. DreamWorks Animation has entered into a deal with visual effects house Digital Domain to produce VR experiences with popular DWA characters, including … [Read more...] about With VR, Top Entertainment Properties Weave a Web Around Fans