By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
WildBrain is launching a wide range of holiday-themed products, content and experiences for its Strawberry Shortcake children’s” brand.
The licensed activations and events are intended to support the release of WildBrain’s new CG-animated Netflix special, Strawberry Shortcake’s Perfect Holiday.
Strawberry Shortcake recently made an appearance at L.A. Comic Con for a special Strawberry Shortcake meet-and-greet event with exclusive merchandise and product giveaways.
The L.A. Comic Con meet-and-greet included costumed characters from all four eras of the Strawberry Shortcake entertainment franchise.
The appearance at Comic Con highlighted a licensing partnership with artist Spooksieboo and online retailer Threadless for a global Strawberry Shortcake holiday-themed apparel and accessories collection.
This exclusive fashion collection follows an additional Spooksieboo x Strawberry Shortcake collaboration which featured a themed seasonal art installation at the Rockefeller Center for its Candy Cottage of Christmas Magic event.
New original Strawberry Shortcake micro-form content is set to premiere on the official Strawberry Shortcake YouTube channel beginning on Jan. 15, 2024.
“It’s such a joy to spread Strawberry Shortcake’s seasonal cheer this holiday with activations and partnerships focused on engaging with fans in ways they love,” said Wildbrain director, Melissa Goodrich. “These festive collaborations build on an already strong licensing and content program. With the addition of brand-new and original YouTube shorts for audiences to enjoy, and new partners and existing licensees lining up robust product launches for next year, we are set for a very sweet 2024.”
In the food and beverage category, WildBrain’s franchise team has secured licensing partnerships with Crisco and Julienne Fine Foods & Celebrations.
Crisco is joining Strawberry Shortcake as the brand’s holiday baking partner.
Crisco will use its expertise to craft five online recipes inspired by licensed characters from the classic Strawberry Shortcake franchise.
Julienne Fine Foods & Celebrations was responsible for hosting a Perfect Holiday Tea Party in San Marino, Calif., to promote the brand’s new Netflix special.
The Perfect Holiday Tea Party offered attendees an array of Strawberry Shortcake-inspired food and beverage treats.
Strawberry Shortcake is also attending Santa’s Grotto in Manhattan on Dec. 13 to 14 for a holiday-themed meet-and-greet event.
In the entertainment category, Strawberry Shortcake is teaming up with Starglow Media’s Girl Tales podcast for a festive crossover episode called Strawberry Shortcake and the Winterswirl Storm.
Created by Rebecca Cunningham, Girl Tales is a short story podcast that reimagines fairytales to empower girls and women.
The new episode officially launches on Dec. 18 and builds on WildBrain’s new animated Netflix special.
Strawberry Shortcake and the Winterswirl Storm is the second installment for Wildbrain’s intended line-up of four holiday-themed podcast episodes that are based on the brand’s seasonal Netflix specials.
The digital gaming company Budge Studios is marking the festive season with a licensed Strawberry Shortcake’s Perfect Holiday promotion thay will allow users of its Strawberry Shortcake Bake Shop mobile game to digitally recreate the strawberry shortcake treat that is featured in the new branded Netflix special.
In the UK, fans will have a chance to win a limited-edition Strawberry Shortcake prize pack through a partnership with free-to-air broadcaster Tiny Pop’s Guess Ho Ho Ho campaign.
WildBrain’s dedicated licensing division, WildBrain CPLG has also brokered deals with new and long-standing Strawberry Shortcake partners for extensive consumer product collections.
Sweet Peas is launching its first line of Strawberry Shortcake accessories and apparel for a seven-part collection that will continue to release throughout next year.
The first part of the Sweet Peas collection will include Strawberry Shortcake-themed headwear and a matching parent and child pajama set with a red ruffle trim.
The collection will be available for purchase online in the US, the UK, Spain and France.
Mad Engine, IML and Hybrid have all developed new Strawberry Shortcake junior apparel lines for release at mass and mid-tier retail stores such as Target and Kohl’s.
The Forecast Agency has also extended its existing Strawberry Shortcake specialty apparel range with a new holiday and destination-themed capsule collection.
The new Strawberry Shortcake x Forecast Agency range can be purchased at PacSun online in the US and Canada. The specialty retailer Dolls Kill has also launched their third Strawberry Shortcake collection with new seasonal apparel, accessories and housewares. The licensed products are available worldwide through the company’s online e-commerce website and in all Dolls Kill stores across the US.
In the toys category, The Loyal Subjects has launched new licensed character-based collectibles at Five Below stores and a new Strawberry Shortcake ragdoll through Cracker Barrel.
In addition, Boss Fight Studio has launched a fully-poseable action figure collection at Hot Topic and FYE featuring licensed characters such as Strawberry Shortcake, Orange Blossom, Lime Chiffon and Huckleberry Pie.
A second Boss Fight collection is scheduled to launch in 2024 and 2025.
The franchise’s specialty puzzle partner, Blue Kazoo has released a new 1,000-piece Strawberry Shortcake puzzle that can be found on its official website.
Blank Tag Co. has created a range of waterproof, stylized stickers featuring Strawberry and her fictional friends.
A second sticker collection is planned for release in 2024 with five new characters from The World of Strawberry Shortcake.
The owner and licenser of the global Strawberry Shortcake brand, WildBrain is a kids’ and family entertainment company that specializes in franchise management, content creation, audience engagement and global licensing initiatives.