Category: Licensing

Genius Brands International, Inc (“Genius Brands” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: GNUS) announced the formation of a new division, Genius Music, focused on developing and monetizing its broad music publishing rights with emerging opportunities throughout the worldwide network of streaming platforms and existing broadcast outlets. Genius Brands has appointed veteran music executive and creative artist, Juan Carlos “JC” Quintero, as Head of Genius Music, to drive the new business venture.

Popeye the Sailor Man and Lefties, international leader of affordable and inclusive clothing, have teamed up for an apparel collection featuring the iconic character. The exclusive collection began rolling out designs worldwide this past Fall including T-shirts, shorts, tops, sweatshirts, socks, pajamas, and jogger pants for both men and women. The colorful graphics utilized throughout the collection are inspired by Popeye’s qualities of strength and heroism, and feature the Popeye cast of characters including the Sailor Man himself and his longtime rival, Brutus.

India’s leading contemporary brand Dhruv Kapoor launches a Godzilla collaboration as part of their Autumn/Winter 2023 menswear collection on the catwalk at Milan Fashion Week. Dhruv Kapoor’s work remains an exuberant reflection of contemporary society upholding values of liberty, vitality, eternity, and the realization of our highest potential as individuals and community. Through collaboration with the Godzilla brand, this transgressive message explores “Awakening.” At the intersection of high fashion and pop culture, Dhruv Kapoor x Godzilla includes iconic character art such as Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah, and Mechagodzilla, uniting cutting-edge contemporary design with the rich heritage of Godzilla first appearing on the silver screen in 1954 in Japan’s Gojira. Since then, over 35 films have been made spurring a multi-billion-dollar franchise and global fandom that has continued to grow over several decades.

As pet ownership levels in the United States continue to reach new heights, MetLife Pet Insurance announced it will partner with one of the world’s most legendary pets, Snoopy, to build greater awareness of the critical importance of pet health insurance. While there are over 90 million families with pets in the U.S. today, less than 3% of those pets are insured. The company’s partnership with Charlie Brown’s iconic dog aims to change this by educating the nation’s pet parents about the benefits of pet protection for safeguarding their personal finances and improving animal well-being.

Cleopatra Entertainment has acquired U.S. territory rights to the latest incarnation film from the Japanese Superhero franchise Ultraman from Tsuburaya Productions. Entitled Shin Ultraman, this new Ultraman adventure was the sixth-highest grossing Japanese feature film of 2022 and will hit U.S. theaters – via Fathom Events – on January 11th and 12th, 2023. Written by Hideaki Anno (Shin Godzilla) and directed by Shinji Higuchi (Shin Godzilla, Attack on Titan), the film stars Takumi Saitoh (Shin Godzilla, 13 Assassins), Hidetoshi Nishijima (Drive My Car, The Wind Rises), Masami Nagasawa (Before We Vanish, Mother), Daiki Arioka (Innocent Curse), and Akari Hayami (Gintama, Forget Me Not).

Fanhome, the leader in subscription-based collections and models, brings the action and excitement of one of anime’s most legendary properties home to fans and collectors across North America as it announces the Naruto Shippuden Figurine Collection. Charismatic heroes, dangerous enemies, and mystical ninja techniques come to life in this extraordinary collection. Each month, a new figure arrives to subscribers and faithfully reproduces the features, costumes and accessories of beloved Naruto heroes and villains. A thoroughly researched and fully illustrated monthly magazine accompanies each figure and takes fans on in-depth explorations of the action-packed world of Naruto Shippuden, its characters, story, and lore.

ColourPop Cosmetics announces its latest collaboration, the first-of-its-kind, limited-edition Winx Club X ColourPop collection in partnership with Rainbow! The iconic Italian animated series, created by Iginio Straffi, is based in a magical universe inhabited by fairies, witches and enchanted creatures. This collection is giving Winx Club fans a dose of major nostalgia accompanied by loads of colour, sparkle and fun! 

Award-winning global animation studio ZAG announces the launch of its first toy line from the new ZAG Play Toy division that will be unveiled at the Spielwarenmesse-Nuremberg Toy Fair. The first toys, across ten categories, all feature the company’s flagship brand, Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, to be followed with products for the fun-filled action-adventure series Ghostforce, and the animated feature Melody, starring singer, songwriter, and actress Katy Perry. The announcement was made by Jeremy ZAG, Founder and CEO, ZAG.

Hasbro, Incorporated, a global branded entertainment leader, unveils the first publishing lineup from Learn with Peppa – a major new worldwide brand extension that builds on Peppa Pig’s natural alignment with learning and brings the power and fun of Peppa Pig to early years development. With help from early years specialists, the Learn with Peppa program’s learning framework includes seven categories that cover a broad mix of topics to help little ones understand the world around them: My Body, Creativity, Maths, English, Emotions, Our World and Community.