Licensing

Real Deal

Ella the Elephant Signs Publishing Deal

Ella the ElephantDHX Brands, the brand management and consumer products arm of DHX Media, has tapped Penguin Young Readers to develop a publishing program in the U.S. and Canada based on the animated preschool series, Ella the Elephant. The deal was signed through the DHX-owned licensing agency Copyright Promotions Licensing Group (CPLG), which represents DHX Brands.

Penguin plans a full publishing program that will include 8×8 storybooks, board books, and sticker books, as well as e-books with enhanced read-to-me functions. The publishing program is expected to hit retail in fall 2015.

Ella the Elephant, which premiered on Disney Channel and Disney Junior (U.S.) in February, centers on an adventurous elephant and her magic hat. The series is produced by DHX Media in association with Canada’s TVO Kids and FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment.

WBCP Reveals New Hobbit Product

Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) teamed with its licensing partners to support the third and final film in The Hobbit Trilogy, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, with an array of inspired-by products based on the film. Licensees to launch new product include The Bridge Direct (The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Smaug Limited-Edition Large-Scale Poseable Action Figure), Weta/Harper Design (fifth book in The Hobbit: Chronicles series), LEGO (The Hobbit: The Lonely Mountain construction set), USAopoloy (Monopoly The Hobbit Trilogy Edition), TREVCO (apparel), and Bioworld (Hobbit feet slippers). All items will be available at www.HobbitShop.com.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is a production of New Line Cinema and Metro Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), with New Line managing production. Warner Bros. Pictures handles worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television distribution being handled by MGM.