Award-winning global independent animation studio ZAG is continuing to bolster its senior executive team, appointing seasoned licensing executive Helena Perheentupa to the newly created role of VP, Licensing, Central, Eastern, Northern Europe and Russia. The announcement was made today by Julian Zag, Executive Vice President, Global Operations.
Helena Perheentupa joins ZAG from Mattel in Frankfurt, Germany, where she rose through the ranks over her 13-year tenure to become Head of Licensing, overseeing Mattel properties such as Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, Monster High, Uno, Matchbox; and Hit Entertainment properties, Thomas & Friends, Fireman Sam, Bob the Builder, Pingu and more. Prior, she served at another bluechip giant, Procter & Gamble, with roles including Category Manager Beauty Care and Joint Business Planning Manager, developing, planning and executing a range of long-term strategic projects for the giant’s extensive brand portfolio.
Helena Perheentupa will spearhead the licensing and new business development efforts in region for ZAG’s portfolio of “ZAG Heroez” brands, reporting to Kirk Bloomgarden, ZAG’s SVP, Global Licensing, and managing the company’s regional licensing agents including CPLG (GAS,) J&M (Benelux), Planeta Junior (CEE), and Saks (Russia).
“Europe has been and continues to be a hugely important region for ZAG, and Helena’s “boots on the ground” appointment will ensure that we are driving new business and supporting our licensees, retailers and promotional partners for ZAG’s portfolio of brands including of course our flagship brand, Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, our newest property, Ghostforce, currently in production for Disney Channel EMEA, TF1, and Discovery Kids Latin America, and a soon to be announced new IP,” commented Julian Zag. “Helena is a well-liked and well-respected industry executive and we’re thrilled to welcome her to the team.”
The 3D-CGI-animated superhero aspirational action-comedy series Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, created by ZAG and co-produced with ON kids & family, continues to be everyone’s superhero story. The series is ranked by IMDB amongst the Top 10 Best Animated Shows in the last 20 years. Most recently, a new Miraculous toy line from ZAG Labs and Playmates Toys launched across Europe where consumer demand quickly escalated as top retailers sought to keep the product in stock. New content continues to roll-out around the world. The second Miraculous Event Movie, Miraculous World – Shanghai – Lady Dragon, will launch in Spring 2021, season three began to roll-out in fall 2020, seasons four and five are in production for a 2022 launch, and fans are eagerly awaiting the theatrical feature, Ladybug & Cat Noir: Awakening (US$100M+ budget), which is planned for release worldwide in fall 2021 or at the beginning of 2022.
The first of the two TV Event Movies, Miraculous World: New York: United Heroez, scored top ratings on its premiere in fall 2020. In the U.S., the Friday night movie premiere on Disney Channel on September 25, 2020, ranked #1 for the week across all cable TV with Girls 6 – 11, and #1 across all TV in its timeslot in the same demographic; in France, on TF1, the movie was broadcast on October 18th and was the #1 kids show across all channels reaching 39.2% viewing share with kids aged 4 to 10; in Germany, it ranked #1 on Disney Channel during the “Miraculous Day” Weekend Event Premiere on November 7; in the UK the movie was the #1 program on POP for both days that it aired (October 24 and 25); and in Brazil, the movie ranked #1, with the biggest audience among pay-tv kids in 2020.
Miraculous is the winner of 17 awards, including the 2018 Teen Choice Award for Choice Animated Series and airs in over 120 countries across the globe.