Hasbro to Showcase Global Brands at 2014 International Licensing
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Eighth paragraph of release dated June 17, 2014, should read:
MY LITTLE PONY
The MY LITTLE PONY franchise remains a cherished brand worldwide by fans
of all ages. Behind a successful global entertainment, licensing and
retail strategy which re-launched the brand in 2010, MY LITTLE PONY has
grown to represent approximately $650 million dollars at retail across
all consumer products in 2013. Its popularity is boosted by the
successful hit animated series My Little Pony Friendship is Magic,
produced by Hasbro Studios and airing in 180 territories. The series
will kick off its fifth season in 2015. In 2013, Hasbro grew both the
core MY LITTLE PONY segment as well as successfully launched MY LITTLE
PONY EQUESTRIA GIRLS. According to NPD, for the week of Christmas (Dec
22nd to Dec 28th) Hasbro's EQUESTRIA GIRLS was the #1 selling Fashion
Themed Doll in the US, taking the top spot from veteran players in the
toy category. In 2014 music rules and rainbows rock as TWILIGHT SPARKLE
and pals complete for the top spot in the CANTERLOT HIGH "Mane Event"
talent show. The girls must rock their way to the top, and outshine
rival ADAGIO DAZZLE and her band THE DAZZLINGS, to restore harmony back
to CANTERLOT HIGH. Fans can rock out alongside their favorite MY LITTLE
PONY EQUESTRIA GIRLS characters with colorful fashion dolls, playsets,
and vehicles inspired by the new animated film set to debut this fall, My
Little Pony Equestria Girls Rainbow Rocks.
The corrected release reads:
HASBRO REVOLUTIONIZING BRANDED PLAY AND LIFESTYLE EXPERIENCES THROUGH
RICH STORYTELLING ACROSS ALL ENTERTAINMENT PLATFORMS
Hasbro to Showcase Global Brands at 2014 International Licensing
Hasbro,
Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) will land at the 2014 International Licensing
Expo in Las Vegas today with its premier roster of global franchise
brands that underscore how the company is revolutionizing play through
rich and immersive story telling platforms. The company will spotlight
new and innovative products and entertainment based on key brands
including TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF,
PLAY-DOH, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY. This year's showcase
illustrates innovation across multiple entertainment mediums including
Film, TV, Digital Shorts, Publishing and Digital Gaming which then
drives innovative product across multiple categories including toy,
apparel, housewares and sporting goods.
"Hasbro continues to evolve its brand franchises in new ways that bring
play and lifestyle experiences to life through storytelling," said Simon
Waters, Senior Vice President, Global Brand Licensing and Publishing at
Hasbro. "With our Omni-screen strategy, branded storytelling across
major entertainment platforms has really struck a chord with our
consumers - to the tune of 8 billion impressions globally through our
episodic content. We've strategically integrated narratives through our
iconic characters and brands that continue to resonate worldwide."
Following are Hasbro brands that will be on display at the show:
TRANSFORMERS
The TRANSFORMERS brand celebrates the 30th Anniversary in 2014 with
storytelling for fans of all ages. Strong brand momentum continues with
the June 27 release of Michael Bay's TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION
from Paramount Pictures. The blockbuster film is supported by global
licensees from New Era, Frito Lay and Oreo with global retail support
from Benetton, Walmart, Tesco and Carrefour. TRANSFORMERS merchandise
will arrive on shelves as part of 20 new retail programs with 14 fashion
collections and eight direct-to-retail deals with La Polar, Ripley's and
St. Jacks across Latin American territories.
In addition to the silver screen entertainment, TRANSFORMERS
entertainment will also land on television screens this fall, on the Hub
Network in the US, with the new season premiere of TRANSFORMERS
Rescue Bots. TRANSFORMERS fans will also be excited to learn of the
new animated series, produced by Hasbro Studios, Robots in Disguise,
in which BUMBLEBEE is summoned by OPTIMUS PRIME to save Earth from a new
fraction of DECEPTICONS.
More than 300 licensees will support the brand across all categories
including apparel with companies like New Era Cap; and home goods
bedding from Franco Mfg. Hasbro has also reached a preliminary agreement
in principle to continue its party goods license with American
Greetings. IDW Publishing's flagship TRANSFORMERS titles, "DARK
CYBERTRON" comic issues will also be available bundled with Hasbro's
TRANSFORMERS GENERATIONS Deluxe toy line. Digital entertainment by game
publishers including Activision Publishing, Inc. will launch
TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE DARK SPARK in June to coincide with release
the summer blockbuster movie from Paramount Pictures. Additionally, DeNA
will release TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION - The Official Mobile Game
and later this year Jagex Games Studio will roll out TRANSFORMERS
UNIVERSE, the much anticipated, free-to-play Massively Online Tactical
Action game.
Officially announced on Monday, Rovio Entertainment and Hasbro have
teamed up to launch the next entertainment brand mash-up - Angry
Birds Transformers. The Angry Birds Transformers property is
preparing to "Roll Out" across multiple platforms this fall with games,
animation, consumer products, promotions and more sure to delight fans
of all ages.
MY LITTLE PONY
The MY LITTLE PONY franchise remains a cherished brand worldwide by fans
of all ages. Behind a successful global entertainment, licensing and
retail strategy which re-launched the brand in 2010, MY LITTLE PONY has
grown to represent approximately $650 million dollars at retail across
all consumer products in 2013. Its popularity is boosted by the
successful hit animated series My Little Pony Friendship is Magic,
produced by Hasbro Studios and airing in 180 territories. The series
will kick off its fifth season in 2015. In 2013, Hasbro grew both the
core MY LITTLE PONY segment as well as successfully launched MY LITTLE
PONY EQUESTRIA GIRLS. According to NPD, for the week of Christmas (Dec
22nd to Dec 28th) Hasbro's EQUESTRIA GIRLS was the #1 selling Fashion
Themed Doll in the US, taking the top spot from veteran players in the
toy category. In 2014 music rules and rainbows rock as TWILIGHT SPARKLE
and pals complete for the top spot in the CANTERLOT HIGH "Mane Event"
talent show. The girls must rock their way to the top, and outshine
rival ADAGIO DAZZLE and her band THE DAZZLINGS, to restore harmony back
to CANTERLOT HIGH. Fans can rock out alongside their favorite MY LITTLE
PONY EQUESTRIA GIRLS characters with colorful fashion dolls, playsets,
and vehicles inspired by the new animated film set to debut this fall, My
Little Pony Equestria Girls Rainbow Rocks.
The rich brand storytelling of MY LITTLE PONY and its cast of characters
led to a vast array of consumer products, promotions and corresponding
retail programs. McDonalds will launch MY LITTLE PONY-branded Happy Meal
programs in multiple countries across the globe this year, while
retailers from Build-A-Bear to Target, Walmart, Benetton, Hot Topic and
Leader will support the MY LITTLE PONY brand with an array of retail
programs. In addition, Hasbro has 30-plus publishing licensees worldwide
producing more than 200 new publications in 2014 such as The Journal
of the Two Sisters, The Daring Do Adventure Collection, and
the Friendship is Magic Collectible Poster Book published by
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
On the digital front, Gameloft will continue to deliver new ways to play
the MY LITTLE PONY game with fresh entertainment themed updates
throughout 2014. The MY LITTLE PONY and MY LITTLE PONY Equestria Girls
brand will also see direct-to-retail support with programs launching
throughout Latin America at retailers including St. Jacks, Walmart,
Ripley's, La Polar and Exito.
LITTLEST PET SHOP
The LITTLEST PET SHOP brand continues to build a strong following, with
expanding distribution and growing global audiences of the popular
LITTLEST PET SHOP animated television series, produced by Hasbro
Studios. The show is entering its second season across Europe, with
Latin America following in Q4, and with Season 3 currently airing on the
HUB Network in the US and on-deck for Europe in early 2015.
Leveraging fans' interest in the collectability of the pets, Hasbro has
taken that appeal to the next level with products that allow girls to
design their own LITTLEST PET SHOP world, their way, with customizable
style sets, figurines and over 140 new pets inspired by the animated
series. Customization will also be front-and-center in this summer's new
LITTLEST PET SHOP Your World integrated play app, which allows fans to
bring their pet to life digitally by scanning the code included on each
regular scale pet in the line. Fans can accessorize their pets and rooms
of their pet shop and can also play a variety of fun activities and
mini-games.
The brand will continue to turn pages with traditional publishers such
as IDW, with plans to expand the new LITTLEST PET SHOP comic book series
which launched in May 2014. Scholastic will continue the release of the
first entertainment-based chapter book series. Additionally, the brand
has expanded their existing publishing footprint in Europe with six new
licensees signed on in 2014.
In Latin America, LITTLEST PET SHOP will see expanded reach with branded
apparel and sporting goods through direct-to-retail deals with Ripley's
and St. Jacks, as well as first-time ever regional QSR deals with
Habib's and Popsy. Globally, fans can catch their favorite pets with a
new Happy Meal program in many key markets with McDonald's this year.
NERF
Forty-five years after the original NERF Foam Ball revolutionized the
world of play, the NERF brand isn't even close to calling the game. The
NERF brand introduces a number of incredible blaster firsts inspired by
its passionate fan base and a drive for continuous innovation. With a
strong focus on improved power, speed, distance and accuracy, the 2014
N-STRIKE ELITE line delivers the performance and excitement that NERF
fans have come to expect since the brand began in 1969 -- It's NERF or
Nothin'! Driving the momentum behind the No. 1 blaster property, Hasbro
is working with its strategic licensees to creatively reach consumers
with innovative licensed goods and experiences on a variety of levels.
Inspired by current pop culture trends and based on insight from girls,
the NERF REBELLE brand is designed to empower players with confidence,
high performance action and a stylish edge and targeting key strategic
categories to leverage the lifestyle expansion of the brand. Furry NERF
fans will also see the NERF Dog line expand around the world featuring a
variety of new fetch and retrieve toys. In addition, Hasbro will look to
broaden its experiential NERF mall program in the U.S. and Europe.
PLAY-DOH
For over 50 years, the PLAY-DOH branded modeling compound has become a
classic brand for kids of all ages in homes and schools around the globe
encouraging colorful, creative play. The iconic modeling compound has
been a childhood rite of passage and is responsible for ‘molding'
creative minds of millions of young artists and sculptors. Licensing
continues to expand in 2014 with Hasbro reaching an agreement with
Cencosud, a Chilean multinational retailer, to deliver a broad range of
PLAY-DOH arts and crafts products including crayons, coloring pencils
finger paints and stationary sets along with creative, entertaining, and
educational books from Silver Dolphin. The fun with further extend as
the PLAY-DOH brand introduces the DOHVINCI art and design kits, an
entirely new art experience featuring an all-new design compound and
innovative Styler tool for kids 6-14. Creativity will pop off the page
as kids create their own 3D art designs with this highly intuitive and
unique creative experience. Pop your favorite color into the Styler and
squeeze to easily create your own beautiful 3D art design that sticks to
surfaces such as wood, glass, paper and more.
MAGIC: THE GATHERING
Hasbro's MAGIC: THE GATHERING now has a following of more than 20
million players and fans worldwide. The best strategy game ever and
Hasbro's number one game brand is supported by a unique blend of digital
game play and face-to-face play opportunities in more than 6,800 hobby
game stores around the world, offering a robust gaming experience for
its global community of passionate fans. The brand is also supported by
a range of entertainment experiences with books, comics and now film.
Twentieth Century Fox and Hasbro are joining forces to develop a series
of films based on the fantasy property and its endless worlds,
characters and mythology. Licensing will continue to expand as Araca
will be selling a broad range of MAGIC: THE GATHERING apparel on line
and at specialty retailers and Funko is launching the MAGIC: THE
GATHERING Planeswalker figures for their popular Pop! Vinyl Figures and
new Legacy Collection Action Figures lines.
MONOPOLY
A perennial favorite in the family chest, the MONOPOLY game has been
played by more than one billion people in 111 countries around the world
and touts more than 11.4 million global Facebook fans. Given its
popularity, Hasbro and its licensees continue to deliver experiences to
fit every lifestyle. The MONOPOLY brand will also return to McDonald's
in over 20 countries worldwide. The MONOPOLY brand grew its presence in
grocery aisles this spring by expanding its "MONOPOLY'S loyalty program,
"Shop. Play. Win." at Albertsons grocery stores throughout the US. The
brand continues to soar as the No. 1 licensed lottery game in the world
as evidenced by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) announced
that member lotteries are slated to launch a highly anticipated new
national premium game later this year -- MONOPOLY Millionaires' Club.
About Hasbro
Hasbro,
Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company dedicated to fulfilling
the fundamental need for play for children and families through the
creative expression of the Company's world class brand portfolio,
including TRANSFORMERS, MONOPOLY, PLAY-DOH, MY LITTLE PONY, MAGIC: THE
GATHERING, NERF and LITTLEST PET SHOP. From toys and games, to
television programming, motion pictures, digital gaming and a
comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its global
customers with innovative play and entertainment experiences, in a
variety of forms and formats, anytime and anywhere. The Company's Hasbro
Studios develops and produces television programming for more than 180
territories around the world, and for the U.S. on Hub Network, part of a
multi-platform joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications
(NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK). Through the company's deep commitment to
corporate social responsibility, including philanthropy, Hasbro is
helping to build a safe and sustainable world for future generations and
to positively impact the lives of millions of children and families
every year. It has been recognized for its efforts by being named one of
the "World's Most Ethical Companies" and is ranked as one of Corporate
Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens." Learn more at www.hasbro.com.
© 2014 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved
HAS-LIC
Media Contacts:
Hasbro
Pat
Jarret, 401-727-5896
pjarret@hasbro.com
or
Foghorn
PR
Shelly Eckenroth, 717-852-7060
seckenroth@foghornpr.com
or
Mary
Leddy, 508-872-3369
mleddy@foghornpr.com
Source: Hasbro, Inc.
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