4Kids licensing goes to the dogs

In a recent deal penned with the American Kennel Club (AKC), 4Kids Entertainment has become the organization’s exclusive licensing agent across the toy and QSR categories. Founded in 1884, the AKC maintains the world’s largest registry of purebred canines and sponsors more than 15,000 dog competitions annually. Tying into the AKC’s objective to educate kids and families about different dog breeds and their unique traits, 4Kids will create an elaborate plush program encompassing all of the Club’s registered pedigrees, in addition to securing QSR deals with fast-food restaurant chains across the U.S.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products creates a Double Impact in Taiwan

Asian market licensing veterans Wendy Chang and Chris Fung recently founded licensing agency Double Impact to help Warner Bros. Consumer Products introduce its roster of brands to retailers in Taiwan. Under the terms of a three-year partnership, Double Impact will seek out licensing relationships for Warner Bros. properties like Harry Potter, Looney Tunes and The Powerpuff Girls across key categories including branded apparel, food and promotional marketing. An initial range of product is scheduled to hit shelves in Q3 and Q4 of this year.

Radica gives Rescue Heroes the high-tech treatment

Dallas, Texas-based vid game studio Radica Games has inked a deal with East Aurora, New York’s Fisher-Price to produce a line of interactive and handheld electronic products based on the toyco’s preschool action figure line Rescue Heroes. Targeted at boys ages two to five and manufactured under Radica’s Play TV product banner, the Rescue Heroes games will be unveiled this month at the 100th American International Toy Fair before hitting North American shelves in the fall.