By Andrea Hernandez, Cole Watson and Ryan Tuchow
WBD
Warner Bros. Discovery Latin America has picked up CG-animated series NuNi (pictured) from Toronto’s bulbKIDZ to launch on its Cartoonito channel starting on June 5. Israeli studio Twist Animation created the 11 x seven-minute preschool show about a girl who leans on her best friends—an impulsive rabbit and a rational giraffe—for life advice.
Meanwhile, WBD Global Consumer Products has extended its toy partnership with The Noble Collection. The company is already making Wizarding World products (primarily wands) for the Harry Potter franchise, and now it will take on DC, The Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit as well. Under the new deal, Noble is also bringing back older Harry Potter SKUs like the young wizard’s iconic spectacles. All products will launch in Universal theme parks worldwide, as well as in Barnes & Noble stores across the US.
WildBrain
The Teletubbies are making a big splash in China with two new streaming deals. Youku has picked up the 26 x 12-minute Teletubbies reboot (which premiered on Netflix last November) to run in June for a six-month exclusive window, after which the show will launch on Chinese SVOD platforms Senyu and Billibilli. And Senyu has also picked up streaming rights for music-focused series Teletubbies: Ready, Steady, Go! and Teletubbies Let’s Go! (52 x five minutes).
Meanwhile, WildBrain CPLG has signed several new soft lines licensees for the brand, including Texas-based Dumbgood (streetwear), London’s Brand Alliance (loungewear) and New York’s Concept One (accessories). Products will start rolling out to retailers in the US, Canada, Australia, Mexico and South Africa this summer, with additional rollouts from The Loyal Subjects (action figures) and ONCH (jewelry) planned for 2024.
Filmax
The Spanish distributor has picked up the rights to Robotia, and plans to sell the 80-minute CG-animated movie at the Cannes Film Festival this month. Aimed at kids ages four to eight, Robotia is about a girl who dreams of playing soccer, against her family’s wishes. It’s a co-pro between Argentina’s Malabar Producciones, Spanish prodco Dibulitoon Studio and Tropics Creative in Costa Rica.
Spin Master
The toyco’s Swedish game developer, Toca Boca, has partnered with Toronto-based manufacturer Juniper Creates to launch the first range of DTC consumer products for its flagship video game, Toca Life World. The Toca Boca e-commerce site will roll out an initial wave of apparel, accessories and collectibles for kids on May 23. Coinciding with this launch, Toca Life World players will receive free digital versions of the products—including sweaters, T-shirts and slippers—that they can use to customize their online avatars.