Month: September 2020

Maurizio Distefano Licensing has sealed the deal that will give children the opportunity to listen to the adventures and the episodes of Masha and the Bear by using the new FABA audiobooks.

Maurizio Distefano Licensing (MDL), licensing agent for Masha and the Bear in Italy, enthusiastically announces the agreement signed between Animaccord, international production and licensing company, and Maikii, FABA’s creator, for the development of audiobooks dedicated to the episodes of the animated series.

 

Masha and the Bear have become FABA’s Sound Characters, perfect as playmates and characters to collect. Children can listen in Italian to the stories of “Masha’s Tales” and “Masha Spooky Stories”, while they play or before falling asleep, just by placing the Sound Character on the sound box and pressing the button to start the story.

“The world of Masha and the Bear is ideal for this beautiful project and we believe that children and their parents will welcome these new products with great enthusiasm. They stimulate children’s creativity and allow them to listen to the stories of their favorite characters at all times,” says Maurizio Distefano, President of MDL “a demonstration of the great versatility of licensing, one of its most significant qualities.”

 

Chiara Gava, manager of FABA, is enthusiastic about this new collaboration and says that, although emerging, this new brand already has all it takes to expand: “We are convinced that thanks to this collaboration we could affirm FABA as the best storyteller for children in Italy: Masha and the Bear will certainly be among the most appreciated sound characters!”

 

The stories, nursery rhymes and ditties of FABA aim to bring children closer to the world of audiobooks and, thanks to the stories of the many Sound Characters, they will also stimulate their imagination. The storyteller also has an educational goal, children will have the opportunity to approach the English language thanks to nice characters who will be excellent teachers. FABA is composed only of a sound box, some small statues and the Sound Characters. Its stories can vary from 20 to 60 minutes length.

 

Masha and the Bear’s new sound characters will be available on myfaba.com/shop, toy stores and e-commerce platforms.

 

Masha and the Bear is the successful animated series in Italy that occupies the position of #1 most mentioned animated brand for kids 0-14 in Italy[1] (Kidz Global, 2020) and was included in TOP-5 most in-demand kids shows during the pandemic worldwide (Parrot Analytics, May 2020) .It tells the story of Masha, a restless, spiteful and mischievous little girl, who involves her friend Bear in a thousand adventures, helping her to make up for her mischief. In addition to entertainment, behind Masha and the Bear’s adventures lie the values of friendship, love of nature and family.

[1] #1 most mentioned license in cartoon category for kids 0-14.(Kidz Global, April 2020)

Maurizio Distefano Licensing Agency help popular brand ‘Roar’ on ITALY!

To strengthen the exposure of the Gigantosaurus IP and create new licensing opportunities in Italy, Maurizio Distefano Licensing Agency has been appointed by Cyber Group Studios.

 

Gigantosaurus, multi-award-winning adventure-comedy series produced by Cyber Group Studios, is based on Jonny Duddle’s book published by Templar and sold at 500,000 units worldwide.

Gigantosaurus is streaming on Netflix and Disney+ globally. The first episodes are available on Rai Play since September 12^th and the series will be broadcasted on Rai YoYo as of September 21^st.

The ‘Dino-mite’ Series, soon on Rai (Italy) is also currently airing on major international networks throughout 2020, such as Disney Junior worldwide, CCTV in China, Tiny Pop in the UK, Super RTL in Germany, SRC in Canada, SVT in Sweden, and many others.

In addition, Gigantosaurus is set to bring GIGANTIC fun to preschoolers worldwide in the upcoming years. Seasons 2 and 3 have been commissioned by The Walt Disney Company and France Télévisions, while Super RTL (Germany) has acquired season 2.

 

Buoyed by the series’ on-screen ratings success worldwide, a raft of licensing agreements have been signed with prestigious companies such as Clementoni for puzzles (EMEA), Dino Bikes for bicycles, Templar for books, Play Press for activities and coloring books for kiosks and Witor’s for Easter eggs. All products will be available in Italy between the end of 2020 and next Easter 2021.

In addition, as part of a global launch, the Master Toy Jakks Pacific Inc will sell a toy line this November in Italy. The Master toy products are already distributed in the USA, Latin America, Germany, Denmark, Belgium.

 

Already available globally and distributed by Bandai in Italy “Gigantosaurus: The Game” has been designed by Outright Games in collaboration with Cyber Group Studios and Developed by Wildsphere Studios. This new ROARsome adventure for Playstation® 4, Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One and steam, is based on the world of the hugely popular CGI animated show Gigantosaurus.

 

Maurizio Distefano CEO of Maurizio Distefano Advisory Srl comments, “We truly believe in the strong potential of this series for the Italian territory! Gigantosaurus has already won the heart of all children and families globally, thanks to its themes and engaging stories. In each episode, preschoolers are jumping into a new epic adventure with our 4 dinos friends that are on the look for Gigantosaurus. With the Licensing products soon available in Italy, children, will be able to recreate these scenes at home with their friends and families.”

 

Bruno Danzel d’Aumont, International Licensing & Marketing Vice President, adds: “Gigantosaurus is a great global and long-term upper preschool Property. I am very confident that Gigantosaurus will be successfully launched in Italy under Maurizio’s leadership by working with the major key players and major retailers. Maurizio Distefano has an impressive experience in the licensing business for many years and is recognized as such in the Italian market. It is a great pleasure to have Maurizio and his team on board and have them being our brand ambassador in Italy.”

After just a couple of months since MDL was appointed as the Italian licensing agency for Leo&Tig, the new TV series on air every day on Rai YoYo and available on Rai Play, there are already 5 sealed contracts with important companies and many others are at the final stages of negotiations.

 

Grabo will make its inflatable balloons in different varieties that will be available in both wholesales and during fairs and events. Ciao will produce party sets, the Carnival costume, an outdoor toys range and the seasonal Epiphany sock and Easter egg toy containers. For the kiosk channel the licensees that have decided to develop the next products with the new TV series are: Edizioni Playpress publisher of the activity book, the coloring book and the magic pen, Diramix for the sticker album that children can trade and play with and Sbabam, that will develop the collectable 3D figurines available in kiosks with the support of a promotional TV commercial.

 

Leo&Tig are two puppies of leopard and Siberian tiger that enjoy having fun in the wilderness of the Far Eastern taiga, which surrounds them with its beauty, dangers and legends. The core message is the caring and respect of the world that surrounds us, which is an opportunity for children to have learn while having fun.

The great debut of the TV series in the Italian licensing market immediately found a strong interest among potential licensees that will lead to a varied and long-lasting licensing program.

The result of the partnership between Bagdasarian Productions and Salani Editore are 5 different book titles divided in coloring book, novelty book and book puzzle.

Born from the collaboration between Bagdasarian Productions and Salani Editore, and represented by Italian agent, Maurizio Distefano Licensing (MDL), the new ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks book collection is available across Italy’s best bookstores and mass market retailers. The publishing program launches with five different titles; “A tutto musica!”, “Viaggi nel tempo”, “LibroPuzzle”, “Il mondo di Alvin” and “Inizia lo spettacolo! Colori a tempo di musica”, and features The Chipmunks (Alvin, Simon and Theodore) and The Chipettes (Brittany, Jeanette and Eleanor).

 

Salani is one of the top Italian publishing houses and its strengths are high quality, attention to young people, creativity and originality of its projects. The aim of the ALVINNN!!! collection is to entertain children through games, puzzles, and stories about everyday life and, obviously in Alvin’s case, music. The books are available online, on the Salani Editore website, in bookstores and in large-scale distribution.

 

Presented in CGI-animation, ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks, created by Janice Karman, reflects the trials and tribulations of a single parent, David Seville, trying to raise six hyperactive Chipmunks.  Like most parents, Dave’s patience will be pushed to the limit, forcing him to end many sentences with the iconic, “ALVINNN!!!”  The series takes viewers on a roller-coaster ride of music, laughter, and stories geared to entertain the Chipmunks’ four generations of fans.  Episodes from the hit series are broadcast daily on both K2 and Nick Junior, the CGI series never stops entertaining its fans.

 

“We are extremely proud of the result of this key partnership for the license”, says Maurizio Distefano of the MDL agency, “a simple and fun way to entertain fans of ALVINNN!!! And the Chipmunks, which is currently enjoying considerable success among licensees”.