LicensingSource catches up with a number of brand owners to find out how 2021 has been so far, their views on the retail environment and the challenges and positives as we move through the second half of the year.
Today: Caroline High, director of licensing, Boat Rocker Studios.
2021 has already seen Boat Rocker Studios’ parent company, Boat Rocker Media, go public, and Caroline High, director of licensing, says it is now in “an ideal position” to pursue a range of expansion initiatives.
New preschool series, Dino Ranch, launched in the UK in April on Disney+, and the licensing programme is growing with the introduction of Global Brands Group, Character World, Immediate Media and Ravensburger. They join existing partners Jazwares and Scholastic. Meanwhile, Love Monster will see new content launch at Christmas in the UK and Australia, and The Next Step is continuing with its successful partnership with Pineapple Studios among other activity.
“Overall, things are improving and there is light at the end of the tunnel,” says Caroline, discussing the challenges brought about by the pandemic. “We’re confident in the direction things are moving in the second half of 2021 as we continue to collectively work to come out the other side of the pandemic.
“We have lots of positives to keep us cheerful. We’ve been absolutely delighted by the reaction to Dino Ranch, both from its young audience and commercial partners. Its straight-out-of-the-gate ratings success is very exciting and testament to the hard work and passion that has gone into the project over the last couple of years.
“We’re also really looking forward to celebrating the 40th anniversary of the world’s greatest secret agent, Danger Mouse, and have some exciting activity planned, including a range of special 40th anniversary merchandise from a host of licensees, and showcasing 40 original classic episodes on the Danger Mouse YouTube channel starting in September. We’re also thrilled to have new content on the horizon for Love Monster, with its second series coming early next year.”
This feature originally appeared in the summer 2021 edition of Licensing Source Book. To read the full publication, click on this link.
Want to read more news like this? Simply sign up to our daily digest by clicking here. You can also follow @LicensingSource on Twitter and @licensing_source on Instagram.
