Licensing News
Staff -- Playthings, 4/1/2005
• The Atomic Betty roster of licensees increased by two with the additions of Fisher-Price, and Armitron Watches as the new companies signed up for Toronto-based Breakthrough Animation's Cartoon Network's animated series. Fisher-Price will manufacture and market proprietary software for use with its Pixter line of digital touch screen creative toys for children 4 years and up. A fall 2005 roll-out is expected. Watch manufacturer Armitron Watches will make Atomic Betty watches and clocks for fall 2005.
• Bradford Licensing Associates, the international licensing agency for PepsiCo, granted license to Golden Wheel Die Casting, Kowloon, Hong Kong, to produce and distribute die cast collectibles and plastic vehicles featuring the Pepsi, Pepsi-Cola and 7-UP brands.
• JAKKS Pacific, Malibu, Calif., signed an agreement with Sesame Workshop to produce a TV Games Plug-it-in-&-Play controller based on Sesame Street characters, including Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, among others. Slated for mid-2006 release, the controller will feature original activity games for pre-schoolers.
• Brand new for Imperial Toy, Los Angeles, is the Nissan Titan license for its Buddy L line of vehicles. The line will be available this fall.
• McFarlane Toys, Tempe, Ariz., is releasing single packs of each of the members of rock band Motley Crue. Vince Neil, Nikki SIxx, Tommy Lee and Mick Mars. Originally they sold in a deluxe box set.
