American Greetings Properties, New York, comes to this year's Licensing Show with a lineup that includes properties spanning the gamut from well-loved classics and retro revivals to edgy new additions to its universe of characters.

From the classics side of its character library, Strawberry Shortcake sports a new look for 2009 inspired by her spunkier '80s-era iteration. A new line of fruit-scented toys from Hasbro will hit shelves in August, backed by new home entertainment releases, including a direct-to-DVD movie in September, new children's book titles from Penguin and a QSR promotion this fall. Additional DVDs and a new television series are also in production.

Continuing to coast on the 2007 debut of the Adventures in Care-A-Lot TV series on CBS, the Care Bears property looks to maintain momentum with the release of several home entertainment titles from Lionsgate, culminating in a holiday gift set. At Licensing Show, AGP looks to expand merchandising for its core Care Bears characters, plus its Care Bears Junior and Baby extensions.

For Maryoku Yummy, a new property for girls ages 7 to 13 about a magical world where wishes come true and nurturing "wish-sitters" are needed to care for them, this spring's rollout of consumer products exclusively at Tween Brand stores widens with an expansion campaign that finds AGP seeking licensing partners in areas such as apparel, accessories, bags, stationery and back-to-school.

Twisted Whiskers, the greeting card line that features dogs and cats with exaggerated features, is evolving into an entertainment brand with a TV series produced by Moonscoop. AGP is seeking additional licensing partners to grow the brand across categories targeting kids ages 6 to 11.

Sushi Pack, the team of four crime fighting sushi characters plus their powerful sidekick Wasabi, expands its merchandising with new product categories this year, including books from Random House and customizable apparel from Ty's Toy Box. In 2010, Big Time Toys will launch toys, while Lionsgate adds home entertainment. In the meantime, AGP is building a licensing program that will see additional apparel, accessories, home decor, back-to-school, games and stationery partners add merchandise for kids ages 4 to 8.

AGP is looking to increase the domestic presence of its 80s boys' brand revival, Madballs, into new product categories, such as apparel, comic books and novelties. This summer, Playbrains unveils a Madballs video game.

Childhood classic Holly Hobbie continues with several domestic partners, including toymakers The Alexander Doll Co. and Imperial Toy.

Atari Inc., New York, looks to launch a rejuvenated licensing campaign aimed at expanding the pioneering video game company's brand and opportunities for its library of classic video games.

Aurora World, the Seoul, Korea-based company best known for its plush toys, has begun a business diversification strategy spearheaded by its development of an animated series, YooHoo & Friends, that will begin airing in certain markets this summer.

The property uses rare and endangered animals to represent each continent of the world. While visiting the natural wonders of each continent, YooHoo & Friends make kids ages 4 to 6 aware of the importance of environmental protection through fun-filled stories. It will be "vigorously marketed" through mobile content, stationery, toys, publications, theme parks, kids cafes and other efforts, according to the company. Aurora has already released a plush toy line (pictured) in the U.S. and Europe.

BBC Worldwide, London, comes to Las Vegas bearing a full roster of children's properties and an expanded assortment of adult brands.

Among the new properties are: Tronji, a multimedia experience for 6 to 8 year olds incorporating a computer animated TV series, website and a 3-D massively multiplayer online game; Dirtgirlworld, a cross-media brand for 3 to 7 year olds led by a music-centric TV series that explores the natural world and invites the audience to "go get grubby" in the big world outside; and BBC Earth, which will bring all of BBC's natural history content, including the popular Planet Earth property, under one brand. Joining the BBC Earth brand this year is Human Planet, a series spotlighting real people living in nature's most extreme environments.

For Little Airplane Productions' new BBC-commissioned animated preschool series 3rd & Bird, BBC Worldwide recently appointed Fisher-Price as global master toy licensee (except in Asia). The toymaker plans to roll out its first products in the U.K. next spring or summer, with other markets to follow.

As part of the company's greater emphasis on properties for adults, BBC's car-centric series Top Gear has added more than 20 licensees for products for men or children, and Dancing With The Stars debuts as a licensable property.

In addition, BBC continues to expand international efforts for In The Night Garden, including several deals for merchandise in Canada; gears up for the arrival of a new Doctor in time for Doctor Who's 2010 season; adds Tomy as master toy licensee across Europe for Teletubbies; and is looking for additional partners for its Charlie and Lola program.

In addition to continued support for existing properties like Domo, Discovery Kids, publisher Tokyopop and preschool series The Wiggles, New York's Big Tent Entertainment unveils two new properties at the Licensing Show: Swim, Swim Fizi and Purple Ronnie.

Based on Hooray for Fish, by children's author-illustrator Lucy Cousins, Big Tent, as North American licensing agent for the newly-acquired property, is developing a Swim, Swim Fizi licensing program geared towards families which utilizes the series' "bright colors, fabulous scenery and catchy lines." Initial categories include bath/beach accessories, toys, games, home video and swimwear.

After selling more than 44 million greeting cards and 2 million books in the U.K., Giles Andreae's comic character Purple Ronnie is coming to the U.S. with a licensing program that initially focuses on the social expression, casual game, publishing apparel, gift and novelty categories.

In other Big Tent licensing news, recent deals for extreme motocross brand Crusty Demons will see Jakks Pacific roll out branded toys as part of its MXS Road Champs line, while Bell Sports offers skateboard decks available first at Toys "R" Us, among other efforts.

2010 marks the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), inspiring the Charlotte, N.C.-based company to explore licensing opportunities for the milestone along with those for its related brands: Be Prepared, the group's motto; the BSA Nostalgic Seal, its historic logo; Pinewood Derby, its Cub Scouts racing event; and Venturing, a brand focused on high adventure in the great outdoors.

New York-based Brian Yanish Designs is rolling out expanded content and artwork for its recycling-focused property The Scrap Kins.

At this month's Licensing Show, BYD will showcase an expanded series of recycled arts & crafts products, educational content and an artwork catalog, including a new Baby Scrap Kins collection.

Licensees include Fine Line Stationery for recycled paper stationery and lunch kits; Somé Publishing for sticker calendars; Lafayette Puzzle Factory for puzzles and educational flash cards; and MightyFine for T-shirts and fleecewear.

CBS Consumer Products, New York, will spotlight a collection of television properties at this month's Licensing Show.

Among current primetime series it will place in play for merchandising opportunities is licensing newcomer NCIS, alongside more established series like 90210 and America's Next Top Model, which expands into new merchandising categories, while CBS' Television City portfolio of TV classics celebrates anniversary campaigns for the likes of The Brady Bunch, Happy Days and Twilight Zone.

Following up on the excitement stirred up by last month's Star Trek movie, CBS will look to extend the property's presence across all retail channels with movie, classic and branded products targeting new fans and collectors.

New theatrical film opportunities include Consent to Kill, by bestselling author Vince Flynn and Beastly, a teen-centric take on "Beauty and the Beast" set in contemporary New York City.

At Licensing Show this year, Classic Media, New York, will showcase a mix of all-new properties alongside new licensing, promotional and retail programs for many of its pre-existing brands.

The company's new Tinga Tinga Tales is an animated preschool series inspired by African folk tales that's produced entirely on location in Kenya. Set to debut on Playhouse Disney in the U.S. in 2010, licensing and merchandising program partners "will be unveiled soon." Penguin Group has already been tapped as global master publishing partner.

Another new preschool series, Guess with Jess, features Jess the Cat and his farmyard friends questioning the world around them. It will debut in the U.K. this fall with merchandising support from master toy partner Fisher-Price.

The U.K.'s new Postman Pat Special Delivery Service series is scheduled to roll out to more than 80 additional territories.

Classic Media's legacy brands to be spotlighted include Casper the Friendly Ghost, with an expanded merchandising program to mark the property's 60th birthday, plus continuing efforts for the company's other seasonal properties like Santa Claus is Comin' to Town and Peter Cottontail and literary properties Where's Waldo?, Little Golden Books and Pat the Bunny. Toymakers recently signed by the company include Patch Products and USAopoly for Where's Waldo?, Yottoy for Little Golden Books and Kids Preferred for Pat the Bunny.

Television classic The Lone Ranger gets new apparel and classic collectible merchandise, including comic books, posters and a Lionel toy train set. A feature film adaptation by Walt Disney Pictures and producer Jerry Bruckheimer is in the works with Johnny Depp signed on to play Tonto.

Corporate sibling Big Idea Productions will expand the licensing program for its VeggieTales family brand into new categories such as publishing and home decor and bedding.

Santa Monica, Calif.-based DIC Los Angeles is looking to bring Japanese licensing phenomenon Mameshiba (pictured) to US shores. The quirky property features a cast of more than 25 bean characters with puppy dog faces that each spout an odd fact. DCI-LA, which is handling global licensing efforts for the property in English-speaking territories, will be seeking licensees in the plush, toy, fashion, accessory and collectible categories at the show.

San Francisco's Dimensional Branding Group will feature the PlayStation brand and first party software titles at this year's Licensing Show, the continuation of a program launched in time for last year's expo. The push includes merchandising efforts for game titles Little Big Planet, Ratchet & Clank, God of War, Resistance Fall of Man and Patapon into categories such as publishing, apparel, toys, home decor, and extreme sports.

DBG will also showcase novelty product Chia Pet, the parlor game Jenga, designer Masha D'yans, arcade game Skee-Ball, family financial fitness program Money Wizdom, and publishers Chronicle Books and Quirk Books. Quirk is publisher of Pride & Prejudice & Zombies.

Key licensing growth initiatives for Glendale, Calif.-based Disney Consumer Products center on a quartet of upcoming feature films for 2010 and 2011: Prince of Persia: The Sand of Time, with products "infused with unexpected interactive features and breakthrough technology"; Toy Story 3, with products that "further expands the property's presence in online/offline play"; Tron, a revamp of the 1982 sci-fi film about a hacker turned into a digital data scream and reconstituted inside a computer; and Cars 2 (Summer 2011).

Continuing efforts to attract girls will focus on the upcoming debut of the first African-American Disney Princess, Princess Tiana of The Princess and the Frog; and 2010's theatrical debut of Rapunzel as a Disney Princess. The Disney Fairies franchise will grow to include a second Tinker Bell direct-to-video feature, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, as part of a plan that now calls for a six release series and an expanded merchandising campaign.

DCP looks to further strengthen its presence among preschoolers with expanded product lines inspired by Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Handy Manny. Both will expand into new categories and retail tiers in 2009 and 2010, including new product introductions in toys, apparel, home decor, food and stationery.

For tweens, DCP is focusing its efforts on an original movie for Disney Channel series Wizards Of Waverly Place, the Jonas Brothers vehicle Jonas, a new season of Hannah Montana and a new series for tweens, Sonny With A Chance.

New lifestyle and aspirational products include an expansion of The Walt Disney Signature collection of non-character home furnishings and Disney Couture, a fashion-forward apparel brand.

Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising, Los Angeles, brings a slate of entertainment properties to the Licensing Show lead by its program for the third Ice Age film, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, said to be one of Fox's largest film merchandising programs ever. More than 200 global licensees are onboard for this summer's release, including Planet Toys, Ty and Fisher-Price.

Other films to be focused on at the show include Avatar, James Cameron's highly anticipated action-adventure film due out this December that will be supported by "a highly innovative toy line" from master toy licensee Mattel and video games from Ubisoft, and Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, set for a Christmas Day 2009 opening.

Television properties getting particular attention include The Simpsons, with its ongoing 20th anniversary push, and Family Guy, with new merchandising programs for the core series and its first spin-off, The Cleveland Show.

Fox will also spotlight licensing for Microsoft's Halo video game franchise.

Newly formed licensing agency Gator Group, Dana Point, Calif., comes to the Licensing Show with a fledgling property roster filled with established brands.

Paul Frank Industries, creator of monkey character Julius, has seen more than 50 companies sign on as licensing partners. The core apparel and accessories line has grown to include "logical brand extensions" like watches, eyewear, kids furniture, bedding, bikes, helmets, a Bugaboo stroller, stationery, hosiery, footwear, jewelry, children's books and even Apple iPod and iPhone cases.

Tales 4 Tomorrow, an eco-awareness brand created to help inspire children to save endangered animals, launches with plush toys and trading cards from Fiesta. Additional licensees are being sought.

Emily the Strange, artist Rob Reger's internationally known icon for individualism, female empowerment and do-it-yourself style that's now a "teen brand with attitude" is the focus of a multi-year licensing effort for Gator Group that will span product categories and distribution channels to including new licensing deals for apparel, accessories, room decor, fragrance, jewelry and stationery.

HIT Entertainment, New York, will focus on its core properties at this year's Licensing Show in addition to new and acquired brands.

HIT will support this fall's new Angelina Ballerina series, Angelina Ballerina The Next Steps, with a specialty toy program and a spring 2010 publishing launch with Penguin. In addition to the classic Angelina Ballerina books, Penguin will launch a series of titles featuring Angelina in the series' new CG art style.

This fall, Barney & Friends go globetrotting in new themed episodes on PBS Kids. They'll also star in a new direct-to-DVD movie, Barney's Jungle Friends.

Bob the Builder will go green in the direct-to-DVD movie Project Planet, due out in late August, and star in a new attraction at Legoland Parks worldwide. Bob's sibling properties, Fifi and the Flowertots and Roary the Racing Car, will see new toy, apparel and publishing partners.

On the eve of Thomas' 65th anniversary in 2010, the Thomas & Friends brand moves into a new era, releasing its first computer animated movie, Hero of the Rails, this fall. More than 50 new tie-in products globally, including toys, will hit retail shelves in the fourth quarter.

The Rainbow Magic girls publishing program will debut a new book series, The Music Fairies, this fall.

HIT will also spotlight Aardman Animation's new Timmy Time series, which will join Playhouse Disney's line-up in 2010, and the U.S. debut of the new Wallace & Gromit direct-to-DVD release, A Matter of Loaf & Death.

Los Angeles-based Imagi spotlights its ongoing efforts to leverage its upcoming Astro Boy movie into licensed lines of merchandise. The company has already tapped Jazwares as master toy licensee, Penguin for books, IDW for comic books and graphic novels, and D3 for video games.

New York's Joester Loria Group is continuing efforts to drive Jeep's push into lifestyle branding as the exclusive global licensing agent for Jeep Consumer Products. The company's work in the toy and interactive entertainment realms includes recent expansions into hobby-grade radio-controlled toys from Tamiya and kids' bicycles from Kent.

King Features Syndicate, New York, will focus on licensing programs for food brand Nathan's Famous, graffiti-themed lifestyle brand Tatoot and Brazilian artist Romero Britto, as well as continue programs for its established properties.

Iconic hot dog brand Nathan's Famous is available for licensing in non-food categories such as apparel, housewares, giftware, video games and mobile.

The art of Romero Britto is available for licensing in initial categories such as greeting cards and social expressions, publishing, paper goods, puzzles and games, housewares, personal-care products, apparel and accessories.

Already a line of bags and knapsacks, Tatoot is available for licensing in areas such as apparel and accessories, back-to-school, gifts and collectibles, publishing, stationery and social expressions, sports gear and equipment, and wireless.

Dog and cat cartoon property, Mutts (pictured), has inspired an eco-themed merchandise program that includes apparel, recycled greeting cards and stationery, yoga apparel and accessories, publishing, mobile and digital content.

Horse-themed property The Trail of Painted Ponies is being merchandised as collectible figurines and stationery items.

The company's evergreen comic strip favorites include Popeye, featured on food, footwear and apparel—including a menswear line at retailer H&M this summer; Olive Oyl, seen on fragrances, umbrellas, scarves and three new fashion collections; and Betty Boop, the subject of a growing Baby Boop brand extension that has birthed recent agreements for infant products.

Marvel, New York, has several initiatives underway to further fuel its booming business turning comic book superheroes into mainstream success stories.

A "major" licensing and merchandising campaign is in play to support Marvel Studios' upcoming theatrical slate, Avengers Assemble, a sequence of single character-focused films starting with the release of Iron Man 2 in 2010 and culminating in the multi-character film The Avengers in 2012. Hasbro has master toy rights.

There's also a wide-ranging licensing and merchandising initiative to support Marvel's slate of new animated TV shows, highlighted by The Super Hero Squad Show, a lighthearted new series for boys ages 6 to 8 due to launch on Cartoon Network this fall, supported by toys from Hasbro and Mega Bloks and dress-up products from Disguise/Cesar. Additional animated TV properties include Wolverine and the X-Men and Iron Man: Armored Adventures, both airing on Nicktoons, as well as The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, debuting in 2012.

Lastly, Marvel is looking to grow the appeal of its universe of characters among girls and young women with a new brand, Marvel for Her. The "highly stylized, ultra feminine" licensing program centers on lifestyle apparel and accessories incorporating iconic Marvel superhero and romance art.

Mattel Consumer Products, El Segundo, Calif., is launching a merchandising effort for its new entertainment property, Hot Wheels Battle Force 5.

Scheduled to debut on the Cartoon Network in late August, Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 is a new animated series that stars an elite team of teenage drivers in five "ultra-cool, ultra-fast" vehicles who must work together to save the earth from galactic predators. A "comprehensive" licensing program is planned. Already onboard is Creative Designs International.

Mattel's core Hot Wheels brand also has new deals with the likes of Amscan (party goods), Fundex (games), J. Lloyd International (ride-on toys), CDI (role-play toys) and Hilco (candy). Barbie licensing includes Mattel's first deal with T3 Micro for a limited-edition blow dryer; Markwins for beauty products; Amscan for party goods; Fundex for games; and ToyQuest for outdoor and pool toys, bubble products and gardening accessories.

MGM Consumer Products, Los Angeles, will spotlight several key properties for its near-future licensing programs, lead by efforts for the Pink Panther.

Tops among Pink Panther news is Pink Panther & Pals, a new animated series that will be previewed at the Licensing Show. The series will feature a young Pink Panther and friends solving mysteries based on real-world situations. It will debut on Cartoon Network in 2010.

Other MGM properties to be showcased include SGU: Stargate Universe, a series that will debut on Sci-Fi in October; and the Rocky franchise.

Nelvana Enterprises, Toronto, will showcase The New Adventures of Babar, a 3-D animated update of the Babar story, along with established properties Bakugan, Ruby Gloom, and Mr. Men and Little Miss.

The New Adventures of Babar will introduce kids to King Babar's 8-year-old grandson, along with a cast of new animal characters.

Also new is Willa's Wild Life, based on a book by Oswald creator Dan Yaccarino that follows the adventures of a little girl who brings home stray penguins and hippos instead of cats and dogs. The 2-D animated series is set to air in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Latin America, Italy, Denmark and Australia.

In licensing news for its better-known properties, the Bakugan licensing program has signed several deals in Canada, including Cintex for skateboards, scooters, snowboards, hockey and soccer accessories; Dorel for bikes and helmets; and Disguise for Halloween costumes.

Ruby Gloom, which Nelvana reps outside of the U.S., is being featured on a new line of stationery items in Mexico, a publishing program in several South and Central American markets and back-to-school products in Italy.

As the Canadian licensing agent for Chorion's Mr. Men and Little Miss brand (pictured), Nelvana is upping the property's merchandise assortment in the country to include apparel and accessories, toys and novelty items.

Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products, New York, has its mind set on marquee properties SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and Ni Hao, Kai-lan at this year's Licensing Show.

The company's continuing efforts to mark the 10th anniversary of SpongeBob will see the character featured on fine jewelry, watches, luxury organic T-shirts, furniture, CDs and DVDs.

Preschool phenomenon Dora the Explorer will be the subject of several of new products based on Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom and the new brand extension Dora's Explorer Girls, which features an aged-up Dora fashion doll and accessories for girls 5 to 9.

Nick Jr.'s animated series Ni Hao, Kai-lan will get its first toys this year while Avatar: The Last Airbender will name partners for the movie directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

Paramount Licensing, Los Angeles, looks to drum up interest in two 2011 feature films: Rango, the animated feature about a household pet on a journey of self discovery that's voiced by Johnny Depp; and Tintin, Steven Spielberg's 3-D motion capture feature based on the classic adventure comics about a globe-trotting journalist and his dog.

The company's extensive library of movie properties was the subject of recent deals for dolls from The Alexander Doll Co. for Breakfast at Tiffany's and Funny Face (pictured); and collectible die-cast toys from Mattel based on The Italian Job, Vanilla Sky and Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Planetpals, Newton, Mass., will debut two new characters plus new designs and themes for its eco-friendly property at this month's Licensing Show.

The additions are characters Clean Jean and Recycle Michael; new themes include Happy Trails Nature Park with slogans such as "Forest fires are no joke, before you go put out the smoke." There's also a collection of Woodstock-inspired designs based on the Planetpals Peacepal character (pictured).

Pokémon continues to grow under licensing agent Pokémon USA, New York. Buoyed by the debut last month of the animated TV series' twelfth season, further extensions of the Pokémon brand include partnerships with Toys "R" Us and Burger King, new trading card game expansion sets and a video game for the Nintendo DS.

Scholastic Media, New York, comes to Licensing Show with a brand new property under its wing, Toots, based on the Tootsville virtual world, home to more than 150 colorful elephants characters designed for tweens ages 6 to 12. Scholastic Media's merchandising will focus first on plush, novelties and accessories while also looking for partners in apparel, stationery, domestics, toys, publishing, gift, novelty, video games and games and puzzles.

Scholastic continues to sign deals for the multi-platform property The 39 Clues, language-loving TV series WordGirl and the 3-D animated Turbo Dogs.

Speed Racer Enterprises, Santa Monica, Calif., shifts into high-gear for licensing efforts based on its namesake property. New are online and mobile brand extensions for both Speed Racer: The Next Generation (pictured) and the classic animated series. Additionally, the company added a secure online world to the brand's website.

Mobile initiatives include a deal with Nokia that last month began rolling out more than 200 million new cell phones with both the Speed Racer: The Next Generation and the original Speed Racer series themes pre-programmed into each phone.

Todd Parr's newest children's brand, Planet Color By Todd Parr, is a focus this year for SupperTime Entertainment, Pacific Palisades, Calif.

The property is based around a large-scale online site developed by digital creative agency Animax Entertainment that will feature activities that embody the Planet Color brand attributes of "having fun with color while being kind to the earth and each other."

Planet Color licensees include Chronicle Books for coloring and activity books as well as other paper-based merchandise like flash cards and stationery, Jen's Ideas for apparel and Four Peas for packs and bags.

Synchronicity Inc., Kennebunkport, Maine, is offering a mix of slightly edgy properties and nostalgia-inducing consumer product brands for merchandise deals.

For urban artist Justin BUA, the company is open to "cool" merchandising ideas in areas like footwear, apparel, basketballs, electronics, skateboards, toys, calendar and notebooks.

For Dan Statler's Vulture Kulture (pictured), metal art that was made famous by Statler's 3-D sets for TV series Monster Garage, the company is looking for merchandise partners that resonate with the property's affinity for tattoos, hot rods, motorcycles, punk rock and the like. Licensees already onboard include Perri's (guitar straps), Super Rad Toys (collectible dolls) and Yerzies (custom online apparel).

Sexy Slang, the property that began as a board game in which players translate icons into slang terms, has grown to include sub-themes Sassy Slang and Sporty Slang in time for products from licensees like Trau & Loevner (juniors and young men's tops), Funmobility (cell phone wallpaper) and Silver Buffalo (games and home products).

For those seeking less edgy properties, Synchronicity also offers Kewpie, the iconic doll, Tootsie Roll's candy brands and Wham-O's toy brands.

Art licensing agent TSB & Co., Corona, Calif., arrives at its first Licensing Show to tout Sapna, the juvenile artwork brand from the artist of the same name. New themes for 2009 include Rocket Robots, A Day at the Zoo, Nature's Garden, Leap Frog, Tiki Talk and It's a Girl Thing. New collections from Sapna's Kid Fun by Sapna line and Holiday designs will also be previewed at the show.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Burbank, Calif., arrives at Licensing Show with a property roster anchored by the Harry Potter franchise's latest film adaptation, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. WBCP also showcases several DC Comics properties, including animated series Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and character-based efforts for several DC superheroes.