Sony Pictures Consumer Products

Live-action tween series Cobra-Kai is doing a flying kick into consumer products as Sony Pictures Consumer Products lines up a dojo full of new licensing partners ahead of the show’s move to Netflix.

In the US, new licensing agreements for the karate-focused drama include Bioworld (sleepwear, headwear and accessories), Contenders Clothing (apparel), Funko (action figures, backpacks, hats), IDW Publishing (a four-issue comic series), NECA (collectibles), Party City (costumes), Spirit Halloween (costumes), Surreal Entertainment (water bottles, duffle bags), Teespring (apparel), The Araca Group (apparel, home décor), and Trends International (posters).

Internationally, Sony Pictures’ CP division inked deals with Caprice (apparel for Australia and New Zealand), Ecell Global (phone and tablet accessories for France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain and UK).

Cobra-Kai originally launched on YouTube Premium (formerly, YouTube Red) in 2018 and is a continuation of the Karate Kid franchise, revolving around characters from the original film as they start their own dojos to teach kids different styles of karate. Netflix acquired the two-season series produced and distributed by Sony Pictures, in June, with plans to make a third.

Edutainment Licensing

UK distributor Edutainment Licensing has picked up Caters Media Group’s new mixed-media series Hooray Hippo (pictured) to distribute the series globally. The educational preschool series mixes real footage of animals with 2D animation to teach kids more about different species and their environments. The show has two 10 x two-minute seasons, with a third and fourth in production.

Spin Master

Spin Master has inked new US consumer product partnerships for its Bakugan franchise. New licensees to hop on the brand include Isaac Morris (children’s apparel), Ripple Junction (unisex adult and junior apparel), Handcraft Manufacturing (children and men’s underwear), American Marketing Enterprises Inc. (children and adult sleepwear), Funko (stylized vinyls and accessories), Super Impulse USA (novelty toys), Jakks Pacific (costume and dress up), Finesse Skateboards (skateboard and related accessories), Franco Manufacturing (home goods), Exclusive Candy and Novelty Distribution (confectionary), Rose Paige Distribution (hand sanitizer, tissues, antibacterial wipes), Venley (face masks) and Scholastic (publishing).

Hasbro

Hasbro has expanded its deal with WildBrain CPLG to include the toyco’s merchandise, publishing, promotions and short-term location-based entertainment business across Turkey and CEE regions. The new deal builds on the companies’ previous partnership for the Benelux and Nordics zones.

WildBrain is working on licensing programs in the above regions for Hasbro brands such as Nerf, My Little Pony and Play-Doh. Hasbro used to directly handle its CP business in the area, but is shifting to an agent-based licensing model to better scale its sales efforts, according to a statement from the toyco.