Category: News

Maurizio Distefano Licensing expands CoComelon’s product offering supported by the Master Toy line distributed in Italy by Bandai

Moonbug Entertaiment’s CoComelon, the #1 children’s show on YouTube, has secured several licensing deals with Italian companies thanks to Maurizio Distefano Licensing, Moonbug’s agent in the territory, and Moonbug’s EMEA Master Agent The Point.1888.

This fall, on the shelves, little fans of the series will be able to find: educational games from Headu, puzzles from Lisciani, stamp sets from Multiprint, coloring and activity books from PlayPress and many lines of fall accessories from Coriex, such as umbrellas, hats, scarves and backpacks, the book series from Mondadori, and soap bubbles from Dulcop.

The Master Toy line is distributed in Italy by Bandai and consists of fun toys for the preschool target audience: CoComelon Musical Baby, the Musical Bus, the 3D figurines, the Baby Bath Playset, the Musical Doctor Set, the Musical Tractor, the Musical Plush Book and vehicles.

“We believed from the beginning with great enthusiasm in the potential of Cocomelon, an innovative brand with disruptive features in the panorama of pre-school toys. The expectations are high and the first feedback from the market is absolutely positive. Cocomelons’ Toy Collection is getting ready to be the protagonist of the Christmas season, supported by a robust integrated communication plan. The projects for 2022 are numerous and ambitious, we are just the beginning.” Gianluca Ferrara – Business Manager Bandai Italy

There are numerous marketing activities already planned for the Christmas season 2021 which will involve the major Italian retailers, with the support of dedicated social media. In 2022, with the wider offer of licensed products in the different product categories, transversal digital and physical activities will be carried out to push the sellout of Cocomelon products.

CoComelon boasts today 120 million subscribers on its YouTube channel in English, which is continuously and rapidly growing and reaches from Italy more than 295 million views in 2021 so far. Since June, the channel is also available in Italian. In Italy, the episodes of the series are also available on Netflix, Vodafone TV and Mediaset Infinity.

The key elements of its unstoppable success among subscribers are its educational content, its simplicity and the accessibility of its stories. This animated series, in fact, teaches children how to approach daily activities with enthusiasm. The little viewers are accompanied in every moment of the day in the family: from mealtime to gametime, up to bedtime. The song and music featured in each episode entice children ages one to four to enjoy singing and dancing with JJ and his siblings as they learn letters, numbers, animal noises, colors and more.

BING and MASHA AND THE BEAR for the first time attending LUCCA COMICS & GAMES 2021

Lucca Comics & Games has returned to offer emotions in the heart of the city, offering the public the chance to find the most beloved publishers and exhibitors in historical areas and in places to be discovered.

The event was attended for the first time by Rai Ragazzi, which prepared a very rich program for the three days, featuring previews, Meet & Greet and the participation of the audience’s most beloved characters.

Among them the most popular animated series on Rai Yoyo: Bing with Flop and Masha and Bear, whose participation was organized with the support of Maurizio Distefano Licensing agency, Acamar Films and Animaccord.

On Monday 1 November in the amazing setting of Villa Bottini the characters were the protagonists of the event hosted by Carolina Benvenga, presenter of “La posta di Yoyo”.

Bing and Flop greeted all children with a Meet & Greet and then gave away cardboard ears for the entire audience to wear.

Masha and Bear were also available to all the children for photo opportunities and baby dance and were received with great enthusiasm.

Some of the events that characterized Lucca Comics & Games are available to watch on RaiPlay and all the events were followed live on all active social networks, with a special red carpet in front of the Church of San Francesco.

Interview with creator Charlotte M., the young web star with dizzying numbers who has already developed her own licensing program for fans

Maurizio Distefano Licensing is World Wide licensing agent for Charlotte M., the young web star who can be defined Creator, Influencer and above all Youtuber with her 958.000 subscribers on her ever-growing channel.

The thirteen-year-old from Serravalle Pistoiese has a huge fan base on the “kids” social networks as well, with 980,000 followers on TikTok and 133,000 on Instagram. What’s impressive is the increase of these numbers that rise with a constancy worthy of the “Ferragni phenomenon”, with more than 1000 new contacts every day. Maurizio Distefano Licensing takes care of her licensing program, which already sees the first players in the home stretch for the launch of the new Charlotte M. branded products.

To learn more about Charlotte, there’s no better way than to directly ask her questions about her history and character, which are key to her success.

Web phenomena often arise without planning. How did your story begin and did you imagine it would resonate this way?

“It all started when, at the age of eight, I started making videos in my bedroom for fun and posting them on YouTube. I did it because I enjoyed telling mini-stories about my life: friends, boyfriend and everyday situations. Since it all started as a joke, I never thought I would reach so many people…”

Perhaps it is this spontaneity in choosing the content of each of your videos that brings you so close to your fans, who are mainly school-age girls. What projects have come out of this popularity of yours?

I talk about myself and my friends in my videos and what’s important is that we all have fun together, especially in creating funny or absurd stories and situations. More than being popular, I am so happy to have so many people following me and showing me their affection in the comments. I still can’t believe that real products can come from my contents and when I will get to see them in stores I’m sure it will be an incredible thrill!

Maurizio Distefano Licensing has already entered into licensing agreements with leading Italian companies that plan to launch Charlotte M. branded products at the beginning of the first 2022 quarter.

We know two of your books have already come out, will there be more?

Yes, my first book, published by Fabbri Editori, “Un’estate al college infestato” (A Summer at a Haunted College), came out in 2020, while the second one came out this year and is entitled “Un amore oltreoceano” (An Oversea Love), an adventure set in Los Angeles for kids aged 9 and up. A third book is already scheduled for release, again published by Fabbri Editori, in February 2022, but I won’t reveal anything about it yet!

In addition to products, what are your plans for the future in terms of new content and channels?

I’ve already released two songs, I love to sing and I’m glad my fans really liked them. I just finished recording my third song and will definitely make more songs in the coming months, including in English and Spanish!

Then, I’m honored to be able to participate as a voice actor in two movies that will be in theaters in early 2022. We are also working on turning my first book “A Summer at Haunted College” into a movie that I will be starring in! This is perhaps the project I’m most excited about, along with working on a serialized TV series for all my fans, also planned for 2022. 

Maurizio Distefano, President of the agency, says: “Charlotte M.’s success is clearly noticeable by the numbers on the web, but also by the planning behind the launch of new content and her participation in different productions. The product categories to be involved in the licensing program are numerous and the development of a style guide inspired by the elements we find in her videos, offers products with the true essence of Charlotte to all her many fans.”

The animated series “Leo & Tig”, represented in Italy by Maurizio Distefano Licensing, builds on its success.

New episodes of the “Leo & Tig” animated series, created by Parovoz Studio and commissioned by Digital Television Russia Group, will be broadcast on two children’s TV channels in Italy and premiered in Switzerland.

The second season of the animated series “Leo & Tig”, which premiered successfully on the Rai YoYo TV channel in the summer of 2019, started on October 11. The channel is a part of the Italian state broadcasting corporation Rai.

The animated series “Leo & Tig” tells about the adventures of the little leopard Leo and tiger cub Tig. The animals’ lives are full of adventures, from which they emerge victorious, coping with their own fears and helping each other.

In the first season, the characters learn about the unusual natural environment of the Far East, unravel the secrets of the forest, and come to the aid of those in need. In the second season, Leo and Tig meet a Chinese monkey, LiLi, who has got lost and is in trouble. To help their friend return home, Leo, Tig, Mila, Jara, Martik, and Cuba go on a long journey to different countries.

Besides the release of the new season on Rai YoYo, “Leo & Tig” became available in digital space in Italy on TimVision, Telecom Italia’s streaming platform and one of the main aggregators of high-quality digital content. This would help to expand the brand presence in the region. The first season was launched on October 11.

The love and popularity of the Russian animated series among Italian viewers is also ensured by the cooperation of the 0+ Media company, a part of Digital Television Russia Group, who works with the licensing agency Maurizio Distefano Licensing, with several large Italian companies such as Play Press, Diramix, Mondadori, Grabo Balloons responsible for the production and sale of children’s products with the image of the cartoon characters.

Furthermore, young viewers from Italy and Italian speaking countries, including Switzerland, Malta, Monte Carlo, San Marino and the Vatican, will get a wonderful gift this Christmas: the DeA Junior pay TV channel, owned by one of the largest publishing houses De Agostini, will show the second season of the well-loved animated series, as well as New Year’s songs performed by the cartoon heroes in a new “Leo & Tig. Magic Songs!” show. The first episode of the “Leo & Tig” project premiered on the DeA Junior TV channel on December 13, 2020.

Moreover, on 25 August, the animation project “Leo & Tig” was made available to children in Switzerland in French on Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) on 25 August. This became possible thanks to a deal brokered by APC Kids on behalf of Digital Television Russia Group and Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR), which includes the RTS TV channel. SRG SSR produces and broadcasts radio and television programs in Switzerland in French.

The “Leo & Tig” animated series gained popularity among young Russian viewers immediately after its premiere on the big screen in 2016 as part of the release of the film magazine MOOLT in cinemas. Over time, the story of two inseparable friends became known abroad. This year, the cartoon was shown in several new countries at once: in Israel on the Junior TV channel, in the YouKid app and South Korea’s JEI TV. In addition, another partner of DTR Beijing Joy Culture Media is distributing the project on digital platforms in China.

In 2020, the broadcast rights were purchased by Piwi + (France), Star Channel (Greece), Spacetoon International (Middle East), Gubbare (India). Earlier in 2018, ‘Leo and Tig’ was released on Netflix. Also, Hungary’s national media holding MTVA, RTL Kockica channel in Croatia and a number of digital platforms in China have acquired the rights for Russian animated series.

BBC STUDIOS APPOINTS MAURIZIO DISTEFANO LICENSING AS LICENSING AGENT TO REPRESENT BLUEY IN ITALY

BBC Studios expands global licensing footprint for Bluey by appointing Maurizio Distefano Licensing as agent for Italy.

Gaby Dior, EMEA Licensing Manager, BBC Studios, said: “Maurizio Distefano Licensing brings a valuable wealth of expertise and experience in the preschool sector in Italian market which will be instrumental in launching Bluey and its success.

“I am very much looking forward to working closely with the team to deliver a local program which will reflect Bluey’s brand values and bring them to life across multiple categories.

Bluey is in good hands and ready to delight an increasing fanbase of kids and parents across Italy.”

Maurizio Distefano, President of MDL, said: “We are really excited to have the opportunity to work with BBC Studios and we can’t wait to kickstart Bluey’s licensing program in the Italian market by applying all our expertise.

“The familiar setting mixed with fun and adventure for the characters, are the perfect ingredients to make all Italian children and their families passionate about Bluey.”

Building on a successful launch in Australia, the US and UK, a distribution deal is in place for global master toy provider Moose Toys with Giochi Preziosi in Italy.

This latest agreement marks the launch of Bluey’s EMEA expansion following the earlier appointment of France tv distribution. Global licensing partners Penguin Random House and VTech have since both announced product roll outs in France.

Bluey has won the hearts of kids and parents around the world since it first launched in Australia in October 2018 and has become a global hit. In Italy the show is available on SVOD platform Disney+.

In Australia, Bluey was the #1 children’s programme on metro broadcast television in 2020 and is the #1 series ever on ABC iview with over 480 million views across series one and two since its launch*. In the UK, it was the most viewed show on CBeebies in June** and is also available on Disney+. In the US, across Disney Junior and Disney Channel in Q2 2021, the show was the #1 most watched TV series with kids ages 2-5.***

Bluey has also won multiple awards, such as the International Emmy® Kids Award in the prestigious Preschool Category in 2020, and its second AACTA Awards for Best Children’s Program that same year. The accolades continue in 2021, with Bluey winning four Kidscreen Awards in February.

The series follows Bluey, a six year-old Blue Heeler dog, who loves to play and turns everyday family life into extraordinary adventures.

Bluey is produced by multi-Emmy® award-winning Ludo Studio for ABC Kids Australia, co-commissioned by ABC Children’s and BBC Studios, and distributed internationally by BBC Studios outside of Australia.

BENETTON’S LIFE COLLECTION HAS ARRIVED IN BENETTON STORES AND ON BENETTON E-COMMERCE

Maurizio Distefano Licensing is the Italian agent for LIFE, the magazine that is the source of the most iconic images of the 20th century.

The American weekly magazine, from 1883 to 1972, captured the evolution of society and people habits, collaborating with some of the greatest photographers of the time.

Benetton has chosen LIFE for an iconic collection of t-shirts, sweatshirts and shoppers for men, women and children.

Three Maurizio Distefano Licensing brands join prestigious award shortlist

Bing, Masha and PREMOLI + DI BELLA in Licensing International Excellence Awards.

Maurizio Distefano Licensing (MDL), which manages licensing in Italy for number of major brands across entertainment, lifestyle, digital content creation and fashion, is proud to announce that three properties MDL represents are among the finalists of this year’s Licensing International Excellence Awards.

The three properties for which the agency Maurizio Distefano Licensing was manager of the licensing projects that appear on this year’s shortlist are Bing, Masha and the Bear and PREMOLI + DI BELLA.

Bing is nominated in two categories: Best Licensed Brand – Entertainment, Character, Toy Brand, Animated, thanks to its great success in 2020 and Best Licensed Product Digital – Apps, Software, Video Games. Acamar Films’ award-winning pre-school animated series has enjoyed record-breaking numbers, including three billion YouTube views, one million app downloads and the fastest-growing Facebook channel among pre-school properties in 2020.

Masha and the Bear, the animated series produced by Animaccord, appears in the category Best Licensed Products – Food & Beverage with Benvolio 1938 – Masha and the Bear Sunflower Oil. Benvolio, an Italian licensee, has developed its baby sunflower oil through 100 per cent Italian organic farming, making it ideal for children. The branded oil is customized with the delightful Masha and the Bear characters, both of whom appear on the innovative pack. This is a project that fully embraces the values of this exceptionally popular animated series, which in every episode highlights love, attention, care for the environment and the well-being of children.

PREMOLI + DI BELLA, the property inspired by the artistic expression of the designers Giovanni Premoli and Dario di Bella, has been honoured in the Best Licensed Product – Home Décor category for the PREMOLI + DI BELLA Pet Design Collection project with Ferribiella, a collection where the brand’s instantly recognizable design is dedicated to our four-legged friends. The first collection debuted in November 2020 with the brand’s ‘Iconic’ theme, which brings together avant-garde modernism and Street Style. Following the success of the first collection, the ‘Blusicilia’ collection launched this summer. This range of PREMOLI + DI BELLA, accessories for dogs and cats – and for the home – takes the consumer on a journey into the beauty and joy of summer in Sicily.

The annual Licensing International Excellence Awards event aims to honour innovation and professionalism. This year’s Las Vegas awards ceremony will be virtual. The winners will be announced on August 24.

“This is a wonderful achievement for Bing, for Masha and the Bear, for the creative duo PREMOLI + DI BELLA and also for the licensees, who have managed to translate the values behind each property into effective, original and appealing products for the market,” explains Maurizio Distefano, President of MDL. “We are thrilled that these projects made it into the finals of the Licensing International Excellence Awards 2021. This success is a real tribute to everyone involved.”

Hermet annuncia la collaborazione con L’Archivio Spaziale Internazionale (ISA) per una linea Bedding e Homeware all’insegna dei viaggi nello spazio

Maurizio Distefano Licensing, ISA agent for Italy, concludes the deal with the homeware specialised company.

Maurizio Distefano Licensing, licensing agent for International Space Archives (ISA), concluded the agreement with homeware company with extensive expertise in licensing collaborations Hermet to develop a Bedding and Homeware line.

Hermet will create a Bedding collection consisting of bedding sets and quilts and a Homeware collection including bathroom and kitchen textiles, living room rugs and cushions, tableware and beach towels, which will be customized with the most beautiful images of space exploration missions and the famous symbol of the American space program. The collection will be distributed in mass-market and in all specialty stores for home furnishings, and will also be available online.

Over the past fifty years, manned and unmanned space programmes in the United States and other countries have amassed a huge amount of still and motion photography which is unique in its scope and splendor. For the first time ever, the International Space Archives is bringing together the best of this still and video imagery into one comprehensive collection which is available for licensing worldwide through LMI Ltd, and in Italy through MDL.

The Mission Patches, photos, films and video contained in the archive come from a variety of sources including, indeed, the American space program and the international space programs of Russia, Japan, China, India and the European Union.

Maurizio Distefano, president of MDL, says, “We are thrilled that the International Space Archives (ISA) images archive has been an inspiration to a company like Hermet, whose creativity I’m sure will deliver an impactful and eye-catching collection dedicated to space exploration.”

Maurizio Distefano Licensing will participate to the annual Bologna Licensing Trade Fair online edition with two exclusive events

Join MDL on the 16th of June for two virtual events to present the agency’s news and projects

Maurizio Distefano Licensing (MDL), which manages licensing in Italy for number of major brands across entertainment, lifestyle, digital content creation and fashion, is again attending as an exhibitor the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair online edition, welcoming an online audience to learn more about its plans for its growing portfolio of brands.

MDL is planning to meet the licensing industry on the 16th of June to highlight the latest news and partnership opportunities offered by its diverse and exciting portfolio of properties.

Attendees will be able to join MDL virtually at two exclusive events on the 16th of June.

From 3:00 to 3:30 pm, the focus will be on the company’s entertainment portfolio and in particular the cartoon category, where classic kids’ properties such as Bing, Masha and the Bear and ALVINNN!!! And the Chipmunks will join hot new acquisitions like CoComelon, Blippi and Morphle.

Visitors can hear the latest news about this exciting line-up, including developments in the digital sphere, where MDL is working with online platforms to increase awareness and reach an even broader target audience.

From 4:00 to 4:30 pm, two more MDL property portfolios will take centre stage: creators and fashion brands.

There’s a high-flying recent arrival in what MDL calls its creators category, in the form of web star Charlotte M, who creates digital content for her fans on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Visitors can also learn about MDL’s growing portfolio of lifestyle brands through a presentation of the agency’s growing involvement in product categories such as apparel, home & living and accessories.

The Bologna Licensing Trade Fair has long been a fixture in the Maurizio Distefano Licensing calendar, usually as an exhibitor with a dedicated stand. This year MDL will be attending online but, as ever, plans to present highlights of the rich selection of properties in its portfolio and to underline the licensing opportunities they offer.

The Bologna calendar, with many exciting appointments to choose from, is now available at www.bolognalicensing.com. The line-up includes awards, international conferences, talks, masterclasses, webinars, live streaming, interviews and meetings, featuring many of the stars of the licensing industry, including, of course, Maurizio Distefano Licensing. Visitors and attendees will be able to hear all the latest news and communicate their own news to the large audience registered for the event.

Visitor subscription to the event is free: just register on the website Registrazione area riservata (bolognachildrensbookfair.com).

“Bologna Licensing Trade Fair is a great opportunity to speak to fellow professionals from the licensing industry,” says Maurizio Distefano, President of MDL “Although this year it will be virtual, it has been brilliantly organised in a way that allows us to participate, make contacts and discuss opportunities, setting us up for next year, when we will again have the opportunity to meet everyone in person.”

Moonbug and Maurizio Distefano Licensing Deal Sparks CoComelon Merchandise Deals in Italian Market

From Educational Games to Branded Footwear, Immediate Success of Global Phenomenon, CoComelon, is Catalyst for Several Consumer Product Lines in Italy.

CoComelon, the number one kids show is now part of Maurizio Distefano Licensing’s portfolio of properties. The deal, which was made in February 2021 in partnership with Moonbug, the world’s largest digital kids media company for content creation, has already captured the attention of several additional licensees which have planned to develop their latest products leveraging the  IP: Headu will create a wide range of educational games, such as flash-cards and tactile cards; Coriex will develop an entire line of accessories; OLED will make a collection of baby products; Multiprint will produce stamp sets and colors; EasyShoes will create branded footwear and Dulcop will create bubbles in all different formats.

CoComelon boasts more than 112 million subscribers on its YouTube channel – increasing rapidly every day. In Italy alone, it reaches 44 million views per month. The key to its unstoppable success is its highly educational content, accessibility and relatable stories. The animated series teaches children how to take on everyday activities and models positive behavior with a sense of enthusiasm. Young audiences can follow relatable family moments: from mealtime and playtime to naptime. The cheerful nursery rhymes of each episode attract little ones aged from one to four who love to dance and sing with Baby JJ and his siblings while learning letters, numbers, animal sounds, colors and much more.

Maurizio Distefano, President of Maurizio Distefano Licensing, commented: “I was immediately impressed by the strength that this property showed also among Italian families, who appreciated its educational content and catchy tunes. The increasing number of licensees who chose to develop products leveraging CoComelon just a couple of months after its arrival to our portfolio was further confirmation of this. We can definitely say that the series is having a remarkable and promising debut in the Italian licensing market.”

PREMOLI + DI BELLA Pet Design unveils new collaboration with Ferribiella

Blusicilia collection of pet accessories celebrates summer, sea, sky and Sicily

Maurizio Distefano Licensing (MDL), which manages the licensing programme for the fashion brand PREMOLI + DI BELLA, has announced the launch of Blusicilia, the latest PREMOLI + DI BELLA Pet Design collection from the dynamic and creative partnership of Giovanni Premoli and Dario Di Bella. It is produced and distributed under licensing agreement by Ferribiella Spa, a name synonymous with Italian excellence in the world of pet comfort.

Available through a selected distribution network of about 2,000 points of sale in Italy’s finest pet shops, the Blusicilia collection from PREMOLI + DI BELLA Pet Design uses a design style and colours that celebrate the beauty and joy of summer in Sicily – in fact Blusicilia combines the Italian words for blue and Sicily.

The pillows, water and food bowls, placemat trays, beach towels, beach bags and leash accessories that make up this collection of products are not only high-quality and functional but stylish and evocative, bringing to even the most domestic space a summery Sicilian feel that lasts all year long.

The Blusicilia summer theme is designed to stimulate feelings – in both the owner and the pet – of peace and relaxation, with a little help from careful fabric selection and chromotherapy – the use of colours to aid health and harmony – both of which make full use of many years of research by Ferribiella Spa.

The 100% fresh cotton-canvas pillow has a completely removable and washable lining including a non-slip nylon base, and an innovative cooling mat called Brividino, that reacts to the animal’s body pressure, soothing and refreshing the pet. Inspired by the summer afternoon siesta, it’s perfect for hot summer days.

The water and food bowls use minimal design where the shades of the colour – a key point of this collection – go from deep blue to crystalline blue with a gradient effect, a reference to the shades of the sea reminiscent of the view from a Sicilian island.

Placemat trays of soft silicone are enriched by the symbol of Hephaestus: the Greek god of fire, metalworking, stone masonry, forges and the art of sculpture – and the iconic emblem of the PREMOLI + DI BELLA brand.

Then there’s the soft and absorbent microfibre beach towel, and the super stylish beach bag, breathable and made of fresh canvas cotton with eco-friendly leather details and decorations. This bag also includes a security leash, metal support legs and a reinforced pillow to give every pet more comfort during transportation.

The collection is rounded off with an exceptional set of leash accessories: collar, leash, harness and bag holder in cotton canvas combined with eco-leather and a marine-inspired t-shirt in clutch packaging with a personal anchor print, a useful accessory in which to hold small items for the care of a pet.

The Blusicilia design was inspired by the things that make Sicily so memorable: the rich Baroque architecture, the opulent decor, the colours of the table, the warm light of the sun on the cobblestones, the smell of citrus fruits, the joy of the people in the festivals – and of course the sea on the horizon in all its intensity and its thousand shades of blue. “Sea waves are sovereign on the island and this is how we wanted to represent them,” say Giovanni Premoli and Dario Di Bella.

Maurizio Distefano, President, MDL, says: “These are distinctive products, reflecting an eclectic and personal style, but inclusive and accessible in line with the philosophy of the PREMOLI + DI BELLA Pet Design brand. With a truly inspired design and colour scheme that evokes the travel and sunshine that so many of us are now looking forward to, this collection will delight both pet owners and pets.”

The thirty-ninth comic book adventure of Asterix, Obelix and Idefix arrives on October 28, 2021 thanks to Panini Comics with a mysterious and terrifying character.

Among Maurizio Distefano Licensing’s properties is Asterix, the brand inspired to the fun adventures of the famous hero of Gaul created by Les Éditions Albert René that, as of today, counts 60 years of history with over 385 million sold comics. Asterix is true evergreen, that’s why it can afford to fascinate a very transversal target. Its last comic book sold over 5 million copies in the world, for a total of over 20 million readers and its adventures have been translated in 111 languages and dialects.

Panini Comics set the release date of the next volume “Asterix and the Griffin” for the 28th of October 2021. Asterix, Obelix and Idefix, accompanied by the druid Panoramix, will get involved in the epic and full of unexpected search for the Griffin, a mysterious and fantastic mythological creature. Jean-Yves Ferri, author of the thirty-ninth volume, says “All I had left to do was to choose the animal to be at the center of the story from the rich archive of ancient mythology, and I chose the Griffin, half eagle, and half lion with horse ears: in short, an enigmatic creature!”. The new comic book will be released in 17 different languages.

“We’re very glad to have Asterix in our licensing portfolio.” Says Maurizio Distefano, President of MDL, “The creation of new contents and new stories is surely one of the most important things for a Property, and this makes Asterix a safe choice in the licensing market”.

Maurizio Distefano Licensing appointed as licensing agent for Charlotte M.

MDL to build on success of young YouTuber who is already a publishing phenomenon

Maurizio Distefano Licensing (MDL) has been appointed as worldwide licensing agent for Charlotte M., a young YouTuber who, at the tender age of 13, is already a web star with more than 800,000 subscribers on YouTube, a TikTok following of close to the same number and 100,000 followers on Instagram.

Charlotte M. is especially popular among teenage girls, who love the humour and spontaneity with which she talks about her life and the topics that affect her life – and, of course, their lives: first crushes, friendship, arguments, going to school and how she fills her free time.

The Charlotte M. story began when she asked her mother to record her pretending to transform herself into a mermaid with a magic potion. YouTube viewers took notice, her videos became more polished and professional, and her audience grew. She even recorded her own song. Called “I LOVE YOU“, it has more than six million views on YouTube and is also available on Spotify. She has already planned the release of her next song for this summer.

Charlotte M.’s popularity has inspired Fabbri Editori to publish a series of novels, the first two of which – Charlotte M. Un’estate al College Infestato (Summer in the Haunted College) and Charlotte M. Un Amore Oltreoceano (An Overseas Love) – are now available in bookstores and on mondadoristore.it. In fact Un’estate al College Infestato has been adapted for a movie that will be shot this summer. Charlotte M. is now working on her third book.

MDL sees many opportunities in a wide range of categories for its Charlotte M. licensing campaign. In fact, as Maurizio Distefano, President of the agency, says: “Working with Charlotte M. allows us to build a licensing campaign that reflects the web star’s world, a world known and loved by the digitally savvy teenagers who assiduously follow top influencers and who make up the target audience for licensed Charlotte M merchandise. We’re looking at a number of different product categories, for all of which we believe we can create projects with high impact and excellent sales prospects.”

Coming soon in all kiosks the new Masha and the Bear official magazines and comic books

The official magazines and the comic books with the most loved couple by children will soon be available!

Thanks to the deal managed by Maurizio Distefano Licensing between Panini and Animaccord, a multinational licensing company and production studio of the animated series Masha and the Bear, the monthly magazine, available from the 15th of April 2021, and the comic books dedicated to the wildest tv characters, available from the 29th of April 2021, are coming soon in all kiosks.

Masha and the Bear will be the stars of the upcoming Panini publications, that include the official magazine, out every month, with many activities, stories, drawings to color and gift gadgets, and several comics, designed to stimulate reading between children thanks to the comic facilitated narration and thanks to simple activities and games, all available in bookstores, in kiosks and on www.panini.it website.

The animated series Masha and the Bear, a classic among children, boasts an incredible awareness. According to Parrot Analytics, leading global TV content demand analytics company, the animated series is included in TOP-5 most in-demand kids show in the world as of January 2021 as well as is ranked #3 among top favorite kids’ entertainment brands in Europe and MEA among children 0-6 years (Source: Kidz Global, Jan 2021 edition).

Masha and the Bear airs daily on Rai YoYo with an intense schedule, that played a key role in the series success since its arrival in Italy. The episodes are available also on the Rai App, Rai Play, giving the chance to watch them any moment of the day.

“We are positive that the partnership between the Italian company leader in the editorial field, and one of the most successful series in the world and in Italy, can only collect great results”, says Maurizio Distefano, President of Maurizio Distefano Licensing that continues with: “Panini with Masha and the Bear was able to develop very attracting products, combining high quality and educational content, perfect elements for the interested target.”

Leo&Tig plushes by De.Car2 are coming soon

The adventurous friends of the eastern taiga, Leo and Tig, will become part of De.Car2’s catalogue as new plush toys with many of special features to discover

Maurizio Distefano Licensing managed the agreement between De.Car2, a company of games and toys specialized in plush products from Piedmont, for the making of a collection dedicated to Leo&Tig, and 0+ Media, a part of Digital Television Russia.

De.Car2 will develop an entire line with the two protagonists Leo and Tig, presenting to the series fans a selection of the softest and cutest plush toys perfect to hug and cuddle. Some of the products will also include special sound features, playing songs and phrases from the series, operable thanks to buttons and motion detectors that work just by passing the hand in front of the product.

Leo and Tig are two cubs of leopard and tiger that live in the eastern Taiga with all their friends, where they discover all its wonders and hidden secrets. This animated series is for all those who, like the two protagonists, love living adventures along with friends. During each episode, Leo and Tig learn to be kind, friendly, to help one another and to respect nature. The first and the second season are available on Rai App, Rai Play, at any time, giving little fans the chance to watch the fantastic stories of Leo and Tig whenever they want.

“The many projects made until now with Leo and Tig are a demonstration of its strength in the Italian licensing market” states Maurizio Distefano, President of MDL “now finally, thanks to De.Car2, they will also have their own line of soft toys, a princely product that will certainly attract attention and satisfy many children desires”.

Maurizio Distefano Licensing welcomes new properties in both brand and music categories thanks to the agreement with Global Merchandising Services

World-renowned and music artists, as well as multi-Michelin starred chef, Gordon Ramsay, are now available for successful licensing projects.

Maurizio Distefano Licensing starts its partnership with Global Merchandising Services, leader in creating unique and innovative international merchandise programs, welcoming new properties for both brand and music category.

In fact, the agency brand portfolio will now include some of the most iconic artists in music history and Gordon Ramsay the brand.

Now the music portfolio welcomes Rock, Pop and Metal artists, a roster that includes just to mention a few ranging from: Motörhead, Iron Maiden, Slayer to, Backstreet Boys, Little Mix, Louis Tomlinson and many more. Thanks to this partnership, Maurizio Distefano Licensing represents some of the biggest, most iconic music artists in the world for the Italian market, who have sold collectively in excess of 1 billion records. A roster that commands sold out tours all over the world and influences global fashion trends and the great variety of musical genres gives the possibility to offer a wide range of ideal projects that can be spread in many other categories.

Apparel, accessories, footwear are only a few of the possibilities behind these new properties that can even extend to so many other specific categories such as food and beverage, makeup or home and living.

Maurizio Distefano, CEO of the agency states: “We are eager to start working with Global Merchandising Services and the properties it offers to the Italian licensing market. This partnership surely enriches our portfolio and allows us to access another inspirational branch of the licensing world which, already at the early stages of the deal, encountered the interest of many licensees.”

“We are delighted to work with Maurizio Distefano Licensing “, says José Santiago, international licensing manager at Global Merchandising Services. “A great opportunity to grow and continue to develop our client’s business in Italy.”

Easter becomes colorful with Maurizio Distefano Licensing

The upcoming chocolate eggs by greatest partners will be featuring the agency’s cartoons

Like every year, Easter is coming up as well as the many personalized chocolate eggs with children’s favorite cartoons. Maurizio Distefano Licensing agency fills up with agreements, placing each one of its properties on the shelves thanks to great chocolate partners.

For Masha and the Bear, the 190gr milk chocolate egg is made by Motta. In all Masha and the Bear eggs children can find the super surprises featuring their favorite couple, like the memory or domino game. Masha and the Bear is now considered a classic property, a safe choice for all partners that want to develop successful licensing projects.

Dolfin is celebrating Easter with Bing. Easter eggs made from the finest milk chocolate, there are 4 different sizes to choose from. Whether it’s the Maxi Bing Egg at 320g or the Mini Bing Egg at 50g (with two sizes in between!), Bingsters and their grown-ups can spend the holiday enjoying a treat with their favourite character, Bing!

Still Dolfin, offers the Easter egg with ZAFARI, tinged with the many peculiar colors of the TV series. ZAFARI is appreciated by children because the characters in the series are special animals, with coats that belong to species different from their own.

Moving on to ALVINNN!!! And the Chipmunks, Easter will be by Walcor, that will place on the shelf a milk chocolate egg for all fans of the restless singing chipmunk band that continues to collect record-breaking ratings.

Absolut news for this Easter season 2021 is the Gigantosaurus chocolate egg, the dino-comedy on air on Rai YoYo that Witor’s chose. The fantastic surprises inside will make all the dino-fans go crazy.

Licensees of this Easter season have a great experience in the selection of the properties in the confectionary field for children. This years Easter with Maurizio Distefano Licensing’s cartoons will be surely delicious and successful.

 

RAI signed the media deal for broadcasting the New Season of Masha and Bear in Italy

The Season 5 new episodes of Animaccord’s TV series will air on Rai YoYo

Animaccord has confirmed a new broadcast deal with the Italian public media company Rai for Masha and the Bear Season 5, produced in new format of 4K (UHD) resolution. The first episodes of the new season will air daily on Rai Yoyo and Rai Play from May, occupying the best slots on the channels.

“We’re excited with the technical innovations that have been implemented by Animaccord to produce and bring its new Season in 4K, making a breakthrough in preschool serial animation field.  We’re happy to plunge kids to this Masha and the Bear’s fantasy world that is always close to their daily life & feelings as well as to amaze them with the new scripts and the undiminished energy of the character in exceptional premium quality” – comments Annalisa Liberi, Head of Acquisitions, Rai Ragazzi.

Alongside the launch of the core show’s new season, on February 27, 2021, Rai will also release Animaccord’s new educational musical project named Nursery Rhymes, where the world-wide famous character Masha leads babies and toddlers through a wonderful world of nursery rhymes, helping them to tap into their hidden talents and develop them.

Maurizio Distefano Licensing, Masha and the Bear agent in Italy, welcomes these releases with enthusiasm, being able to propose many new features to the existing and potential licensees of the Property.

This year Animaccord marks the 10th years since the first media deal signed for Masha and the Bear Season 1 for Rai to premier the cartoon in Italy – the first country outside the home market where Masha and the Bear became a huge success.

Masha and the Bear starring the new albums by Edizioni Play Press.

From January the Magic Album, the Stickers and Colors, the Crossword Puzzle, and the Draw and Color albums are available in all kiosks starring children’s favorite characters, Masha and the Bear!

Thanks to the deal managed by Maurizio Distefano Licensing between Animaccord’s successful property Masha and the Bear and Edizioni Play Press, the new activity and coloring albums are already available in all kiosks from January with the stars of the animated series. Every month a new album will be available in all kiosks.

The Magic Album, the Stickers and Colors, the Crossword Puzzle, and the Draw and Color albums have as protagonists of their stories, drawings to color and stickers, the friendly Masha and Bear. A fun and creative way for fans of the animated series to learn and play with their favorite characters. All Play Press albums have the special soft touch feature for their covers, a technique that makes them velvety and gives them a magic touch!

The animated series Masha and the Bear, tells the daily life of Masha, a mischievous and lively little girl that loves to play pranks and cause troubles to her friend Bear, with seemingly infinite patience. A perfect metaphor of the relationship between parent and child, which makes the series extremely accessible and easy to identify with. Masha and the Bear episodes are on air every day on Rai YoYo, the channel that contributed to the taking off of the series thanks to the intense schedule since its arrival in Italy and that still today keeps fans at the highest point of interest. Rai Play, the web-portal and Rai App version where Masha and the Bear came in second as the most viewed Kids title during 2020, plays a key role in the series success as well, allowing to view the episodes at any time.

Masha and the Bear boasts 3 million subscribers on the Italian YouTube channel. Moreover, Masha and the Bear is a record-breaking series: it has set the Guinness World Records as the most watched cartoon on YouTube and one of its latest episodes entered the HIROSHIMA 2020 International Animation Festival for its special list of programs titled “BEST OF THE WORLD”. According to Parrot Analytics, an international research agency, it is included in TOP-5 most in-demand kids show in the world as of January 2021.

Thanks to the long-lasting partnership with the Maurizio Distefano Licensing agency, Masha and the Bear has an extremely active licensing program in Italy, ranging in many product categories: toys, food, apparel and more. In addition to being able to easily find all products on the Masha and the Bear personal Amazon store and in the dedicated area of the Toys Center website, fans can also find Masha and the Bear in-store, with an even more immersive experience thank to the initiative of the retailer Toys Con Te, who dedicated an exclusive exhibition space to the series.

“Masha and the Bear is one of the most-watched series by children, which corresponds to a constant research and demand for its products. This collaboration with Edizioni Play Press will certainly satisfy young readers, who will be able to play with Masha and the Bear while stimulating their imagination and creativity.”

Maurizio Distefano Licensing (MDL) partners with Moonbug, one of the largest digital media companies in the world, to serve as Italian licensing agent.

Italian licensing program includes global sensations CoComelon, Blippi and My Magic Pet Morphle

MDL today announced it has partnered with Moonbug Entertainment Ltd. to become the licensing agent in the Italian market for CoComelon, Blippi and My Magic Pet Morphle. In just two years, Moonbug has become a kids’ programming powerhouse with a library of more than 550 hours of content, which is distributed on more than 100 platforms globally, including YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Joyn, Sky and Roku.

CoComelon teaches children how to take on everyday activities and role models positive behavior with a sense of enthusiasm. Kids can easily relate to the universal themes and everyday narratives such as eating your vegetables, learning to tie your shoes and getting ready for bed. With its bright and bold colors and cheerful nursery rhymes and phrases, CoComelon attracts children aged one to four to sing and dance along with Baby JJ and his siblings as they learn letters, numbers, animal sounds, colors and more. It is available on all major platforms including Amazon, Spotify, Apple Music, Roku and Netflix and has surpassed 100 million subscribers on YouTube and garnered nearly 100 billion views on the platform.

Blippi is an energetic and loveable character clad in orange and blue that jumps off the screen with his goofy mannerisms and friendly demeanor. He’s taught millions of kids how to count, colors, letters, and much more. In just a few years since his inception, Blippi has become a global sensation with over 11 million YouTube subscribers and 700 million views per month. Blippi is also available on some of the largest premium streaming services such as Hulu, Amazon Prime, Roku, Virgin Media and Kidoodle.

Morphle is a magical red pet who can morph himself into anything – a sweet puppy, a giant truck, a cool dinosaur or anything that his human companion Mila’s playful mind can imagine. The series is aimed at children aged three to six and is available in 12 languages. With over 250 episodes in its library, the show teaches preschoolers the themes of friendship, problem solving and creativity, and is available on a range of digital platforms including YouTube, Amazon, Netflix, Apple TV, and most recently, was part of a deal to be shown on Virgin Media platforms. A hit with tots and their families worldwide, the Morphle YouTube channel has 9.6 million subscribers and has had over 6 billion views since it was established in 2011.

“The relatable content in these properties makes them highly accessible, involving both children and parents in their first learning phases” states Maurizio Distefano, President of MDL. “The successes that these series have collected since their inception demonstrates their strength, and we’re excited to help fans access products that include their favorite characters.”.

BING’S SUCCESS CONTINUES! NUMEROUS CONTRACTS SIGNED BY MAURIZIO DISTEFANO LICENSING AND A NEW VACCINATION EPISODE

The fourth season of the Emmy Award-winning preschool series, Bing, airing daily on Rai YoYo, thrills little ones thanks to themes close to the early years and now more relevant than ever. In fact, in one of the new episodes titled “Vaccination”, Bing meets a new character, Dr. Molly, to get vaccinated, a way to help children deal with this type of situation that can be a little scary. When this episode first aired in December on Rai YoYo, it reached 343,000 AMR and was the channel’s most watched episode of the day, with an 18.9% share among children ages 4-7!

The fourth season presents also a new character, Nicky, Sula’s little cousin, and many new themes and events, such as Halloween, Christmas and New Year’s. Other inherent emotional themes that the new series addresses are disappointment, worry, sadness, kindness, courage, and trust.

Overall, Bing was the most watched series in the 6 p.m. time slot among all children’s shows in Italy this December! Season 4 is also available on Rai YoYo’s RaiPlay app, where Bing is currently ranked #1.

The launch of the new episodes had a significant impact on audience’s engagement also on all the other platforms and channels, such as social media. App downloads increased by an incredible +36% in the month of December alone!

In addition, the first sign language version of Bing is available on TIMVision.

Maurizio Distefano Licensing, Bing’s Italian agent, continues to close licensing contracts with major Italian companies: the latest arrivals are Lubex, which will develop a line of accessories for cars, with sun shades suitable for younger passengers; Adriatic with beach toys, buckets and molds; Smoby for scooters and tricycles and Sevi that, thanks to the agreement with Giochi Preziosi, will develop wooden toys inspired by the series.

Masha and the Bear on Rai2: an exclusive behind-the-scenes interview with the series Masha and the Bear whose success is unstoppable

“Tg2 Storie” and “Rai News 24” dedicated a report to Animaccord’s animated series, Masha and the Bear, revealing some of the most interesting aspects behind its creation and production.

The report aired on Rai2’s program “Tg3 Storie” on the 27th of Dicember 2020 and on the “RAINews-24 channel”, during one of the daily news reports on the 31st of Dicember 2020 and on the 1st of January 2021. Masha and the Bear episodes are on air every day on Rai YoYo, the channel that contributed to the taking off of the series thanks to the intense schedule since its arrival in Italy and that still today keeps fans at the highest point of interest. RaiPlay, the web-portal and Rai App version, plays a key role in the series success as well, allowing to view the episodes at any time.

The TV report, that aired on the Rai2 channel, presented a glimpse of some of the curiosities behind the animated series Masha and the Bear, known worldwide and dubbed in 42 different languages. Starting from how it all began, to some of the making processes, it offers an overview of what happens behind-the-scenes of the world’s successful series.

Oleg Kuzovkov, creator of Masha and the Bear, explains how the idea was born in 1996 from the encounter with a very lively little girl at the beach who kept bothering everyone. From there, 12 years later, the successful episodes of Masha and the Bear were created. Click on this link to watch the report by Rai2 dedicated to Masha and the Bear at the minute 34:38:

http://www.tg2.rai.it/dl/RaiTV/programmi/media/ContentItem-1a5cb87d-22e4-4835-803f-493a856f4399-tg2.html#p=0

Thanks to Maurizio Distefano Licensing, Masha and the Bear, has a very active licensing program in Italy, with licensees for every product category, ranging from Easter eggs to olive oil, from footwear to children’s masks, from toys to publishing. The products of the licensees are also available online, in particular on Amazon with the dedicated Masha and the Bear shop, as well as on the Toys Center website. The Masha and the Bear experience is also immersive in-store: Toys Con Te has, in fact, dedicated an exclusive exhibition space to the series.

Maurizio Distefano, President of MDL, stated: “Masha and the Bear is a certainty on all points, the high quality of the series reflects automatically in each of its projects. A must for children’s television programs, which appreciate its proposal both in terms of content and products”.

Masha and the Bear, on air every day on Rai YoYo and Rai Play where it was the second most viewed Kids title during 2020, boasts 3 million subscribers on the Italian YouTube channel and 5.4 million followers on the Facebook page, continuing to prove its strength in the market. The series has established the Guinness World Record as the most viewed cartoon on YouTube, its success continues to grow to the point that one of its latest episodes entered the HIROSHIMA 2020 International Animation Festival for its special list of programs titled “BEST OF THE WORLD” and according to Parrot Analytics, an international research agency, it is included in TOP-5 most on-demand kids shows in the world as of December 2020.

FIRST EVER SIGN LANGUAGE VERSION OF BING NOW AVAILABLE IN ITALY

Acamar Films’s Italian VOD partner, TIMVISION, produced the first ever sign language version of the multi-award-winning hit pre-school series, Bing.

Bing celebrates the messy, joyful reality of pre-school life and finds the big stories in the little moments. These stories represent the everyday dramas that all young children and the grown-ups in their lives will recognise.

A selection of original Bing episodes featuring an Italian sign language interpreter launched on TIMVISION on 24th December 2020 as part of the company’s commitment to offer educational and fun-filled opportunities to deaf children in Italy. These dubbed episodes joined the original 78 episodes of Bing that have been available to stream on TIMVISION since November 2019. A total of 14 LIS (Lingua dei segni italiana) A total of 14 LIS (Lingua dei segni italiana) episodes will be available to stream by the end of this month with more to come in 2021.

Eroulla Constantine, Director of Sales and Distribution, Acamar Films said, “We are delighted to have Bing as part of TIMVISION’s growing catalogue of LIS version episodes on their platform. We stand alongside TIMVISION’s commitment to diversity and inclusion with meeting children’s specific needs.  We look forward to having more inclusive episodes of the series available in Italy.”

Bing has seen incredible success in Italy since it first launched in 2018 and is beloved among little ones and their grown-ups in the region. With more stories in high demand, the latest series recently launched on-air and on various platforms including the new Bing app, ‘Bing: Guarda, Gioca, Impara’. The app successfully launched in the summer and includes episodes and compilations, learning games and activities.

PREMOLI + DI BELLA: THE PET COLLECTION IN-STORE EXPRESSES FASHION, ART, TRADITION AND INNOVATION

 

THE PERFECT UNION BETWEEN PET AND DESIGN

Fashion, Art, Tradition and Innovation, these are the key words that best summarize the collection PREMOLI + DI BELLA Pet Design, produced and distributed under licensing agreement by Ferribiella Spa, a signature of Italian excellence in the world of Pet comfort. PREMOLI + DI BELLA Pet Design is a line dedicated to the four-legged friends that opens new scenarios in the Pet world, where the dialogue animal-man and fashion-interior design have been placed at the center of the entire creative process by the creative duo Giovanni Premoli and Dario Di Bella, defined as the Designers of the Third Millennium, Artists of Lifestyle.

PREMOLI + DI BELLA Pet Design is already available in the best Pet stores from November 2020 with several other seasonal releases to come, each one presenting a new particular theme created by the Duo, immersing and involving animals with innovative and functional products, result of years of studies, researches and know-how by Ferribiella Spa. The specific characteristics that animals will surely appreciate, leave room to a careful interaction with their owner giving them the chance to establish a synergic relationship in a particular journey that touches the world of interior and home décor. PREMOLI + DI BELLA Pet Design will allow, in fact, all fans of home décor and home interior to use the items of the Pet collection as true design objects that fit perfectly with the rest of the furniture becoming a part of it, in a perfect dialogue with the Lifestyle of the collections by PREMOLI + DI BELLA.

PREMOLI + DI BELLA Pet Design launched its first collection with the theme “Iconic”, symbol and expression of the brand itself, where accents of pure modernism in an avantgarde key communicate in Street Style, demonstrating the bold creativity of the Giovanni Premoli and Dario Di Bella duo. It’s composed by the most soft and enveloping velvet beds design for dogs and cats, soft velvet blankets for home-pet use, raincoat ponchos, gym-flavored suits and, for an impeccable mise en place, ceramic bowls with matching placemats. An urban snowfall inspired the creation of the Snowfall print, where the free-fall black and white polka dots harmonize perfectly with the creative trimmings. The black and white fashion stripes, updated and made extremely contemporary, find their place in the iconic Millediquesterighe print. A particular role was given in the collection to Polyphemus 5.0, the mechanical eye witness of the 5.0 era in a perfect integration between man and robot, developed through a street art graphic. From the Greek mythology comes Hephaestus, which aims at an unparalleled perfection made of geometric lines and Greek decoration, an iconic symbol of the brand PREMOLI + DI BELLA that make it recognizable and impeccable for every need.

The colors are all played on black and white tones, with only some rare exceptions with touches of Lake Blue and Veiled Rose. The expert use of the different textures such as velvet, together with innovative and environmentally sustainable materials such as silicone, passing through valuable processes that include craftmanship, such as the slow cooking process of 3 fires of ceramic, give the possibility to explore this collection through a different eye in which the words Art, Tradition and Innovation are at the core of the story of our heritage. The innovative and distinctive storytelling of the brand PREMOLI + DI BELLA present products in continuous evolution, allowing the consumer to appreciate not only the careful search for details, the choice and quality of the material and the cure for the packaging, but also the constant enhancement of the Italians traditional techniques and the use of Art in all its forms, making these products original and creating an eclectic and personal style, in perfect balance between inclusivity and accessibility, cornerstones on which the entire philosophy of the brand revolves. The decomposed use of the brand PREMOLI + DI BELLA is a fundamental part of the graphics and is included in a visionary and artistic way, never too present, giving the product a cosmopolitan style with a strong craftmanship.

Visit the PREMOLI + DI BELLA website: https://www.premolidibella.com/

Filippo Latera creates an accessible fashion design and sportwear launching his e-commerce www.filippolaterzashop.com

FILIPPO LATERZA after marking the best international runaways, dressing the most popular celebrities among the star system (Barbara D’Urso, Elodie, Malika Ayane, Federica Panicucci, Francesca Barra… and many more) and having designed for the Red Carpet in Venice, Mila Suarez, Georgia Mos (just to mention a few), he presented his collections for women at AltaRoma, White Milano, Shangai, Shenzhen and Dakar fashion week (where he won the award as Italian Creative Genius).

At only 20 years old Filippo Laterza started working with Stefano Cavalli on the kid’s fashion category. Pitti Bimbo sees him protagonist for the Quis Quis line and for two other collection entirely dedicated to him, such as Alisha V and Cesare Paciotti Maine Line.

After his experience in the kid’s category, the women’s haute couture and the bridal category, after the high-end category and the important collaboration with Mattel on the exclusive line for Barbie he works with Rovio for Angry Birds twice in London, Shangai, Milan and Florence to international attention.

Now for the first time he offers an accessible line and sportwear thanks to the licensing agreement signed with Made in Italy Confezioni to launch the e-commerce “www.filippolaterzashop.com“. A collection ready-to-wear made of T-shirts, hoodies and many other accessories that Filippo defines “Genderless”, to express the fluidity of everyone’s identity without having to deprive us from the freedom to represent ourselves, in fact, there is no Women or Men line, the garments are identified only by Adults and Kids and they are also Body Positive, which means without aesthetic stereotype. The range from size S to XXXL and for children from 2 to 12 years old.

They are developed in three different colors: white, black and lilac Filippo’s iconic color. Lilac represents the awakening of the soul, the control of rationality over emotivity.

All items of the collection present three main icons.
The unicorn, symbol of nobility and purity, energy and spirituality. An iconic symbol that unites everyone beyond ethnicity, gender and age;

The heart, that represents emotionality, sincerity and love. The place where soul and body “meet”.

The paper plane, which is the first toy children choose to fly high with their dreams.

To launch the new e-commerce platform, Filippo Laterza celebrated with his 81K followers by creating a new Instagram filter #FILIPPOLATERZAUNICORN. The community loved straight away the initiative that reached 10K views in one day.

The episodes of the animated series, Leo&Tig, represented by Maurizio Distefano Licensing (MDL), launch on the Italian channel DeA Junior

The popular animated series “Leo and Tig”, created by Parovoz Studio for Digital Television Russia company starts broadcasting on DeA Junior on December 13.

Young viewers of DeA Junior will have an amazing marathon of animation with the participation of Russian cartoon heroes during the Christmas holidays.

Digital Television Russia has signed the contract for the sale of rights to broadcast the 1st season of the animated series “Leo and Tig” on the paid Italian children’s channel DeA Junior, owned by one of the largest Italian publishing houses De Agostini, which has a great history of more than 110 years.

DeA Junior is an Italian TV channel and entertainment site for preschoolers dedicated to cartoons and fantastic stories, launched on March 18, 2012, on Sky Italia. The channel is available not only in Italy but also for Italian-speaking viewers in Switzerland, Malta, Monte Carlo, San Marino, and the Vatican. DeA Junior programs are entirely dedicated to a target audience aged 3-5 years old.

“Leo and Tig” is an animated series about the nature of the Far East and its inhabitants. There are two inseparable friends in the center of the plot – the tiger cub Tig and the little leopard Leo. The characters explore the amazing natural phenomena and unravel the secrets of the forest every day. With twisted adventures, Leo and Tig learn to be kind, friendly, to help each other and respect nature.

The big journey of the cartoon series through Italy began this summer when “Leo and Tig” was first shown on Rai YoYo children’s channel. Young Italian viewers and their parents were so fond of the adventures of the heroes. In August 2020, 0+ Media company, a part of Digital Television Russia, entered into an agreement with several Italian companies thanks to the licensing agent MDL, such as Play Press, Diramix, Mondadori, Grabo Balloons for production and sale of children’s goods with the image of kids’ favorite characters.

To date, in addition to DeA Junior, dozens of TV channels and digital platforms, including Netflix and the largest Asian online cinemas, have already acquired the rights to show the Russian animated series “Leo and Tig”. “After only a couple of months “Leo and Tig” already captured the attention of children and therefore also of licensees that immediately recognized its potential” states Maurizio Distefano, President of MDL, “we are confident that this property will continue its growth and bring great satisfactions in all different projects.

BRAND NEW SERIES OF BING TO LAUNCH IN ITALY

After recently signing a deal with Italian free TV broadcast partner Rai, Series 4 of the International Emmy Award-winning pre-school series, Bing, will premiere on Rai Yoyo on Monday 14 December with new episodes airing twice a day. The new series will also be available on Rai Yoyo’s RaiPlay app – which Bing is currently rated #1.

The 26 brand new episodes will introduce Bingsters and their grown-ups to new locations and characters such as Dr Molly and Nicky – Sula’s adorable young cousin. Audiences will see Bing celebrating his birthday, Halloween and Christmas and embark on new experiences with his friends such as face painting, going camping and riding the bus.

Bingsters across Italy have been eagerly awaiting new stories of the beloved programme since it first launched with 78 episodes in 2018. The original series will continue airing on Rai Yoyo.

Federica Pitascio, Head of Marketing and Programming, Rai Ragazzi, said “After much anticipation, we are thrilled our audience is able to watch and enjoy new episodes of BingBing is a cherished character in homes across Italy and we are excited to be rolling out new episodes every day.”

The new Italian episodes will also be available to stream and download (in addition to learning games and activities) via the Bing app, ‘Bing: Guarda, Gioca, Impara’, that has earned an impressive 210,000+ downloads since its launch this summer.

The original episodes of Bing will continue to be available on VOD platform TIMVision, Amazon Prime Video, and on DeA Junior where it is the most watched series.

Bing has seen extraordinary commercial success in Italy having won ‘Property of the Year’ for 2019 at the Bologna Licensing Awards. Thanks to Maurizio Distefano Licensing who represents Bing in Italy and works closely with Acamar Films, Bing continues to make an impact at retail. With the recent launch of an online shop-in-shop with Toys Center and a Bing Store on Amazon, Bing is also expanding its presence in-store with a variety of dedicated shelf areas at major retailers such as Toys Con Te, Carrefour, Toys Center, Conad and more.

 

Il successo della missione Space X Dragon segna l’inizio di una nuova era nel mondo dello spazio.

The International Space Archives (ISA) collected among the best images and videos of the space missions that are available in Italy for licensing projects thanks to MDL.

Crew Dragon, the SpaceX spacecraft that takes NASA back into space, was launched towards the ISS (International Space Station) and landed after 27 hours and a half. After the SpaceX trial launch last May where the two astronauts successfully landed on the ISS, it’s the first operative mission by NASA, nine years after the Space Shuttle. On board of the capsule christened “Resilience” were three Americans from NASA: the commander Michael Hopkins, the pilot Victor Glover the mission specialist Shannon Walker and an astronaut from the Japanese space agency (Jaxa), Soichi Noguchi. Waiting for their arrival on the orbiting station were the American flight engineer, Kate Rubins, and the two Russian cosmonauts, commander Sergey Ryzhikov and flight engineer Sergey Kud-Sverchkov. The 4 astronauts will remain on the ISS for six months during which they will perform several scientific experiments.

 

The International Space Archives (ISA), represented in Italy by Maurizio Distefano Licensing, is bringing together the best of this still and video imagery into one comprehensive collection which is available for licensing projects.

 

“We are very glad to offer our Licensees the opportunity to create original and beautiful new products for the Italian market thanks to the mission patches, the images and the videos provided by ISA. Space has always met the interest of both adults and children and will always be a relevant topic for its continuity and richness of the various space mission programs” says Maurizio Distefano, President of MDL.

BING MAKES AN IMPACT AT RETAIL WITH A MULTITUDE OF ACTIVATIONS BOTH ONLINE AND IN STORES

Major toy and retail stores across Italy are preparing themselves for Christmas this year with high impact displays dedicated to the International Emmy Award-winning pre-school series, Bing. With the support of Italian agent, Maurizio Distefano Licensing, Acamar Films is implementing a diverse strategy that aims to strengthen Bing’s presence both in stores and online.

 

Starting this month, Toys Center has new branded shelf areas solely dedicated to Bing. With over 90 locations participating and with some areas including a light-up display, grown-ups will be able to easily find the perfect Bing thing for their little ones. Bing will also have a significant branded area at Toys Con Te starting at the retailer’s newly opened location in Rome Tiburtina and will roll out across their best performing locations. Also, with the collaboration of master toy partner, Giochi Preziosi, 157 Bing branded bay areas have been created for Italy’s main mass market retailers: Carrefour, Finiper, Conad, Bennet and Mondadori.

 

As Bing’s presence continues to grow in-store, the hit pre-school show’s e-commerce footprint is also expanding. Toys Center and Acamar Films recently collaborated on a Bing dedicated shop-in-shop on Toys Center’s website. Various Bing products are now available to purchase via a direct link on Toys Center’s home page. Acamar Films also launched an Italian Bing Store on Amazon. The store was recently supported with a successful paid media campaign ahead of Amazon Prime Day on 13-14 October.

 

Bing is currently number 1 on Rai Yoyo’s Raiplay app and is the most watched series on DeA Junior. Pre-schoolers were in for a treat this November with the release of two brand new episodes on Rai Yoyo including a Halloween episode and the Nicky episode introducing a delightful new character, Nicky, Sula’s adorable young cousin. Also, as part of Acamar Films’ multi-platform distribution strategy, the Italian Bing episodes (together with various educational games and activities) are available to stream and download through the recently launched Bing app “Bing: Watch, Play, Learn”, and on the official Italian YouTube channel, that as of today boasts an average of 30 million views each month. Bing will continue to be available on TIMVision’s on-demand platforms and on Amazon Prime Video in Italy.