Acamar Films And Tlc Announce Fisher-Price As Master Toy Partner On Bing
Skwigly
Fisher-Price Inc., one of the world’s leading manufacturers of infant and preschool toys, has been appointed the master toy licensee for new preschool property Bing by Acamar Films.
The multi-year partnership, brokered by The Licensing Company on behalf of Acamar, will see Fisher-Price develop preschool toys, infant toys and baby gear launching Autumn/Winter 2015. Products will include play sets, figurines, role-play, ride-ons, musical toys, wooden toys and soft toys.
Bing celebrates the every day realities of being a preschooler, and also cleverly speaks to the grown-ups in the life of every young child with genuine insight and subtlety. Bing dramatises these real-life experiences in an authentic way – celebrating the mishaps, mess, energy and wonder with the reassuring exclamation: “It’s a Bing Thing!”
This new television adaptation is based on the hugely popular books by award-winning author and illustrator Ted Dewan. The 78 x 7’ series has been meticulously developed by Acamar in partnership with both leading Irish animation studio Brown Bag Films and award-winning London-based Tandem Films.
Acamar is launching debut episodes of Bing at MIPTV and broadcasters are already clambering to come on board the new CBeebies-commissioned show which is making its broadcast premier this summer.
Acamar and TLC are developing a high-quality global publishing, brand licensing and digital campaign for Bing with several market-leading partners already on board. Acamar and TLC have already appointed leading international children’s publisher Harper Collins to produce a major multi-format TV tie-in programme for Bing as well as to re-issue the entire series of Ted Dewan’s original classic “Bing” books. The first of these re-issues launched in the UK in August 2013, and the second in January 2014, with further book launches planned for 2014 and 2015.
Fisher-Price has a long history of creating toys that engage children in developmentally appropriate ways. With a mission to stimulate a children’s curiousity so they’re encouraged to explore, discover and grow into imaginative play, the brand philosophy is the perfect match for the Bing property.
Geoff Walker, EVP Global Fisher-Price Brands says: “We’re thrilled to be a part of this exciting new property. When preschoolers tune into the Bing series, they’ll instinctively want to expand these adventures through play. Our clever toy interpretations of key property elements will give them a great opportunity to create their own magical Bing Bunny adventures at home.”
Mikael Shields, Bing’s Producer and CEO of Acamar Films adds: “We’ve all wanted to work with Fisher-Price on Bing for a very long time indeed. It’s so gratifying to now be working with their expert team alongside our colleagues at Brown Bag Films, Tandem Films, Harper Collins and TLC. I’m absolutely delighted to be able to announce this new global partnership.”