Licensing

Rugrats: Burger King's Thanksgiving Whopper. Burger King, a leading hamburger chain, has decided to back Rugrats In Paris with a licensing campaign to coincide with the film's Thanksgiving release. Burger joint cross promotion of films released in the holiday season means big money for both parties. Burger King opted to work out a deal with the Nickelodeon/Paramount sequel to Rugrats: The Movie, which it backed in 1998, instead of Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas, starring Jim Carrey. Insiders say Burger King may drop US$20 million into marketing and ad campaigns for the film. Nick and Burger King have plans to create an original Web site to highlight the promotion, along with material on Nick.com and in Nick Magazine. To date, the first Rugrats feature has made US$105 million in the U.S. Burger King is banking on the idea that kids can recognize the Rugrats better than the classic mug of the Grinch.

Star Wars Sinks British Publisher. London-based publisher Dorling Kindersley has lost US$40 million on the book adaptation of Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. The educational and CD-Rom publisher had 13 million of the Star Wars books printed for last holiday season and sold fewer than 3 million copies. After the initial news was released earlier this year, shares plummeted 40% and CEO James Middlehurst resigned. Chairman and 30% shareholder Peter Kindersley has taken over the head position. An unnamed worker told the London Daily Express that founder Kindersley has "fallen victim to a terrible error of judgment." Mr. Kindersley apparently overestimated the true power of the Force.

Wolfmill’s Elfquest With Living Toyz. Wolfmill Entertainment has signed a worldwide licensing deal with Living Toyz for a line of action figures based on Wolfmill's upcoming CGI animated feature film Elfquest. The fantasy-action film follows the journey of Cutter, a young elven chief, and his tribe across a hostile world to find a safe refuge. Before the theatrical release of Elfquest, Los Angeles-based Living Toyz will produce several sets of action figures based on the original Elfquest comic book designs by Warp Graphics. Once the film premieres, Living Toyz will release a double-sized set of figures based on the character designs from the feature. Elfquest is an internationally successful fantasy adventure comic book created by Wendy and Richard Pini. The American Library Association called it, "One of the most important works in American Fantasy." The screenplay for the Elfquest feature was written by Marv Wolfman, Craig Miller and Wendy Pini. Miller and Wolfman are also serving as the film's executives through Wolfmill Entertainment. Most recently, Wolfmill Entertainment produced the 52 episode television series Pocket Dragon Adventures, which is currently in its second season, playing on the BKN Kids Network in the U.S., YTV in Canada, the BBC in the U.K., in addition to other channels around the world.

Casper & Felix The Cat Land In Latin America. The Harvey Entertainment Company and Felix the Cat Productions have come to a new corporate agreement to bring Harvey characters to Latin America. Harvey Entertainment has appointed Felix the Cat Productions, Inc. as their exclusive licensing agent for Latin America. In turn, Donald Oriolo, president & CEO of Felix the Cat Productions, and the other heirs of Casper creator Joseph Oriolo have turned over to Harvey all rights and claims to the trademarks and copyrights of the Casper character. Donald Oriolo said, "Our companies have many things in common and we see an enormous opportunity to exploit the Harvey characters along with Felix the Cat. Harvey's ambitious plans, such as the production of the direct to video title Casper's Haunted Christmas, a CGI animated movie to be released by Universal Home Video, along with Harvey's television and theatrical productions plans, will elevate the Harvey Classic Characters to increased public awareness." In 1957, Felix the Cat Productions, Inc. was created by Joseph Oriolo, whose cartoon credits include such characters as Casper, Chiquita Banana, Felix the Cat, Poindexter, Betty Boop and Popeye. The Harvey Entertainment Company controls the rights to such famous cartoon characters as Casper, the Friendly Ghost; Hot Stuff; The Ghostly Trio, Fatso, Stinkie and Stretch; Richie Rich; Baby Huey; Wendy the Witch; and Little Audrey.