Disney/Pixar CARS took top honors as the 2006 Overall Best License of the Year at the Annual LIMA Gala and Awards Ceremony for the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA). The presentation, which recognizes the best and brightest programs and products in the worldwide licensing industry, was held at the Marriott Marquis, Times Square in New York.
The LIMA International Licensing Excellence Awards include 15 awards in seven major categories, honoring licenses from the worlds of art, character, corporate, sports, retail, promotions and film, television & entertainment, as well as the Overall Best License of the Year.
Winners from the best film, television & entertainment category included Fisher-Price Inc., which was honored as Hard Goods Licensee for SESAME STREET's "T.M.X" Elmo. Costume and dress up manufacturing group Disguise Inc. took top honors as the Soft Goods Licensee for its PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN costumes for Disney. And the Best Film, Television & Entertainment Brand License of the Year went to Disney/Pixar CARS.
United Media's PEANUTS won the Best Character Brand License of the Year, while Scholastic Inc was named Hard Goods Licensee of the Year in that category for its line of IT'S HAPPY BUNNY books. Steve & Barry's won as the Soft Goods Licensee of the Year for its Marvel apparel collection.
The Best Corporate Brand License went to Jeep, owned by DaimlerChrysler Corp. and represented by The Joester Loria Group. The Corporate Hard Goods Licensee Award was presented to Fisher-Price for the Power Wheels Jeep Hurricane; and Mighty Fine won for Corporate Brand Soft Goods Licensee for its line of McDonald's t-shirts.
Other highlights included a win for Toys "R" Us as Retailer of the Year for the property DEAL OR NO DEAL. Steve & Barry's was awarded Best Sports Brand Licensee of the Year for its Starbury collection. For the second year in a row, Best Art Brand License of the Year went to Andy Warhol by The Andy Warhol Foundation, represented by The Beanstalk Group Llc. Finally, Best Promotion of the Year went to HAPPY FEET by Warner Bros. Consumer Products.
In addition to the awards presentation, Neil Friedman, president of Mattel Brands, was honored as the latest inductee into The Murray Altchuler Licensing Industry Hall of Fame for his lifetime of achievements. An icon of the toy industry, Friedman was recognized for 34 years of exceptional contributions to licensing which continue to impact the industry today. For the fourth consecutive year, LIMA is working with Children's Brain Tumor Foundation as its charity of choice. The Foundation works to improve the treatment, quality of life and long-term outlook for children with brain and spinal cord tumors. LIMA donated a portion of the Award Gala ticket sales to the Foundation, as well as all proceeds raised from a special tribute book honoring Friedman and the evening's nominees.
The 2006 award winners are:
Overall Best License of the YearDisney/Pixar Cars (The Walt Disney Co.)
Best Art Brand LicenseAndy Warhol (The Andy Warhol Foundation/The Beanstalk Group Llc.)
Best Art Brand LicenseeLevi Strauss & Co. (Andy Warhol)
Best Character Brand LicensePEANUTS (United Media)
Best Character Brand Licensee - Hard GoodsScholastic Inc. (IT'S HAPPY BUNNY)
Best Character Brand Licensee - Soft GoodsSteve & Barry's (Marvel)
Best Corporate Brand LicenseJeep (DaimlerChrysler Corp./The Joester Loria Group)
Best Corporate Brand Licensee - Hard GoodsFisher-Price, Inc. (Power Wheels Jeep Hurricane)
Best Corporate Brand Licensee - Soft GoodsMighty Fine (McDonald's)
Best Film, TV & Entertainment Brand LicenseDisney/Pixar Cars (The Walt Disney Co.)
Best Film, TV & Entertainment Licensee - Hard GoodsFisher-Price, Inc. (T.M.X Elmo)
Best Film, TV & Entertainment Brand Licensee - Soft GoodsDisguise Inc (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN)
Best Sports Brand LicenseeSteve & Barry's (Starbury)
Best Promotion of the YearHAPPY FEET (Warner Bros. Consumer Products)
Best Retailer of the YearToys "R" Us (DEAL OR NO DEAL)
Founded in 1985, LIMA is the worldwide trade organization for the licensing industry. For more information, visit www.licensing.org.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
