TV-Loonland has appointed Kirsty Guthrie UK sales & licensing consultant for its new pre-school brand LITTLE PRINCESS (produced by The Illuminated Film Co).
After working in the licensing industry some 11 years, Guthrie left her position at Universal Studios to set up independently as KJG Ltd. just over a year ago.
"I'm delighted to have been appointed by Loonland to develop the licensing and merchandising program for LITTLE PRINCESS," said Guthrie "This little character has already won the hearts of potential licensees and retailers alike. We're looking forward to acting on this and building a successful merchandising program."
Guthrie picks up the reigns from Start Licensing's Ian Downes who is strategy consultant on LITTLE PRINCESS.
Based on the international bestselling books written by Tony Ross, LITTLE PRINCESS launched at London's Brand Licensing Show in Oct. 2006. Its strong publishing heritage, alongside a strong start and continued television exposure (its airs on the popular U.K. kids programming block Milkshake!), has helped to establish LITTLE PRINCESS as a brand with huge licensing and merchandising potential. Channel Five UK has commissioned a second season and there will be TV tie-in books (Andersen Press) to secure the brand's presence throughout 2007/8.
A follow-up co-production deal on the second season of LITTLE PRINCESS has been signed, giving TV-Loonland the worldwide rights to distribute across all media (as with the first season).
The show has already been sold into some 85 countries and networks including: U.K.'s FIVE, ABC Australia, ATV Hong Kong and M-Net in South Africa have already confirmed they will pick up the second season. Support for LITTLE PRINCESS as one of Five's flagship children's shows is demonstrated by director of children's programs, Nick Wilson, who selected the show for an additional pre-school schedule on Five's new digital channel Five Life.
As the U.K. broadcaster, Five joins forces with TV-Loonland and Andersen Press to drive publicity through on air, online and in-store promotional activity, including a national billboard campaign in Dec. 2006. Another PR campaign is planned for early 2007 to co-inside with the launch of TV tie-in books and U.K. DVD of the first series.
TV-Loonland (www.loonland.com) is an integrated media company and counts among the leading international producer/distributors of animation for children, youth and families. Its key offices are located in Munich, London, Paris and Miami. TV-Loonland enjoys worldwide distribution success with shows, such as PETTSON AND FINDUS, THE CRAMP TWINS, TRANSFORMERS, LITTLE PRINCESS and MY LITTLE PONY.
Guthrie established KJG Ltd. in 2005. Guthrie is a licensing consultant and represents high caliber brands across the board, including the international phenomenon The Annoying Thing Ltd. (Crazy Frog), Crush Licensing and Eaglecrown Images.
In 1993, The Illuminated Film Co. (www.illuminatedfilms.com) was formed by Iain Harvey (exec producer of THE SNOWMAN and WHEN THE WIND BLOWS) and produced its first animated series, based on the Eric Carle books, THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR AND OTHER STORIES. As well as winning various festival prizes, this program was released in America on the Disney label. Illuminated followed this success with T.R.A.N.S.I.T., which was nominated for a British Academy Award and the Cartoon d'Or, and was winner of The Grand Prize at The World Animation Celebration in Los Angeles, as well as Best Film in its category. More recently, Illuminated produced the animated feature CHRISTMAS CAROL -- THE MOVIE featuring an all-star voice cast and followed this with the multi award-winning animated special, WAR GAME, based on the bestselling children's books by Michael Foreman. Harvey is a U.K. rep and vp of the European Assoc. of Animated Film (Cartoon), an initiative under the Media program. He is also currently chair of the BAFTA Short Animation Jury.
