Tiger Aspect Productions has signed a raft of broadcast and licensing agreements with international partners who for animated MR BEAN, extending the popular character and his outlandish adventures to new markets around the world.
The propertys U.S. and Canadian licensing agent The Sharpe Company has negotiated a deal with Toy Play to launch an innovative figural toy range to the mass and specialty retail market. Cinder Block, a well-known adult/youth apparel vendor, has signed for T-shirts and sweatshirts.
U.K. licensing partner Entertainment Rights has also signed up GE Fabbri for a U.K. partwork deal. A launch is planned for early January 2004 and will be supported by an extensive television advertising campaign.
Katherine Senior, exec producer/brand manager of MR BEAN said: "Animated MR BEAN has a distinctive look that really lends itself to licensing and we are delighted to sign these deals expanding the brand worldwide. Launches in new territories such as Japan highlight the universal appeal of the property."
In a major deal, BBC Worldwide has won the television and video rights to MR BEAN for the Japanese market and is negotiating with broadcast partners.
MR BEAN is a hit with broadcasters in some 35 territories. Worldwide television sales excluding the U.K., U.S., Japan and Hungary are handled by Fremantle International Distribution, which has recently concluded sales of the 26x22 series with China, France, Slovakia, Croatia and Austria.
In the U.S., American Public Television (APT), distributes the animated series to public television stations. Following the success of the series on APT, A&E Home Video recently launched animated MR BEAN on DVD, following the phenomenally successful DVD and video release of MR. BEAN: THE WHOLE BEAN, which remains one of the best-selling television programs on DVD for 2003. A&E Home Video will release a second installment of the animated series in March 2004. A&E Home Videos programs are marketed and distributed by New Video.
The MR BEAN animated series is a Tiger Aspect Production (www.tigeraspect.co.uk) in association with Richard Purdum Productions and Varga Holdings.
