The fat blue cat starring in Xilam's slapstick animated series OGGY AND THE COCKROACHES (200 x 7 or 65 x 30), is set for fame and notoriety following a raft of licensing and multi-platform deals.
Xilam has concluded a deal with specialist plush manufacturer Jemini, which is to produce 12 different toys based on the colorful, comic characters featured in OGGY AND THE COCKROACHES. The plush toys will be launched in France in June 2008.
Set up more than 20 years ago, Jemini has a quality track record, working with such prestigious properties as FRANKLIN and DORA THE EXPLORER, as well as various Disney brands.
Another merchandising deal has been signed by Xilam with Benjamin SA, which is to produce a range of Oggy socks, which will hit the shops in June.
Other deals in the works include an Oggy DVD Christmas special, to be produced by France Television Distribution, and a comedy adventure video game on several platforms, aimed at 7 to 14 year olds, which will be announced soon.
Season 3 of OGGY AND THE COCKROACHES, which is Xilam's priority series at MIP TV, is set to debut on French pay TV broadcaster Canal +, in fall 2008, and has already been picked up by a host of broadcasters including Mediaset (Italy), VRT (Belgium), MTV Oy (Finland) and Noga (Israel). Seasons 1 and 2 rank as one of the top French animation exports, having aired in more than 120 countries worldwide.
The long-running, family-skewed series tracks the explosive confrontations of the big blue cat Oggy, and three ugly cockroaches, Joey, Dee Dee and Marky. Whatever he does, this easy-natured and diplomatic cat finds himself the victim of this indestructible trio, but as in any self-respecting cartoon, everything always ends up for the best, until the next episode.
