Vancouver, Canada -- As Nerd Corps Entertainment’s hit boys action/comedy property Slugterra continues to slug it out on more TV screens around the world, kids can finally show they’ve got what it takes to be a true Slugslinger as the global toy and merch rollout begins this month. Nerd Corps’ distribution arm has signed on new free‐to‐air broadcasters while the company’s licensing arm has locked down two new agents and several new merchandise deals to keep the momentum going. Slugterra launched on Disney XD in the US in the fall with new episodes coming out this February.
“Slugterra is a great experience full of thrills and laughs, and we’re finding boys are really connecting with it. Social media has been a very powerful tool for research and has provided us with that immediate feedback on how kids, and parents, are responding,” says Nerd Corps El Presidente Ken Faier. “The mechanic of befriending slugs, training them and blasting them at 100 mph to transform them in battle taps right into boys’ love of collecting, competing and blasting. These are the core components of the toy line from JAKKS Pacific, and makes the series a natural fit to cross over into other licensing categories, interactive, etc.”
“The strategy behind the licensing and merchandising program for Slugterra is calculated and based on what's current and relevant with kids today,” adds Nerd Corps Head of Global Consumer Products Juli Boylan. “Our vision is to develop a program that allows the property to build and sustain itself for many years to come. We are seeding the marketplace with those products we know boys wil demand first, allowing us to build a successful story at retail as we expand into broader categories in 2014.”
In the US market Slugterra is hitting retail shelves this month, kicking off with a line of collectible slugs and blasters with unique transforming darts from JAKKS Pacific. To coincide with the toy launch, Shout Factory is releasing Slugterra: Return of the Shane Gang, the first in a series of DVDs coming out this year.
“Our plan is to launch Slugterra toys this spring with a product line centered around collectability, transformation and functional role play,” said Michael Wilde, Director, Marketing, JAKKS Pacific. “As the Slugterra animated series rolls out globally throughout markets in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, we will coordinate distribution of our entire product line, including figures, blasters, transforming slugs and other role play accessories to coincide shortly after the series debut.”
Nerd Corps licensing division continues to bring in domestic deals. Following the toys and home video rollout in the US, will be previously announced t‐shirts from Hybrid Apparel and sleepwear from Mad Dog Concepts, both scheduled for Q3.
Additionally, Nerd Corps’ interactive team entered the App Store for the first time in December with a new game for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch called Slug it Out!. The app quickly rose through the ranks of top paid games and continues to sell through well. Nerd Corps will be launching new modes and in‐app purchases to coincide with the toy and DVD launch this spring. This follows a robust online offering from the team that saw the flash game Battle for Slugterra hit the top spot on disneyxd.com.
Globally, the series continues to roll out on Disney XD on pay TV and free TV launches will begin in the third and fourth quarter and continue throughout 2014. New deals include Noga (Israel), MBC (Middle East), and Switchover Media/K2 (Italy).
As broadcast ramps us globally, Nerd Corps is keeping the momentum going, bringing aboard more agents to help support the international merch rollout with product launches throughout 2013/2014. The newest additions to the Slugterra team are Character Licensing and Marketing (South Africa) and Brand Is Real (Israel). Additionally Beyond Home Entertainment has acquired the home video rights to the series in Australia and New Zealand, while In Latin America, Slugterra’s licensing agent CPL is currently closing deals for back‐to‐school, stickers, albums, and trading cards. Licensing agents now representing Slugterra include CPLG (UK), Haven Licensing (Australia), Elastic Rights (Spain, Portugal, France, Greece and Turkey), CPL (Latin America), Megalicense (Russia).
Source: Nerd Corps Entertainment