4Kids Entertainment International, licensing agent for the hit pre-school property Penelope, has signed a new agreement that will see apparel company Paul Dennicci ltd produce a range of juvenile clothing for the UK market.
Press Release from 4Kids Ent.
4Kids Entertainment International, licensing agent for the hit pre-school property Penelope, has signed a new agreement that will see apparel company Paul Dennicci ltd produce a range of juvenile clothing for the UK market.
Penelope is based on the popular series of books created by Anne Gutman and Georg Hallensleben. First published by licensor Gallimard Jeunesse in France, the books have sold over two million copies worldwide. A cute three-year-old blue koala with a funny red nose, Penelope has an insatiable curiosity and a great sense of humour. Her everyday adventures at school and at home with her family and friends see her deal with new experiences and challenges all of which help her to learn. With each of the books based on one individual theme, they are focused, simple and great fun whilst also helping to teach pre-schoolers how to interact with others and develop language and art skills.
Penelope has made a successful translation to the small screen through Japanese company Nippon Animation, with 52 episodes and two Christmas specials now available. In the UK the series is currently showing on CBeebies where it is proving to be a hit with pre-schoolers and parents alike.
In addition to Paul Dennici ltd, which will be producing a wide range of branded apparel for newborns up to small children, an earlier agreement with publisher Redan has seen Penelope appearing in two of its best-selling pre-school magazines - ‘Fun to Learn Friends’ and ‘Fun to Learn Favourites’.
‘Penelope has already proven to be a huge hit in Japan and is right on track for similar success throughout mainland Europe, the UK and Ireland,” said Sandra Vauthier-Cellier, Managing Director of 4Kids Entertainment International, which manages the global licensing rights to the property excluding Asia and France.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
