W!LDBRAIN Launches Multi-Million Dollar Licensing Program for Hit
Television Series
YO GABBA GABBA!; Product Launch Timed with Highly-Anticipated
Second Season
W!LDBRAIN Signs Top Licensees Including Kidrobot, Simon & Schuster, Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment, Nickelodeon/Sony BMG and Master Toy Licensee Spin Master, Ltd.
W!LDBRAIN’s Licensing Program Raises Industry Bar in Product and Lifestyle Categories; YO GABBA GABBA! Apparel, Accessories, Books, Electronics, Games, Home Décor, Toys and More Arrive at Retail in 2008
BEVERLY HILLS, CA (February 13, 2008) – The award-winning animation and entertainment company W!LDBRAIN announces today a multi-million dollar, ground-breaking licensing program for the hit children’s television series YO GABBA GABBA!, produced by The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN. Recently hailed as one of the top 10 new television series of 2007 by TIME magazine, the hip and critically-acclaimed magazine-style music series YO GABBA GABBA! airs domestically on Nick Jr. W!LDBRAIN has signed key licensees to create and distribute extensive YO GABBA GABBA! merchandise in 2008, including apparel, accessories, books, games, toys and other consumer products featuring the popular series’ characters. Due to the show’s unprecedented cross-over appeal to children, teens and adults alike, licensed products designed to excite all age groups will hit shelves in 2008 worldwide, timed with the highly-anticipated second season of the series.
"We have an incredibly strong and diverse lineup of licensed YO GABBA GABBA! products coming to market in 2008," said Michael Polis, Chief Marketing Officer, W!LDBRAIN. "Given the show’s appeal to preschoolers and young adults, consumers can look forward to seeing products in channels that cater to both audiences. Our partners are capitalizing on the fresh look of the show, colorful characters and cross generational appeal of the music to deliver products that are both innovative and fun to share," he added.
"I’m thrilled with the continuing momentum for YO GABBA GABBA! and look forward to providing fans of the show with a consumer products program that exceeds their expectations," said Charles Rivkin, President and Chief Executive Officer, W!LDBRAIN. "With the production of the second season underway, we expect to expand our repertoire of music and themes and incorporate those into consumer products launches in 2008 and beyond," he said.
Officially licensed YO GABBA GABBA! merchandise will be available to consumers in 2008 through top licensees including: vinyl collectible toys by Kidrobot; accessories by Loungefly; apparel from Kidrobot, The Merchandise Company, Mighty Fine and Success Apparel; books through Simon & Schuster; CDs from Nickelodeon/Sony BMG; crafts by NSI International, Inc.; DVDs through Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment; electronics by Blue Box International; wood puzzles and Uno by Sababa Toys; holiday items through CSS; home décor by The Betesh Group, G-Wiz, Marshmallow and Spin Master Ltd.; key chains from Basic Fun; play structures through Time to Play Corp. Ltd.; sleepwear by American Marketing Enterprises, Inc.; and a full line of toys by master toy licensee Spin Master Ltd..
W!LDBRAIN subsidiary Kidrobot, the world’s premier creator and retailer of limited edition art toys and apparel, is the first to debut YO GABBA GABBA! product. Kidrobot has released limited-edition 10-inch collectible vinyl figures featuring five of the series’ popular characters – Brobee, Foofa, Muno, Toodee and Plex – each retailing for $24.95. Kidrobot has also released limited-edition YO GABBA GABBA! clothing and accessories for both kids and adults, ranging in price from $25.00 - $150.00. The collectible vinyl figures, apparel and accessories are currently available at all Kidrobot locations, online at www.kidrobot.com, and with select retailers worldwide. The excitement is due to heighten with the premiere of the highly-anticipated second season of YO GABBA GABBA! later this year and the launch of a new line of innovative products by Spin Master Ltd. As the master toy licensee, Spin Master will help take the brand to a new level of consumer awareness with the unveiling of their YO GABBA GABBA! toy line in Fall 2008, which will be carried by every major domestic retailer. The Spin Master YO GABBA GABBA! line will mirror the show’s fresh style and will offer preschoolers lots of new and original ways to interact with their favorite YO GABBA GABBA! characters and music. Highlights of the 2008 YO GABBA GABBA! toy line include "Dancing Brobee" – featuring songs and sounds from the show including the hit song "I Like to Dance," with a MSRP of $34.95 – and the "Grooves Guitar," a kid-sized guitar fashioned after the series character Muno, with a MSPR of $24.99. Product will be available internationally through Spin Master as the show premieres in other territories.
Additional offerings are available to licensees in various categories.
About YO GABBA GABBA!
Recently named one of the "Top 10 TV Shows" of 2007 by TIME magazine,
YO GABBA GABBA! premiered on Nick Jr. in the U.S. on August 20,
2007 and is produced by The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN. Christian
Jacobs and Scott Schultz are the series co-creators. YO GABBA GABBA!
currently airs weekdays on Nick Jr. at 11:30 AM (ET/PT), Monday
through Friday. The magazine-format series infuses retro-style
and beat-driven music to teach simple life lessons through a vibrant
world of puppet characters who play and dance as soon as they hear
the magic words, "YO GABBA GABBA!" The series stars DJ Lance Rock
(Lance Robertson) and a cast of colorful characters, including:
Brobee, the little green one, Foofa, the pink flower bubble, Muno,
the red Cyclops, Toodee, the blue catdragon and Plex, the yellow
robot. YO GABBA GABBA! features over 100 original songs, unique
animations, an impressive lineup of musical talent and celebrity
guest stars including Laila Ali, Tony Hawk, Nikki Flores, Sean
Kingston, Elijah Wood, Biz Markie, Mark Mothersbaugh, Mya, Rahzel,
The Shins, Sugarland and others. YO GABBA GABBA! also features
an eclectic mix of unique music genres, including, Pop, 80s, Electronic,
New Wave, British Invasion, Hip Hop and more. YO GABBA GABBA! is
recommended as a trusted program for preschoolers by The Smart
Television Alliance, a non-profit organization comprised of leading
non-profit children’s media organizations including Common Sense
Media, Parents’ Choice Foundation, Parents Television Council and
Coalition for Quality children’s Media: KIDS FIRST!.