Los Angeles, October 6, 2015 – American Greetings Properties (AGP), the intellectual property and outbound licensing division of American Greetings Corporation, announces that the division has changed its name to American Greetings Entertainment to better reflect the Company’s focus on strategic expansion for its beloved Care Bears™ brand and development of new multi-platform character and creatively-driven entertainment intellectual properties (IP).
American Greetings Entertainment continues to grow its powerhouse Care Bears brand with a multi-million dollar investment in a new Netflix Original animated series, "Care Bears & Cousins," launching November 6, 2015, and a bevy of new licensing partners in various categories hitting retail as soon as holiday 2015. American Greetings Entertainment has also partnered with Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, the LA-based production company founded by Matt Senreich and Seth Green, on another Netflix Original series called "Buddy Thunderstruck™," with 12 episodes of action-packed stop-motion animation set for release in 2017.
"Since the beginning, our approach has been to create engaging, character-driven entertainment brands and expand outward with consumer products that reach modern families," said Sean Gorman, President, American Greetings Entertainment. "In addition to our ongoing focus on driving The Care Bears franchise with great new storytelling, we are developing a slew of innovative entertainment franchises, like Buddy Thunderstruck, across all media channels followed by an extensive array of relevant consumer products individualized to each distinct property."
New Licensees Hop on the Cloud
Joining the 200+ global consumer products partners for Care Bears are the following: Evy of California – Fashion apparel items for infants, toddlers and girls; Jay Franco and Sons Inc – Bedding, bath, beach and slumber items for toddlers, kids and tweens; Accessory Innovations – Backpacks, handbags, lunch bags, water bottles, plush backpacks, tote bags, luggage, wallets, cold weather and fashion accessories for children and juniors; Scholastic – Books for preschoolers and kids for school market channels and retail; Bendon Publishing – Arts & crafts including paint sets, stickers, stamps, art sets, activity sets, coloring and activity books, educational books, play packs, story books, box sets; Cra-Z-Art – Crystal SurpriseTM activity kits, pillow crafts, jewelry kits; AHQ Pet Sac – Patent-pending backpack plush that converts to a backpack for toddlers and kids; Love & Madness – Fashion jewelry and cell phone cases, tattoos and hair accessories for kids, tweens and juniors; Spaghetti Headz – Patented hair twists with charms for girls that foster play and creativity; Vandor – Drinkware, collectibles, shopper and tin totes; Smart Pet Love – "Snuggle Puppy" comfort plush with simulated heartbeat and heating pack for pets who need comfort or have anxiety; Wall-Ah! – Room Décor in a Box, home décor vinyl wall decals with 3D die-cut paper mobiles for infants, toddlers, kids and tweens; MediBadge – Stickers, sticker activity sheets and tattoos for doctor and dental offices and Precious Moments and Care Bears Co-Branded Collaboration – Giftware including figurines, musicals, water globes, ornaments, tree toppers, photo frames and wall décor.
Digital Growth Strategy Continues
As true digital natives, Care Bears take sharing even further with their website and hundreds of thousands of fans on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube, allowing fans to experience the brand anywhere, anytime. The Care Bears fan base is engaging digitally in a huge way with over 18 million collective downloads for its apps. The new apps include different storytelling formats such as games, appisodes, storybooks, chat stickers and trading cards. These apps will be in the market by the end of 2015, and 10 more apps are in development for 2016. Top-tier digital partners include Ubisoft, Plumzi, Ruckus Media Group, Playdate Digital, TwigTale, Gamepill, Budge Studios, NeonMob, Bare Tree Media and Night and Day Studios.
American Greetings will release a free Countdown to Christmas app this November and has published five digital "Welcome to Care-a-Lot" books for Kindle which are now available on Amazon. In addition, the brand is expanding to new platforms which will be available on Apple Watch and Apple tvOS in the coming months.
About Care Bears
First introduced by American Greetings in 1982 through consumer products, greeting cards, and later an animated CGI television show, Care Bears has become one of the world’s most popular and endearing children’s properties. Today, fans of all ages around the world are falling in love with these huggable bears who help kids have fun while sharing and caring, and they enjoy a robust portfolio of thousands of Care Bears licensed products at retailers globally.
The Care Bears are no strangers to television screens. They first appeared in their own television specials in 1983 and 1984, and then made the leap to the big screen in 1985-87 with "The Care Bears Movie" trilogy. They also had their own television series from 1985 to 1988 which is currently available to watch on Netflix. In November, AGP announced a new original kids series starring the whole huggable gang with a new show titled, "Care Bears & Cousins." "Care Bears & Cousins" is co-produced by Netflix and will premiere around the world in fall 2015. The brand also has a robust social media following, has more than 5 million views of new and classic videos on YouTube, and has a portfolio of popular apps for mobile devices. Their wholesome messages of caring and sharing resonate with parents who are familiar with the brand and feel comfortable introducing Care Bears to their own children.
About American Greetings Entertainment
American Greetings Entertainment is the intellectual property, entertainment and outbound licensing division of American Greetings Corporation, which was built upon the successful re-launch of Care Bears™ and other iconic kids’ entertainment brands, including Holly Hobbie™ and Madballs™, as well as Boofle™, Packages from Planet X™, Twisted Whiskers™, and its newest IP, Buddy Thunderstruck™. American Greetings Entertainment develops multi-platform entertainment franchises across all media channels, and extensive consumer merchandising programs that immerse children and adults in brands they love. Experience American Greetings Entertainment online at www.agkidzone.com.
Keep up with the latest on Care Bears: www.CareBears.com
Find Care Bears on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CareBears
Follow Care Bears on Twitter and Instagram: @CareBearsFriend
See Care Bears on YouTube: http://www.YouTube.com/CareBears
Check out Care Bears on Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/CareBearsAGP
Media Contact:
Genna Rosenberg | GennComm for AGE
T: (818) 839-1461 E: Genna@GennComm.com
Debbie Dunn | GennComm for AGE
T: (818) 839-1461 E: Debbie@GennComm.com