Studio 100 and Planeta Junior have tapped Giochi Preziosi as Master Toy partner for global kids’ animation brand, Maya the Bee. The licensee will handle manufacturing, distribution, promotion and marketing for soon-to-be-launched lines.
“We are very proud to be working with Giochi Preziosi as their products are renowned for strong play value, creativity and innovation,” said Christophe Drevet, International Consumer Products Director at Studio 100. “This agreement will also add even more sales and marketing power to the brand. We are confident the range will capture the essence of Maya’s character and fully engage the fans of yesterday and tomorrow.”
An extensive range of licensed products are planned for a Fall 2018 launch, covering main categories such as figurines, playsets, role play and feature plush. The licensing deal covers key territories including Italy, France, Spain, UK, Portugal, Greece and others.
“We are honored to be named the Master Toy licensee for Maya the Bee, a great preschool brand! We are confident that the range will be a huge hit with all the Maya fans across the world especially thanks to the great content, constant news and long-term development until 2020.’’ added Graziano Delmaestro, Licensing Director at Giochi Preziosi.
A second season of the new CG-animated Maya the Bee (52 x 13-min.) will air on major international networks including Gulli, Tiny Pop and RTP, furthering the adventures of Maya, her very best friends Willy and Flip, the crazy ant peacekeepers Arnie and Barney, and introducing Theo, a young bee with a prosthetic wing.
Maya will also be returning to the big screen in 2018 in her second theatrical feature, Maya the Bee Movie – The Honey Games, with plans for a third movie in 2020. And, building on the success of her online dance videos (25 million viewers worldwide), a new web series based on Maya and her friends is being developed specifically for digital platforms.
Maya the Bee is a timeless character loved by all ages. This second season will expand the joy and fun with new exciting adventures and lovely characters that will charm certainly all generations. We are pleased to further strengthen our partnership with such a well-established global toy manufacturer like Giochi Preziosi, and they will for sure play an important role in Maya’s exciting future,” commented Diego Ibáñez, International Commercial Director at Planeta Junior.
In partnership with Plopsa, a new Mayaland theme park in Poland will open in 2018, joining attractions in Belgium and Germany — Maya also now has her own musical in Benelux.
