London/New York, 10 February 2011: Leading family entertainment producer and distributor Chorion has secured several new licensing partners for its hit pre-school property OLIVIA ahead of New York Toy Fair, further developing the licensed product program in all major categories and expanding the consumer products line across the U.S. in 2011.
An interactive eBook of the popular title OLIVIA Acts Out will launch later this month on iTunes and will be followed in April by a range of OLIVIA audio books, featuring CDs with storybooks from Toy Box. Also new in publishing, a collection of branded ‘Sound’ and ‘Look & Find’ books from PIL will launch in September to the book trade, clubs and specialty book stores.
The second quarter of 2011 will see a new stationery line from Rock Paper Pencil exclusively at Toys R Us, along with the introduction of a new range of Fruit of the Loom OLIVIA packaged underwear.
A cake décor line from Bakery Craft will be available from Fall 2011 and Rubie’s will design a regular and deluxe costume range for national, online and specialty retailers in time for Halloween 2011. 
In other news, Headstrom has been signed for OLIVIA sports balls, sports toys, and pool toys and Carson Dellosa, the publisher and suppliers of educational materials will be developing a line of themed classroom activities for launch in January 2012 at online, educational trade and office supply outlets.
Bob Traub, SVP, Licensing for the Americas at Chorion, says: “We’re excited to bring innovative product to retail this year and look forward to seeing little girls engage with their favorite character in new ways. The property continues to grow in the U.S. and we look forward to working with new and existing partners in order to take the brand into new categories.”
Following the outstanding global TV launch in over 130 countries and the success of the TV tie-in books by Simon & Schuster, the first wave of OLIVIA  consumer products, based on the award-winning, best-selling book series by Ian Falconer, hit the shelves of leading U.S. retailers in Fall 2010.
During 2011, global master toy licensee, Spin Master’s range of OLIVIA toys will be supported by a major TV advertising campaign and promotional in-store marketing programs. Other categories reinforcing the OLIVIA launch include apparel and accessories, DVD’s, publishing, games, puzzles and novelty items. Plans are in place for dedicated presentations of the OLIVIA collection at leading retailers such as Toys R Us, Target, Barnes & Noble and Borders.
Animated by the Academy Award® nominated company Brown Bag Films, OLIVIA the 52 x 11’ 3D CGI animated series regularly hits the top ratings slots on Nick Jr. in the U.S., Five’s Milkshake in the UK and ABC in Australia. Nickelodeon Home Entertainment has launched three DVDs in the U.S. with more to follow.  Season 2 (26 x 11’ episodes plus 1 x 22’ special) for Nickelodeon in the USA has also been pre-bought by TF1 France, Treehouse in Canada, ABC TV Australia and the Disney Channel in Japan and Latin America to name a few.
Olivia is today’s girl. She is a 6 ¾ old dynamo who believes she can do anything and sees every day as an opportunity to try new things. Her vivid imagination takes her on grand adventures, both real and fantasy, and like all children, her antics occasionally result in endearing misadventures. Olivia’s confidence and positive nature inspires kids everywhere to think boldly and follow their dreams.
Additional categories are still available for license.
For more information about OLIVIA, visit www.myolivia.com
For media enquiries contact Blueprint PR:
Janet Balmforth Tel: +44 (0) 8868 0511 or Email: janet@blueprintpr.co.uk
Karen Browning Tel: +44 (0) 7535 801336 or Email: Karen@blueprintpr.co.uk
For OLIVIA licensing opportunities please contact:
Joan Grasso, VP, Toys and Games Licensing, joan.grasso@chorion.us
About Chorion