The ingredients of the savory stew that is the global licensing business are varied indeed. The list of those nominated Best BRAND: Entertainment / Character – Live Action within the 2020 Licensing International Excellence Awards include classics, some that have sprung from new media platforms, some aimed at kids, some at an older crowd. In other words, a reflection of the breadth of content that can serve as the basis for creative and effective licensing programs.

Overall, more than 600 entries were received this year from companies in 22 countries and were judged by a panel of 152 executives from 20 nations. The licensing industry will make its selections from a ballot that includes 175 nominees in 23 categories of brands, properties and companies.

For a full listing of the categories and the nominees please click here.

Here are the nominees for Best BRAND: Entertainment / Character – Live Action:

JoJo Siwa – ViacomCBS

JoJo Siwa is a global phenomenon with a signature style. Nickelodeon has grown JoJo from a YouTube creator into a CP powerhouse with a billion-dollar global business spanning Toys, Fashion & Apparel, CPG, HBA, and more. Consumer products highlights:

• YOY double-digit global growth
• Total US business is +129% vyag driven by continued growth of Apparel (+220%), Accessories (+123%), Home (+330%), and HBA (+134%)
• For 7 consecutive runs, JoJo’s Closet at Target continues to be a top performing program
• Over 63MM JoJo Siwa bows sold to date
• The JoJo Sowa Brand has 289 Partners signed globally across 17 products categories

Master Chef – Endemol Shine Group

MasterChef is the world’s most successful cookery television format which extends into huge range of commercial activities across live action, consumer products, publishing, and digital.

Highlights for MasterChef beyond the TV screen in 2019 include the launch of the first-ever “MasterChef, the TV Experience” restaurant at the Millennium Marina Place in Dubai, and the first-ever live tour, “MasterChef Junior Live!” across the U.S.

Mr Bean – Tiger Aspect, Endemol Shine Group

Mr Bean is one of Britain’s most famous comic creations of all time, first appearing on our screens 30 years ago in 1990, with the versatile comic performer Rowan Atkinson playing the hapless hero. Only 14 episodes of the original ‘live action’ series were made. However, with 30 years in constant distribution and an ever-growing digital audience, the series continues to delight and entertain growing audiences all around the world. The Mr Bean brand also has great success in the mobile games market. With titles such as Bean Around the World and Mr Bean Sandwich Stack, mobile game downloads for the brand have topped 40 million.

Building on the phenomenal global Mr Bean audience, the brand recently appointed agents across multiple markets including Medialink in China, Asiana in South Korea and Empire in South East Asia. Last year was another successful year for the brand with licensing deals including the launch of a new series of comic books in China in partnership with Zhejiang Education Publishing Group and a brand new mobile game Mr Bean Solitaire Adventures from Pointvoucher Studio following their previously successful interactive game and voucher platform ‘Play London with Mr Bean’.

Peaky Blinders – Endemol Shine Group

Endemol Shine Group is building a long-term brand licensing franchise across a broad range of categories for Peaky Blinders. The first phase of brand licensing has been incredibly well received by fans and the industry alike.

Highlights from 2019 include the inaugural Legitimate Peaky Blinders Festival, the global release of the first official Peaky Blinders book with Michael O’Mara, a range of high-end grooming products from leading barbers and grooming experts Murdock London and the AW19 ‘Garrison Tailors by Order of the Peaky Blinders’ menswear collection from David Beckham’s label Kent & Curwen.

Ryan’s World/ Ryan’s Mystery PlayDate – pocket.watch

With 12.5B YouTube views, over 100 licensees globally, distribution in over 75,000 retail doors around the world, and $200M in retail sales in 2019, Ryan’s World is an undisputed success.  Promotional partnerships with mega-brands like Carl’s Jr/Hardees, Kelloggs, and Colgate have shown that Ryan’s World has the power to excite Generation Alpha and create excitement for our partners in any category! Within only months, Ryan’s Mystery Playdate became the #1 TV show for K2-5 on not only Nickelodeon but for all of television in the US.  Over 25% of the kids watching the show were first-time viewers of the Nickelodeon channel, proving that this YouTube superstar can drive kids to traditional linear tv!

Sesame Street – Sesame Workshop

Sesame Street’s 50 Years and Counting campaign brought the characters of the iconic children’s show to life in a new way. Sesame Workshop collaborated with long-time partners and new brands to bring the 50th to consumers. Partnerships included PUMA, TOMS, Bombas, H&M, Bathing Ape along with new product from Hasbro, HeadStart and more. Immersive themed experiences allowed fans to interact with their favorite friends: Port Aventura World’s new dark ride, “Street Mission, celebrations at Sea World Orlando’s Sesame Street Land, Universal Studios Singapore and much more. With so many consumer touchpoints, it was truly a global celebration for Sesame Street!