Start Licensing will be showcasing Asterix at BLE Stand F040

ASTERIX, a LITTLE Gaul Hero, a BIG licensing character not to miss!
Since 1959 when Asterix was created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, he has gone from success to success – continuously attracting fans from all ages and from all around the world.
In the publishing field, it is a very unique phenomenon with 35 albums now translated in more than 110 languages and more than 360 million copies sold internationally, making it the highest selling book series ever. 5 million copies were sold worldwide for the last comic album Asterix and the Picts released in 2013.
But Asterix is not only a book wonder… It is a 360 degree media property.
Very quickly after his creation, Asterix was adapted into animated movies – all of them over the decades were hugely popular worldwide. There was also success for the 4 live action movies which had been released since the nineties. Overall, more than 100 million people have seen Asterix at the Cinema.
This year, The Mansions of the Gods, the first CGI movie took Asterix into a new dimension. Highly acclaimed, it was among the very top ranking animated movies in most of the 40 countries where it was released.  And because Asterix is a very good friend of the whole family, “Le Parc Asterix”, the Leisure Park in the suburbs of Paris, has been for 25 years the second most-visited park in France after Disneyland Paris.
So the secret of the Magic Potion is based on a famous long established Property and internationally appealing new events almost every year.
In 2015, not only was there the CGI movie but in October 22nd, a new album will be released just 2 years after the last one!
“Asterix and the Missing Scroll” will be no doubt one of the international best sellers with an amazing initial print run of 5 million copies, supported by strong PR and media campaigns.
An evergreen character who’s got such an appeal to appeal to millions and who’s got strong news regularly to create the buzz is an obvious licensing partner for leading licensees.
A large range of companies from diverse sectors are very active with Asterix, generating estimated revenues of more than 100 million Euros annually.
Not only are the established markets of France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK very strong for the property.
Expansion continues in other markets, especially Poland, India, the USA and in South America. The property’s success is built on solid foundations of publishing combined with other media activity.
Recently leading brands including Canon, Quick Restaurants, Panini, Volvic, Total and DHL were among the brands joining the Asterix Village.
As well as the Deutsche Post which have just released two official Asterix and Obelix stamps. Literally Millions of stamps and other limited edition products have been launched in the German market.
This summer, very quickly, the Total gas-stations were short of the premiums they had ordered for their annual Loyalty programme featuring Asterix.
With the benefit of the release a new album at the end of this year, 2016 can only be a great year to be with Asterix.
A lot of positive developments are in the pipeline.  Knowing that it’s going to be a year full of sporting events, one of them is that Asterix will be in an Olympic energy with a new version of the famous album “Asterix at the Olympic Games”.  And for the licensing partners, a new style guide full of images dedicated to sports and supporter values will be available to create products and promotions with a different and humorous tone to stand out from the competition.
So, by Toutatis, what are you waiting for?
Ready, set, go!