Zag America will re-position its Zag Heroez “Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir” licensing program in the U.S. with the airing of series’ second season exclusively premiering on Netflix in December, with a new focus on an older audience, says Zag’s Andre Lake Mayer.

When the series – two Parisian teenagers who transform into super heroes – debuted on Nickelodeon in December 2015, it was aimed at 5-10-year-old children. But Zag also found that, in the U.S., it strongly appealed to a 15- to 25-year-old females. To reach that audience with consumer products, Zag signed a deal with Hot Topic for apparel, accessories and other collectible and novelty products to be sold in 2018.  Hot Topic has launched a “fan headquarters” featuring  third-party licensee products, including apparel (We Love Fine, Changes), accessories (Bioworld), plush key chains (Great Eastern) and cosplay (Rubie’s Costume Co.) , says Lake Mayer. Plans are in development with Hot Topic for a DTR line in early 2018.   Netflix also carried the series first season and has committed to a third.

Zag directly  handles licensing for “Miraculous” in the U.S., but has agencies elsewhere in world. For example, Gloob Licensing handles licensing for the brand in Brazil. The series’ third season is in production and a live action movie is planned for 2020; Zag’s Zagtoon Division in France will handle production.

The new U.S. strategy for Miraculous comes as Zag launches a licensing program for “Zak Storm: Super Pirate” that will be “a bit narrower” than the one accompanied Miraculous, which has more than 300 licensees. Some broadcasters will also serve as licensing agents including SuperRTL in Germany, Switzerland and Austria and Discovery in Latin America.

The series first aired on Canal J in France in January 2017. In the U.S., it launched with Sinclair Broadcast Co.’s KidsClick children’s TV block on Sept. 30. on the Discovery Family channel on Oct. 14 and Netflix on Nov. 1.

Master Toy licensee Bandai America launched toys exclusively on Amazon this month, pairing them with a mobile game it created with developer Ludomade. The toy line consists of eight SKUs, all packaged with a collectible “treasure” coin containing a QR code that can be scanned into the app to unlock weapons, powers and other features that can be used in the game. The free-to-play game also syncs with the TV show and some retail displays.

After the November launch with Amazon, the Bandai America products will expand to Toys R Us in December and Target in January, says Lake Mayer. Publishing agreements have been struck with Grund (books and guides, France), Editorial Planeta (activity and coloring books, Spain) and Panini (magazines, stickers, trading cards, global). The brand will enter the “lifestyle” category in fall 2018 with skateboards and other products, says Lake Mayer.

Contact:

Zag America, Andre Lake Mayer, Pres. Global Brand Strategy and Consumer Products, 818-474-1663