Banijay Group is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay Group is present in 16 territories.
Banijay Group is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay Group is present in 16 territories.
Media and entertainment powerhouse Banijay, today announces Simon’s Cat (a Banijay UK company), and Beacon Music (part of Banijay Brands), have joined forces to release a one-hour LoFi film with original music and bespoke animation.
The globally loved animated sensation will release its latest production on the official Simon’s Cat YouTube channel today. An increasingly popular genre, particularly online, the Simon’s Cat LoFi beats are made for moments of serenity or focussed productivity. One hour of gentle Simon’s Cat animation will be played against the backdrop of original music, LoFi Lab, consisting of 10 tracks, specially commissioned from Banijay’s music library platform, Beacon Music.
Simon Tofield, creator of Simon’s Cat says: “We are always looking to new, innovate ways we can engage with our loyal audience, and demand for LoFi content is extremely high. The charming and mellow animation, which is synonymous with Simon’s Cat, is a great fit for this genre, and the beautiful music, from our colleagues at Beacon Music, is the perfect accompaniment.”
Created by award-winning illustrator, animator and director, Simon Tofield, Simon’s Cat was first seen on YouTube in 2008. Part of Banijay UK, the brand is now a major global success, with over 3bn online views and 21m fans across TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X. The Simon’s Cat brand also enjoys international success across multiple categories including gaming, publishing, and apparel.
Comments Off on The Fur-midable Simon’s Cat Marks its 15-Year Anniversary
Simon’s Cat (part of Banijay UK) today announces it is celebrating its 15th birthday, and in conjunction with Banijay Brands, the commercial arm of content powerhouse Banijay, will release a raft of special content and products.
In March 2008, illustrator Simon Tofield uploaded his first ever video to YouTube…a self-taught animation project inspired by his beloved cat Hugh. That video Cat Man Do became a viral sensation, which 15 years later, has amassed an eyewatering 65 million views on that one film alone, and spawned a globally-loved brand that enjoys incredible success, from a catalogue of online content to gaming, publishing and consumer products.
To celebrate its success, this month, the brand will release a compilation of the very best classic films, reimagined in colour; launch a new Simon’s Cat website, with games, comics, films and more; offer an exclusive signed print of bespoke artwork by Simon Tofield; host a special Q&A session with Simon answering questions from fans on the official social channels; trigger a custom 15th anniversary merch drop including free giveaways; and later this year, release an exclusive set of 15th anniversary pins.
Simon Tofield, creator of Simon’s Cat says: “It brings me immense joy and privilege to be celebrating 15 years of Simon’s Cat. We have grown from a single animation into a global brand with a fantastic and supportive community of fans all around the world. I can’t wait to see what the next 15 years bring for our global superstar feline!”
Alice Bernardi, Director, International Brand Licensing, Banijay Brands says: “It is wonderful to mark this milestone with special products that the fans will love. The instantly recognisable, iconic animation, coupled with a huge social following makes Simon’s Cat a very strong and desirable IP that works incredibly well across all corners of the licensing industry.”
Created by award-winning illustrator, animator and director, Simon Tofield, Simon’s Cat was first seen on YouTube in 2008. Part of Banijay UK, the brand is now a major global success, with over 3bn online views and 21m fans across TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Simon’s Cat has enjoyed international commercial success across multiple categories. It was recently announced that Tactile Games has taken the long-term gaming rights for the brand, following the popularity of mobile titles Simon’s Cat: Crunch Time, Simon’s Cat: Pop Time and Simon’s Cat: Story Time, which have amassed more than 20 million downloads worldwide.
Comments Off on Banijay Brands Unveils Slate for Licensing Expo
Banijay Brands, in collaboration with Endemol Shine North America, will be attending Licensing Expo on 24-26 May in Las Vegas, showcasing its diverse portfolio of IP, including the worldwide smash-hit cookery show MasterChef; the multi-award-winning cult drama Peaky Blinders; the Netflix hit anthology series Black Mirror; internationally-loved digital animation Simon’s Cat; and British icon Mr Bean.
Banijay Brands is co-sponsor of this year’s Licensing Expo opening party, which will feature a Peaky Blinders branded bar. It is also sponsoring the show badge, which incorporates a competition for attendees to win a case of MasterChef wine.
In addition, MasterChef and Peaky Blinders have been shortlisted in the 2022 Licensing International Excellence Awards for Best Live Action Entertainment Brand, and Best Product – Appliances, Electronics or Housewares for an Entertainment Property respectively.
Owain Walbyoff, Chief Commercial Officer, Banijay says: “We are keenly exploring new opportunities and emerging technologies as we continue to drive consumer engagement with our brands. Banijay’s world-class portfolio provides endless opportunities for authentic products and experiences, and we look forward to forging new partnerships across multiple categories.”
Banijay Brands controls the brand licensing rights to some of the most high-profile and creative IP in the world across multiple genres from scripted to entertainment.
Award-winning anthology Black Mirror explores themes of contemporary techno-paranoia. Available on Netflix globally, the series, created by Charlie Brooker, boasts a stellar fanbase with numerous industry accolades including Emmy’s, International Emmy’s, BAFTA Craft Awards and a Rose d’Or.
Peaky Blinders is the award-winning crime drama that is sold to more than 180 countries, airing on BBC One in the U.K. and widely available internationally on Netflix. The final season will be launching in the U.S. and other international markets from 10th June. The recently aired season six was the UK’s number one drama of the year for young adults, with over 17 million views on BBC iPlayer to date. Brand-owner and series producer Caryn Mandabach Productions recently announced an immersive theatre show and a first-of-its-kind dance theatre show which will run through to 2023.
Simon’s Cat is one of the biggest YouTube sensations of recent years. From a single free-to-air, two-minute cartoon, it has gone on to become a major global success, with not only 1.3bn views and 5.7 million subscribers on YouTube but also over 15m followers and over 1bn views across social media too.
MasterChef is the most travelled food format, last year celebrating 500 seasons airing globally since its 2005 reboot. With more than 65 local versions aired in over 200 countries, the MasterChef brand is respected and recognised all around the world.
Adventure-reality stalwart Survivor was last year ranked #1 Best Reality Show of All Time by Variety magazine. One of the most watched formats around the world, last year was its most successful to-date with 24 productions.
The global game show phenomenon Deal or No Deal has been commissioned in 83 territories worldwide with 324 productions internationally. A ground-breaking show known all around the world, contestants play and deal for a top cash prize in a contest of nerves, luck and raw intuition.
Action-packed family entertainment brand Wipeout has won the world over with its zany crashes, smashes and hilarious mud splashes. Following the success of the recent U.S. reboot, which was the No. 1 unscripted series on cable, the John Cena and Nicole Byer fronted version has been renewed for a new season. Wipeout continues to grow a substantial digital audience with over 10 million active followers worldwide across Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
Banijay is home to a raft of homes and interiors titles including the award-winning Your Home Made Perfect, Your Garden Made Perfect and the Alan Carr hosted Interior Design Masters. From the use of cutting-edge technology and VR to the competitive world of interior design, these increasingly popular brands are synonymous with innovative and stylish transformations.
Mr. Bean is a globally loved animation that has been in continual distribution for over 30 years. A pioneer for Banijay, the brand recently became the company’s first activation in the Metaverse with a Mr Bean NFT drop. The brand has amassed a huge digital following across a number of platforms with over 129 million followers on Facebook, making it the biggest TV brand on the platform; nearly 50 million subscribers and 15 billion lifetime views across official YouTube channels; 8.7 million followers on Instagram; and 8.3 million likes on TikTok.
Comments Off on Simon’s Cat Expands Global Pawprint with Raft of New Licensing Deals
Banijay Brands today announces a raft of new licensing deals for digital content sensation, Simon’s Cat. In addition, Japanese agent ZenWorks has been appointed to represent the brand’s interests in the respective territory.
The licensing programme for Simon’s Cat is continuing to expand with new licensees appointed for fashion, crafting, phone accessories, puzzles and accessories. Fashion UK is developing a range of ladies’, mens’ and kids’ apparel, accessories and essentials for the UK market – Wulydermy is launching a selection of craft kits for release later this year (available in the UK); global online retailer and manufacturer, Ecell, will launch Simon’s Cat phone covers in Q3; Heye has just sold out of the first print run of its 1,000-piece Simon’s Cat puzzle; Pinfinity will be releasing a range of augmented reality Simon’s Cat branded metal pins; and Australian medical wear specialist, Dr. Woof, has signed a deal which covers branded medical and clinical apparel.
This all sits alongside the official Simon’s Cat webshop refresh, managed by key e-commerce partner, Star Editions, which also released a collectible limited edition branded coin to coincide with the new store look.
Following the success of its previous Simon’s Cat releases, leading social commerce platform, Spring, is extending its partnership with the brand to deliver an extensive range of products this year for worldwide distribution, which will include a collaboration with Rubik’s Cube, bespoke apparel drops, and a limited edition ‘Kitten Care Kit’ collection of pet products.
In Asia, Banijay Brands has appointed renowned agent ZenWorks Licensing to represent the Simon’s Cat in Japan. And following the success of its initial partnership, apparel specialists Quanshang in China has renewed its deal for a second year.
Jane Smith, Group Director, Brand Licensing at Banijay says: “Simon’s Cat is such a lovable brand that resonates with fans all around the world. The extensive licensing programme, that continues to expand, is testament to its enduring popularity.”
Simon Tofield, creator of Simon’s Cat added: “I am always amazed that there are so many Simon’s Cat fans all over the world. Our audiences are incredibly passionate about Simon’s Cat and it is wonderful to be able to offer them such a brilliant array of products.”
The Simon’s Cat brand enjoys international success across multiple categories including gaming, publishing and apparel. There have been more than 90 million digital sticker downloads, in excess of 20 million mobile gaming downloads and over 2 million books sold across 30 countries. Simon’s Cat has over 18 million fans and subscribers across social platforms, with the iconic films totalling more than 2 billion views. Recent successes include the brand-new match-3 mobile game, Simon’s Cat Story Time, from developer Tactile Games, which launched last month, exclusively on Apple Arcade, Apple’s award-winning game subscription service.
Comments Off on Banijay Brands Unveils New Licensing Deals in Asia
Banijay Brands today announces a range of new licensing agreementsMr Bean, MasterChef and Simon’s Cat in Asia, ahead of the region’s week at Festival of Licensing.
This year British comedy star Mr Bean celebrates 30 years of continual distributionand to mark the occasion, Banijay Brands has partnered with Bzmedia to open licensed bubble tea stores in China, where up 22 stores have launched across various cities and further expansion expected. The company is joining forces with Hong Kong-based manufacturer and distributor, Toyeast, and partnering with BMW to produce a die cast model of Mr Bean’s classic Mini and plush products based on the iconic character have been renewed with Kin Hsing in Taiwan. Mr Bean is represented by four agencies, Asiana, Black White Orange, MediaLink and Empire in Asia.
For global culinary hit MasterChef, a new cookware, tableware and kitchenware range will be available in Indonesia on online retail store for household products, dusdusan.com in 2021, in a deal with Indonesian company PT Homeco. This news follows the recent launch of MasterChef handblenders in South Korea with SJ Trend.
Other existing business in this key region includes continued growth for animated hit Simon’s Cat through three agencies CLICK!, Block 12 and Enpop. South Korean agency Enpop are growing awareness for the brand through a partnership with Samsung for licensed digital accessories such as wallpaper designs for Samsung handset users worldwide.
This follows recent deals in South Korea including Simon’s Cat plush toys with Nooritoys and mobile phone case accessories with OGA Prince, as well as an apparel deal in China with Quanshang. The mischievious cat will feature across various locations of 9 Lives Cat Clinic in Hong Kong in a partnership across three years.
Jane Smith, Group Director, Brand Licensing of Banijay Brands comments; “These extensions for Mr Bean, MasterChef and Simon’s Cat are great examples of how we can offer fans a variety of ways to enjoy their favourite brands beyond the screen. This region continues to be significant market for our growth and it’s brilliant to announce these deals at the Festival of Licensing’s Asia week.”
The Banijay Brands portfolio includes MasterChef, Temptation Island, Peaky Blinders, Survivor, Deal or No Deal, The Inbetweeners, Big Brother, Mister Maker, Operation Triunfo, Eat Well for Less, Simon’s Cat, Mr Bean, Don’t, Sunday Brunch, Tipping Point, The Biggest Loser, Ready Steady Cook, Black Mirror, Miss France, Maddie’s Do You Know?, Wipeoutand Crystal Maze.
Comments Off on Banijay Brands Partners with Australian Licensing Agency, WP Brands, for Peaky Blinders and Simon’s Cat
Banijay Brands has appointed brand management agency, WP Brands, to represent Peaky Blinders and Simon’s Cat in Australia and New Zealand, as part of the continued expansion of its brand footprint.
Global hit Peaky Blinders is a multi-award-winning BBC One series, created and written by Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things, Eastern Promises and Locke), and produced by official brand owner, Caryn Mandabach Productions and Tiger Aspect Productions. Season five launched on BBC One last year and delivered the show’s highest ratings yet. The series has aired across more than 183 countries, as well as internationally on Netflix, including the USA.
Simon’s Cat is a worldwide phenomenon, seen in over 100 countries, with 7 million fans on Facebook, 2 million followers on Instagram, and more than 1 billion views on YouTube.
Created by award-winning illustrator, animator and director, Simon Tofied, Simon’s Cat features the hilarious antics of a mischievous white cat and his long-suffering owner Simon. First seen on YouTube in 2008, the Simon’s Cat brand enjoys international success across multiple categories including gaming, publishing and apparel.
There have been more than 80 million digital sticker downloads and in excess of 18 million mobile gaming downloads with further titles in development.
Jane Smith, Group Director, Brand Licensing at Banijay Brands said: “WP Brands has a stellar reputation and we are thrilled to now partner with the business on these hugely popular brands. We have a shared passion and belief in the appeal for customers in Australia and New Zealand.”
Lim Mi-Kyoung, Managing Director of WP Brands comments: “WP Brands is excited to be working alongside a phenomenal media partner like Banijay Brands and we are looking forward to further building on the consumer products offering in our market. We can’t wait to bring fans more opportunities to engage with these two exciting and wildly popular brands.’’