Jim Henson Company Heads to Licensing Show

LOS ANGELES: Several new properties are slated to make their debut at the Licensing International Expo in the catalogue of The Jim Henson Company.

Wilson & Ditch: Digging America was produced for the Internet destination PBSKIDSGO.org. The property invites kids 6 to 10 on a cross-country adventure with two comical gophers. For Wilson & Ditch, Jim Henson Company is primarily seeking licensing partners in the areas of publishing, travel games, educational products, iPhone apps and travel accessories.

Another lead property is The Possibility Shop, a Jim Henson Company original broadband series created for Disney Online. It features an array of idea for family-friendly art projects and activities and new seasonal or holiday-based content. The company is looking for partners for publishing, activity products, stationery products and arts and crafts.

Me and My Monsters tells the story of the Carlson family, who have recently relocated from Australia to the U.K. to discover that there are three monsters living in their basement. BBC Worldwide is leading licensing for the series in the U.K., Germany and Australia, while The Jim Henson Company manages the U.S.

Rounding out the slate, The Skrumps is based on the collectible toys by artist John Chandler. The company is primarily seeking licensing partners in the areas of interactive video games iPhone apps and collectible toys.

Debuting under The Jim Henson Company’s the third-party brand umbrella HIP Brands is The String Doll Gang, from Kamibashi Corporation. The String Doll Gang is a band of kooky characters in the form of handmade string figures, each with his or her own special power that is always positive and helpful. The Jim Henson Company is looking for partners to extend these small dolls into larger sized dolls with and without electronics, apparel, accessories, stationery, social expression, room décor, personal care, books and mobile content and accessories. The company is also in active development on a stop-motion animated series aimed at tween boys and girls.

“From The Skrumps’ characters demonstrating the very same qualities that have defined the Company’s strongest family brands, to the educational and fun travel adventures of the lovable Wilson & Ditch: Digging America; and the creativity of The Possibility Shop, which empowers families to embrace daily opportunities to be imaginative and artistic, to the already successful line of The String Doll Gang kooky characters, our new lineup provides a diverse range of exciting licensing opportunities appealing to various age groups across all major categories,” commented Melissa Segal, the senior VP of global consumer products at The Jim Henson Company.