BLE License This! Finalists Unveiled

Eight new brands have been chosen as finalists in the 2019 BLE License This! competition, five in the character and animation category and three in brand and design.

The final will take place in the License Global Theatre at BLE on October 3 at 1 p.m. Among the five character and animation finalists is Argentina’s Slime Fury.

Other contenders in the category are Adorabubbles, Carrot and Toast, My Little Opera and Noodoll. The brand and design finalists are Hungary’s Orange and Lilly, Italy’s MINU’ Tiny Little Wonders and Owlasanas.

This year’s License This! winners will receive a free exhibition stand at BLE 2020, one year’s Licensing International membership, PR support and advice from a panel of industry experts. Finalists will also receive legal consultation from competition sponsor Wynne-Jones.

“Having been part of the judging panel for the past three years, it was really pleasing to see some new and varied proposals in the character and animation category,” said Dan Grant, licensing director at Danilo. “We had a great selection of properties to judge this year from all around the world, which shows how much exposure this event is now receiving.

He continued, “From the long list of entries, we have been able to nominate five character and animation properties for the final that all have something different and exciting to offer. It’s now down to the finalists to convince the panel why their property should win the prize and I’m really looking forward to judging the final.”

Chair and Licensing International UK Managing Director Kelvyn Gardner said: “Early September now brings a great new regular feature of licensing life for me: my first look at the submissions to the annual License This! competition. The contest has evolved as a filter for genuine new licensing talent not just from the U.K. but with a great international dimension. We have responded by now offering two categories—character & animation and brand & design—which in turn has boosted entry numbers and quality. With past winners and finalists now having launched successful licensing programs, License This! really is the place to go if you’re looking for your start.”