Peppa Pig Gets New Season, More Licensees

Production has begun on a new season of Entertainment One’s (eOne) preschool property Peppa Pig, which has notched up additional licensing partners across the globe.

Astley Baker Davies, the award-winning animation studio behind Peppa Pig, will be producing the new season, which will bring the total number of Peppa Pig episodes to 381. The 117 new episodes are slated to air from 2019 to 2023 to coincide with the brand’s 15th anniversary. New episodes from season seven will continue to roll out on air to the end of 2018.

The property now has 87 licensees in the U.K., and master toy partner Character Options is prepping the launch of its new hero product, Peppa’s Family Home, which hits shelves in July and will be supported by a dedicated TV advertising campaign. In Brazil, DTC has come on board the brand as a new toy partner, with a fresh line of toys set to debut at retail starting in August. In Russia, licensing has accelerated at a significant pace and the licensing program now has 40 partners signed across toys, games and confectionery. Peppa Pig merchandise recently entered new markets across the Nordic region, where Character Options’ master toy line is being distributed by Top Toy. Further categories will follow in autumn/winter 2017, including bedding, puzzles and apparel. In China, the licensing and merchandising program will roll out this year.

“The popularity of Peppa Pig has always been underpinned by the outstanding content, which transcends geographical borders and is loved by audiences around the world,” said Andrew Carley, the head of global licensing at Entertainment One. “With a new series in the pipeline, best-in-class partners and strong marketing and experiential initiatives in each territory, we continue to nurture the long-term success of this global preschool phenomenon.”