News
Mattel clinches Mr Men deal
Ronnie Dungan Jun 18 2007, 10:00am
Mattel’s Fisher Price division has won the master toy licence for the new series of the The Mr Men Show, which launches next year.
The deal with licensor Chorion was announced at the New York Licensing International show and initially covers UK, US and French territories.
Fisher-Price will manufacture a range of pre-school products based on the show, including feature plush, playsets, figures, musical toys, and vehicles. The collection of toys is expected to hit shelves in the UK in autumn 2008, with other territories to follow from 2009.
Eric Karp, EVP of global licensing and merchandising at Chorion, said: “We at Chorion are delighted to be partnering The Mr. Men Show with the industry leader in preschool toys. Fisher-Price brings innovation and creativity to playtime, and we’re thrilled that they will now bring our much-loved characters to life.”
Jean Christophe Pean, general manager, Mattel UK added: “We are thrilled to have signed The Mr. Men Show license with Chorion. The Mr. Men and Little Miss is such a fantastic, much loved classic brand, especially in the UK, and with our expertise in developing great pre-school product it will make the perfect marriage.”
Twenty-five Mr. Men and Little Miss characters will be featured in the new series. To complement the new animation style, some of the characters are being refreshed and some completely re-worked – but all will remain true to the essence of Roger Hargreaves’ original Mr. Men and Little Miss creations.
Comments
“Sadly not”
Posted by: Sarah UK - Oct 30, 12:34am
As a mum of six I have enjoyed the Mr Men with my children for the past 18 years, I also remeber reading the books with my mother as a young girl. I have seen the "updated characters" from Mattel and was very dissapointed that they have changed them so much, Mr Men have never had an american accent or spoke in ridiculous voices, they are charming little English men, sadly they have all been "americanised" which is extremely sad as it takes away the quaint charm of the Mr Men.
Such a shame - I hope that English children will continue to enjoy the old style Mr Men without being bombarded by the crass new ones from Mattel.
“What's happenned to the Mr Men”
Posted by: J Robinson Swindon UK - Oct 30, 12:40am
Why can't they leave things alone!!! The Mr Men and Little miss characters are fine the way they are. What on earth have MATTEL done to them? Turned them into an absurd american cartoon characters. My daughters love the Mr Men, but neither was impressed when they saw the website with the updated versions! Personally we felt they were ruined, the voices, the names and appearances are not in line with the way that Mr Hargreaves originally wrote them. They are awful and MATTEL should have left them the way they were.
“Re: What's happenned to the Mr Men”
Posted by: Alison - Nov 25, 1:22pm
I agree with the comments above, why has Mr Lazy gone green and Mr Strong with a chizelled waist?!!!! Obviously not eating the eggs any more.
having said all that my little boy loves them and likes takes off their accents. I want to know where stocks the toys?