2024 Event Programme

 Event upon reservation only

 Event upon reservation only

Ben Roberts, Content Director EMEA, License Global, takes a deep dive into the trends and data forecasting shifts in the licensing business for the upcoming year and beyond.

How can an invisible brand touchpoint have a very visible impact on a licensing program? Audiobooks offer a shared experience that can help cultivate and develop the brand’s fandom and serve as a catalyst for much deeper engagement with its audience. The session explores why children (and increasingly parents) are progressively engaged with audiobooks in a meaningful way and the approaches to satisfy their expectations, with also revealing unpublished data.

The theme of "Girl power" is increasingly central in content for children and in the development of aspirational IPs, but literature has always been rich in "strong girls" who serve as role models for entire generations, remaining relevant with their values and character. It's no coincidence that Pippi Longstocking is a brand with a strong following in licensing, while the publishing success of Rebel Girls is the foundation of a brand licensing program still in full evolution.

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Come and discover the evolution of "Talking Tom & Friends" as a case study of excellence in the gaming industry. From a "talk back" app launched in 2010 to a globally recognized entertainment IP, continually conquering new market areas. Today, this versatile and pioneering brand tells its story through various categories, including mobile games, animated video content, publishing, entertainment parks, licensing, merchandising, and more. In this panel, you will uncover the secrets of the enduring success of this IP, how to develop partnerships with other brands, and how to continue year after year with the main objective of the app: creating fun experiences for its loyal fanbase.

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The appointment is dedicated to exploring the intersection between animation and gaming, towards a new future, thanks to the adventure of AL-ONE: a team of professionals driven by passion and creativity, the adoption of cutting-edge technologies ensuring high-quality standards, the ability to create and narrate captivating and intriguing stories for a wide range of audiences.

Il "nostalgia trend" è uno dei più importanti da seguire nell'attuale periodo. Le IP, che hanno costruito nel tempo una fanbase che attraversa più generazioni, tornano in televisione per conquistare nuovi target di bambini e ragazzi, con un richiamo ai genitori, oltre al target family, che ne ricordano le precedenti versioni. Una sfida per riposizionare contenuti e marchi, generando un nuovo appeal senza perderne l'originaria identità. In questo panel un confronto con un broadcaster e un produttore sullo sviluppo di una IP classica dell'immaginario collettivo, Grisù, insieme a un piano licensing volto a dare un nuovo posizionamento a un grande classico.

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The 25th Anniversary of Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game is the first of a series of events at IKLD - International Kids Licensing Days, dedicated to the anniversaries of major international brands. On this occasion, we will also discuss in detail how to optimise anniversaries to promote and strengthen IP awareness and licensing programmes, as explained by one of the major international key players.

What better place than Bologna to celebrate one of the most enduring IP in the history of children's literature, and one of the most successful in the world of licensing. From fashion to toys, Elmer's colourful world has extended its awareness far beyond the book. Andersen Press tell us about this long and rich journey.

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The round-table is dedicated to the dynamic landscape of children's licensing: the complexities of brand expansion among successful cross-media companies, and the art of translating IPs into engaging licensing experiences. Experts share how they have tackled current challenges, leveraged brand expansion, and created compelling content for children and families.

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Utilizing storytelling in product development, media, and publishing to catalyse social and environmental change is a powerful strategy. By weaving narratives that highlight sustainability and social responsibility into our products, media content, and published works, we have the opportunity to inspire action and foster a collective commitment to positive change. The meeting is dedicated to exploring the development of storytelling across various platforms to promote significant impact on both social and environmental fronts.

 Event upon reservation only

 Event upon reservation only

 Event upon reservation only

The Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games Milano Cortina 2026 will give voice to the excellence of the territory that will know how to embrace and support, through the creation of licensed products, the profound values of sports. The meeting offers a unique opportunity to become protagonists on the world stage.

The Moomins, the most beloved family of characters in children's literature and the licensing world, return to Bologna to reveal in absolute preview the development and promotion plans for their upcoming extraordinary milestone: the 80th anniversary, to be celebrated in 2025.

How can a lifestyle brand evolve in a character property with the development of an animated series and a brand-new licensing programme focused on kids? A quality production by PGS Entertainment, a new 3D animated series and a new adventure for Smiley, will be told for the first time in Bologna. It’s time to discover all the details of this new Smiley franchise.

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This interview celebrates the 50th anniversary of Hello Kitty, an icon of licensing, going back over her international milestones and future challenges, from lifestyle to a successful, animated TV series.

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The panel explores the transformative landscape of Children's Publishing, where consumer evolution reshapes the storytelling experience for children and families. This speech discloses the intricate threads of how emerging consumer trends, fuelled by technology and changing family dynamics, impact the world of children's literature. Gain insights into adapting narratives, embracing digital platforms, and creating immersive reading experiences that resonate with the evolving expectations of modern families.

 Event upon reservation only

 Event upon reservation only

The conference explores the world beyond the books to see how a globally successful children's book series inspired an award-winning TV series as well as a myriad of other partnerships across licensing and live events. Are the close collaborations between the production and rights management company, the creator, the publisher, and the commissioning broadcaster in a collaborative and co-ordinated way the key to successfully creating and marketing a growing brand? In this panel we will go in depth on a case history brought by TG Entertainment (TGE), which creates audio visual content and manages the brand and licensing rights for The Brilliant World of Tom Gates, based on Liz Pichon's best-selling book series for children aged 7-12, published by Scholastic.

 Event upon reservation only

 Event upon reservation only

Rules and advice for publishers and authors on which story to choose from their catalogue, for what reasons and then how to pitch the story to tv and film producers.

When two different producers from two different countries discover that they have bought the rights to translate two different series of novels by the same author into animation, there is only one thing to do: get to know the author.

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