Leading character and content company Aurora World is expecting a stronger response than ever to its hit brand YooHoo from visitors to the Korean Pavilion at Licensing Expo in Las Vegas.
It’s already been an amazing year for YooHoo. The global launch of the pre-school animated series YooHoo to the Rescue took place on Netflix in March, followed by a number of free-to-air launches. And the new show has inspired a refreshed line of YooHoo plush, with a new look and new characters.
Along with the Netflix global premiere, the new YooHoo plush toy line has been the focus of a number of major launches globally. Aurora World is working closely with key partners in retail, especially in Japan and the UK. They include Hamleys Hakata and Yokohama in Japan, and John Lewis, Chessington Zoo, and Rainforest Cafe in the UK. But that’s not all.
There are major licensing opportunities for the YooHoo brand across multiple categories as the fanbase of both the brand and the new show goes on growing.
The refreshed plush toy line based on the new series has been accompanied by the rollout of a licensing and merchandising programme across many other categories. There are several products ready for launch in territories worldwide from a number of licensees including Panini (stickers, mini figurines, trading cards), Nuvita (baby products), Apple Beauty (toiletries), Kennedy Publishing (magazines), and Dev Game & Yea Studio (mobile apps).
Headquartered in Seoul, Korea, Aurora World has established a varied business portfolio that includes a vast global reach in the plush market through brands like the super-adorable and realistic , the popular plush and doll mermaids and sea creatures of Sea Sparkles, and Cuby Zoo, cute and funny plush inspired by an animated series in which playful cube-shaped animals come to life and protect the happiness of children. Aurora’s strongest-performing property, however, is the multi-million selling YooHoo & Friends plush. The original YooHoo plush has already sold over 80 million since 2007.
YooHoo to the Rescue, a 3D CGI 52 x 11’ animated children’s show, is a co-production between Aurora World and Italy’s MondoTV. The global launch in spring 2019 brought the first 26 episodes of YooHoo to the Rescue to 190 countries and 20 different languages. YooHoo to the Rescue is one of the first Asian pre-school IPs to be chosen as a Netflix Original Series. Soon after this launch the series also began showing on free-to-air channels in Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain and Portugal.
YooHoo to the Rescue is a funny, exciting and beautifully designed animated series with strong environmental themes, in which YooHoo and his crew travel from the magical forest of YooTopia to Earth to confront threats to nature and wildlife, meet many different endangered animal species from around the world and make new friends along the way.
Jay Noh, Director of Content Business, Aurora World, says: “The timing of Licensing Expo is perfect. The new YooHoo animated series is building a global audience and interest in the new YooHoo plush line, as well as the licensing and merchandising programme, is high. We are looking forward to strong interest in YooHoo from visitors to Licensing Expo as the brand continues to attract licensees across multiple categories.”
