We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, the animated co-production by London-based Walker Productions and Lupus Films met with a tremendous success last holiday season.
The half-hour special was commissioning broadcaster Channel 4′s most-watched programme in 2016 that attracted more than eight million viewers between its Christmas Eve and Christmas Day airings.
IP owner Walker Books is now on the lookout to capitalise on Bear Hunt‘s success with a comprehensive year-round consumer products programme as the special rolls out worldwide.
Home entertainment partner Universal is launching the DVD of Bear Hunt this month. The special is currently available on Amazon Prime in the US.
Additionally, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is set to air later this year on a number of international broadcasters, including France’s Canal+ and ABC Australia.
From a licensing point of view, we got into overdrive really early on, We locked down as many deals as we possibly could,” said Julia Posen, EVP and commercial director of group rights and development for Walker Productions and Walker Books..
One of the first licensing agreements was with Aurora, whose plush products reached UK retailers in November, several weeks before We’re Going on a Bear Hunt premiered on Christmas Eve.
Aurora will be releasing new plush products this year and a number of other licensees will soon roll out products including games (Channel 4 Gaming), apparel (Paul Dennicci, Cooneen By Design) and stationery (Portico Designs). Following the brand’s success in the UK, a CP program will soon launch in Australia.
Additionally, a number of new books inspired by We’re Going on a Bear Hunt will be released by Walker Books in April. They will be aimed at older children and pick up on the special’s themes of exploration and appreciating nature.
