'#MINIONMONTAGE CHALLENGE' RAMPS UP TO LAUNCH
MONTREAL, Oct. 21, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - MEGA® Brands Inc., a member of
the Mattel family of companies (NASDAQ: MAT), has announced today a
multi-year global licensing partnership with Universal Partnerships &
Licensing (UP&L) to develop a new kids construction line based on the
phenomenally successful Despicable Me franchise from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment.
MEGA Brands' new partnership with UP&L will introduce builders and fans
to the only toy line that brings the iconic and playful world of
Minions to life through building. In stores as of December 2014, the
Mega Bloks® Despicable Me construction sets will offer fully buildable iconic characters,
locations and vehicles, inspired by the blockbuster sequel, Despicable Me 2.
"The Despicable Me franchise and its dynamic characters have become a global sensation,"
said Bisma Ansari, vice president, Girls & Boys, MEGA Brands. "We are
so excited to join forces with Universal and Illumination Entertainment
in bringing these iconic characters and their stories to the world of
building."
Builders will embrace their "inner Minions" with the line's
easy-to-build and fully customizable construction sets that offer
mix-and-match features, such as interchangeable accessories. Each set
will include buildable Minions that are unique to the set, for a wide
variety of Minions to collect, build and play-out fun and quirky
adventures.
"We are thrilled to join MEGA Brands in this new licensing partnership,"
said Cindy Chang, senior vice president, Worldwide Sales, UP&L. "The
company is committed to bringing outstanding products to market for
families and children of all ages, and MEGA is an ideal collaborator
for our Despicable Me franchise."
To launch the line, seven lucky fans will participate in the
"#MinionMontage Challenge" on social media. Follow the #MinionMontage
action and visit the Mega Bloks Facebook page to see highlights of the
fun.
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About MEGA Brands
A member of the Mattel family of companies, MEGA Brands Inc. is a
trusted collection of leading global brands in construction toys, games
& puzzles and arts & crafts. They offer engaging creative experiences
for children and families through innovative, well-designed, affordable
and high-quality products. MEGA® Brands includes MEGA BLOKS®, RoseArt®,
MEGA Puzzles®, MEGA Games® and Board Dudes®. Visit http://www.megabrands.com for more information.
The MEGA logo, Mega Bloks, Rose Art, MEGA Puzzles, MEGA Games and Board
Dudes are trademarks of MEGA Brands Inc. or its affiliates.
For more information, please visit www.megabrands.com and www.megabloks.com
About Mattel
The Mattel family of companies (Nasdaq: MAT) is the worldwide leader in
the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products.
Mattel's portfolio of best-selling brands includes Barbie®, the most
popular fashion doll ever produced, Hot Wheels®, Monster High®,
American Girl®, Thomas & Friends® and Fisher-Price® brands, including
Little People® and Power Wheels®, MEGA® Brands, including MEGA BLOKS®
and RoseArt®, as well as a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy
lines. In 2013, Mattel was named one of the "World's Most Ethical
Companies" by Ethisphere Magazine and in 2014 ranked No. 5 on Corporate
Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. With
worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel's companies employ
nearly 30,000 people in 40 countries and territories and sell products
in more than 150 nations. At Mattel, we are Creating the Future of
Play. Visit us at www.mattel.com, www.facebook.com/mattel or www.twitter.com/mattel.
About Illumination Entertainment
Illumination Entertainment, founded by Chris Meledandri in 2007, is one
of the entertainment industry's leading producers of all-audience event
films. In July 2010, Illumination, which has an exclusive financing
and distribution partnership with Universal Pictures, released its
first film, Despicable Me, starring Steve Carell, which earned more than $540 million worldwide
and launched a beloved global franchise. With the success of 2011's Hop, 2012's Dr. Seuss' The Lorax and 2013's juggernaut Despicable Me 2— the highest-grossing first-run film in Universal's history and the
year's third-highest-grossing film at the worldwide box
office—Illumination's films have made almost $2 billion. Universal's
and Illumination's next film, Minions, a spin-off of the phenomenally successful Despicable Me series—starring Academy Award® winner Sandra Bullock and Jon
Hamm—arrives in theaters on July 10, 2015. In 2011, Universal Pictures
acquired the animation division of French visual effects studio Mac
Guff Ligne and formed Illumination Mac Guff to work exclusively on
Illumination Entertainment's fully CG movies. Fans may also experience
Minion Mayhem in 3D with the Ultra-HD movie motion simulator adventure
at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.
About Universal Partnerships & Licensing
Universal Partnerships & Licensing (UP&L) oversees NBCUniversal's
consumer product licensing, film, home entertainment and television
promotions, and corporate alliances for Universal's theatrical, home
entertainment, television, theme parks and stage productions. This
dedicated division is also responsible for monetizing the company's
vast library of films and characters through licensing, branding and
marketing opportunities. UP&L is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal
is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the
development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and
information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a
valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a
premier motion picture company, significant television production
operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme
parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal
is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
SOURCE MEGA Brands Inc.
Image with caption: "MEGA Brands Inc. announced a multi-year global partnership with Universal Partnerships & Licensing (UP&L) to develop a new kids construction line based on the Despicable Me franchise from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment. The Mega Bloks Despicable Me line will hit shelves in December 2014. (CNW Group/MEGA Brands Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141021_C9027_PHOTO_EN_43072.jpg
