Fluid Brands, set up by licensing veteran Andrew Lane and former Manchester United licensing supreme Tom Howgate, has been signed by Sanrio as UK licensing agent for Hello Kitty across all categories.

Chorion has launched new division Chorion Brand Partners, which will specialise in building consumer and corporate brands through marketing and promotional partnerships with blue-chip organisations.

M&M’s is extending Inner M, the ad campaign it launched in 2007, into the Hispanic community with the help of celebrities Wilmer Valderrama, formerly of “That '70s Show," and Spanish language TV talk show host Cristina Saralegui.

4Kids Entertainment is planning a licensing program of retro products aimed at young adults to mark Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ 25th anniversary.

Naruto’s energy drink, Jutsu Power Energy Drink, has been shipped to regional and national retailers including Hot Topic, Hastings Entertainment, Trans World Entertainment and Spencer Gifts, according to Boston America Corp.

At MAGIC Marketplace 2008, American Greetings Properties’ featured roster will include Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake, as well as the crime-fighting Sushi Pack™ and the gross-out classic toy series Madballs.

Disney Pixar has signed the U.K.’s Character World to produce bedroom ranges for summer blockbuster, Wall-E.

Mighty Fine has a host of initiative ready for the MAGIC show in Las Vegas including:

Language training business, The Linguaphone Group, has signed a raft of new licensees for character-based pre-school English language course, Pingu’s English.
