Universal Partnerships and Licensing name licensing partners for 'Despicable Me'
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif.
Universal Partnerships and Licensing announced licensing partners for Universal Pictures and Chris Meledandri’s Illumination Entertainment’s inaugural 3-D CGI feature, Despicable Me, the studio’s first film from Meledandri (Ice Age, Ice Age 2: The Meltdown, Horton Hears a Who!), who produces through his Universal-based family-entertainment company.
The first partners on the film cover all major product categories, including interactive, publishing, mobile, stationery/social expression, apparel and toys. The film is set to arrive in theaters on July 9.
Licensees in development on Despicable Me product include:
· D3Publisher – Video game
· Little, Brown Books for Young Readers – Publishing
· Namco Networks – iPhone / iPod touch game app
· Hallmark – Stationery/social expression
· Hybrid – Apparel
· Aquarius Entertainment – Posters and calendars
· Ceaco – Puzzles
· Rubie’s Costume Company – Halloween costumes
· DecoPac – Bakery goods
· Toy Factory – Amusement plush
Product from all partners is expected to launch in the marketplace this summer.