Bespoke Reproductions of LAIKA Animation Studio’s Hero Puppets Among Highlights of Multi-Category Merchandise Deal.
The National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA), an entertainment conglomerate and global leader in licensed consumer goods, has signed a deal to produce a multi-category lineup of merchandise with animation studio LAIKA. NECA arrived in San Diego with an exclusive action figure for sale at Comic-Con®, a Coraline in a Deluxe Display Box, and will be promoting the high end bespoke replicas of LAIKA’S hero puppets from its four films: Coraline (2009), ParaNorman (2012), The Boxtrolls (2014) and Kubo and the Two Strings (2016). The deal was brokered by licensing agency Striker Entertainment, which represents the rights to the LAIKA library of legacy and future films.
Founded in Portland, Oregon in 2005, LAIKA’s mission has been to blend art, craft, science and technology to tell new, original, and innovative stories. The studio’s community of storytellers, artists, inventors, technicians, and craftspeople from around the world is committed to making “movies that matter.”
Highlights of NECA’s multi-category merchandise lineup include:
● Bespoke reproduction hero puppets (Coraline, Norman, Eggs and Kubo) available for consumer orders by end of 2017. More characters will follow.
● Limited edition (only 3000) Coraline in a Deluxe Display Box exclusive action figure will be available at the NECA booth (#3145) at San Diego Comic-Con and at The LAIKA Experience pop-up shop.
Future products will include:
● Traditional articulated and/or non-articulated figures and/or dolls, sold with or without scenes/backdrops
● Resin statues
● Plush figures
● Bobble head figures
● Stylized vinyl toys
● Large scale foam figures
● Prop replicas
● Board games
“We are thrilled to have kicked off our new licensing program with this deal,” says Brad Wald, LAIKA’s CFO and SVP of Business Operations. “There’s a history in working together with NECA on top-selling Coraline replicas (one is back by popular demand and available exclusively at the pop-up store at The LAIKA Experience). NECA is a leader in the industry in providing quality fan-based products and we’re excited to offer a wide portfolio to consumers that reflects LAIKA’s dynamic characters and unique aesthetic. We’re particularly excited by the bespoke puppet reproductions, which answer an ardent fan request that dates back to our first film.”
“Having worked with LAIKA in the past, we experienced that spark that is so necessary, yet so rare,” says NECA President Joel Weinshanker. “We look forward to working with the amazingly creative folks at LAIKA to bring their amazing characters in physical form to the masses.”
