'#MINIONMONTAGE CHALLENGE' RAMPS UP TO LAUNCH
MONTREAL,
Oct. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ - 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.
(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141021/153282)
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.