‘Warrior Cats: Ultimate Edition’ Roblox game hits 300 million game visits on its second anniversary

The hit game rolls out its biggest update since launch

Coolabi Group and Roblox specialists, Aldrich-Callen Studios, co-producers of ‘Warrior Cats: Ultimate Edition’, today reveal the game has more than two million unique players a month, as the game reaches its two year anniversary.

The 3D role-play game on global online platform Roblox is based on Coolabi Group’s best-selling fantasy brand, Warrior Cats (Warriors). This month the game will also roll out its biggest update since launch, adding a new layer of interaction which will allow players to find and hunt down prey including mice, birds and fish, as well as a map refresh. There will be amazing new areas themed from the book series and an easier way for people to navigate between the notable areas of the Forest Territory.

‘Warrior Cats: Ultimate Edition’ has had 300 million game visits since launch, and has been favourited over 975k times, making this a very exciting and much hyped moment for its hugely engaged community. The game ranks within the top 100 on Roblox for gameplay time and retention, with players spending more than 24 minutes per session. According to Metaverse Marcom, who collate charts and data on brand activity and experiences within Roblox, ‘Warrior Cats: Ultimate Edition’ currently ranks at #4 in the branded games chart in terms of game visits and #1 for gameplay session time.

In soon to be released Warrior Cats research, which has attracted over 30,000 responses from fans, Coolabi found that 48.6% of all respondents play Roblox either every day or at least once a week, and 38.4% of all respondents play Warrior Cats: Ultimate Edition on Roblox either every day or at least once a week.

Naomi Dare, Director of Digital at Coolabi Group comments:  “We are incredibly proud of ‘Warrior Cats: Ultimate Edition’ which has built a huge and engaged audience over the last two years, and continues to go from strength to strength.

“It has been extremely rewarding to read such positive feedback from the game’s players who have commented that in lockdown it was an outlet to escape the stresses of life and make new friends, plus introduced millions of young people to the Warriors books for the first time. We are very excited to be working on future developments already but can’t wait to see the reaction to this new prey update which has been so highly anticipated by the community!”

The ‘Warrior Cats: Ultimate Edition’ update is live now.

www.warriorcats.com

New UK licensing partnership with Rainbow Designs for Bagpuss

International media group and rights owner Coolabi has today announced a UK licensing partnership with leading soft toy manufacturers Rainbow Designs for heritage brand Bagpuss.

Licensed by Coolabi Licensing Ltd, the iconic, charming, British animated children’s television series Bagpuss first premiered on UK television in 1974. Co-created by Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate through their production company Smallfilms, the Bagpuss series, which ran for a total of thirteen episodes, has left a lasting legacy.

Coolabi is delighted to share that Rainbow Designs will be launching a new range of Bagpuss plush toys later this year. The exclusive Bagpuss plush collection will be available to consumers across the UK in A/W 2023.

For over 50 years, Rainbow Designs has been creating high quality, made-to-last toys, inspired by the beloved characters from children’s literature, for babies and children of all ages, promoting bedtime cuddles and stories, and providing fun, comfort and sensory learning.

Anthony Temple, Managing Director, Rainbow Designs, comments: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Bagpuss to Rainbow’s family of classic characters ahead of his 50th anniversary celebration next year. This much-loved saggy cloth cat has created so many superb childhood memories for both parents and grandparents, families now have the opportunity to enjoy this delightful character with their children, creating new, lasting memories – which is such a wonderful gift!

“Bagpuss is a hugely iconic and instantly recognisable character. We received a fantastic response to our new super cuddly, yawning soft toy at all the trade shows this season, and we absolutely cannot wait to have him on the shelves and available to consumers later this year.”

Fran Huxley, Coolabi Group, comments: “Bagpuss is such a renowned and celebrated character, he holds such a special place in the hearts of families around the world. We are thrilled to be working with Rainbow Designs to bring Bagpuss into homes across the UK ahead of his 50th anniversary celebration in 2024, with further announcements to be made later this year.”

The magical, saggy old cloth cat has consistently been voted to the top positions of many polls of Greatest Children’s TV shows over the last twenty years. Peter Firmin, co-creator of Bagpuss, was honoured with a Special BAFTA Children’s Award in 2014 for his contribution to Children’s TV with Bagpuss proving to be the star of the show.

Coolabi Group is set to make further exciting announcements later in the year, as Bagpuss celebrates his 50th anniversary in 2024.

Warrior Cats wins Best Alternative Game at 2023 Kidscreen Awards!

Warrior Cats: Ultimate Edition was announced the winner at the 2023 Kidscreen Awards in Miami last night for Best Alternative Game.

These prestigious international awards are a high-profile celebration of children’s content excellence paying tribute to outstanding TV and digital media work that keeps kids and families entertained. Warrior Cats: Ultimate Edition, created by Aldrich-Callen Studios and Coolabi, is a hugely popular roleplay game on Roblox which has had over 280 million plays since its launch in 2021 and regularly ranks in the most popular and most engaging branded game charts, according to Metaverse Marcom.

Play the game on Roblox

#warriorcats #kidscreenawards #kidscreen

New worldwide licensing partnerships with Rainbow Designs, Merrymakers and Tonies for ‘Giraffes Can’t Dance’

International media group and rights owner Coolabi has today announced worldwide licensing partnerships with leading soft toy manufacturers Rainbow Designs and MerryMakers, and the UK’s fastest growing preschool toy brand tonies® for heritage brand Giraffes Can’t Dance.

Licensed by Coolabi Licensing Ltd, the number one bestseller Giraffes Can’t Dance from author Giles Andreae and illustrator Guy Parker-Rees was first published in 1999. The funny, touching and triumphant picture book about a giraffe who finds his own tune and confidence has been delighting children for over 20 years. Published by Orchard Books, part of the Hachette Children’s Group, the classic picture book has been translated into 36 languages, selling over 10 million copies worldwide.

Allison Watkins, Director of Consumer Products and TV Distribution, Coolabi Group comments: “Giraffes Can’t Dance is such an iconic book and holds such a special place in the hearts of families around the world. I am delighted to be working with such wonderful partners to bring Gerald into homes across a range of products.”

Rainbow Designs will launch its exclusive Giraffes Can’t Dance plush collection into the UK market in A/W 2023, distributing to the rest of the world outside the US/Canada through the year. The newest addition to the Rainbow Designs’ Bedtime Cuddles and Stories programme joins its family of heart-felt children’s storybook characters.

For over 50 years, Rainbow Designs has been creating high quality, made-to-last toys, inspired by the beloved characters from children’s literature, for babies and children of all ages, promoting bedtime cuddles and stories, and providing fun, comfort and sensory learning.

Anthony Temple, Managing Director, Rainbow Designs, comments: “Giraffes Can’t Dance is an exciting and natural new addition to our Bedtime Cuddles and Stories programme.  At Rainbow, bringing the story to life, and giving the child a tangible, soft and cuddly version of their much-loved storybook friend, is what we do best. Storytime, whether it is part of a day time or bedtime routine, provides a special, parent, or grandparent, and child moment, supporting the love of stories, creating valuable bonding time and encouraging that all important cuddle.”

MerryMakers has launched its Giraffes Can’t Dance plush range across the US and Canada. These forever-toys are available both online and in-store now with leading retailers Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and across independent retailers and bookstores.

Clair Frederick, MerryMakers comments: “MerryMakers has been keen on offering a Gerald soft toy for many years, and is absolutely thrilled to finally team with Coolabi on the consumer products program.”

tonies® has launched its Giraffes Can’t Dance Tonie both online and in-store globally. Children are invited to dance along with Gerald as he two-steps and tangos his way to becoming the jungle’s best dancer as this bestselling classic is brought to life.

Since its launch in 2016, the preschool toy brand has sold more than 4.1m Tonieboxes and 51 million Tonies globally. The intuitive design of the musical storybox and combination of collectible figurines, known as Tonies, together with the audio speaker, known as a Toniebox, makes tonies® a unique interactive audio system. Aimed at ages 3+, the portable storytime companion gives children easy and instant access to hundreds of adventures at their fingertips, introducing them to the magical world of narrative and storytelling.

Liz Peters, Head of Portfolio, tonies® comments: “We are delighted to bring the heartfelt Giraffes Can’t Dance story to life. Narrated by the wonderful Hugh Laurie, this touching tale teaches children the importance of embracing your uniqueness and not being afraid to stand out from the crowd…a valuable lesson for young and old alike!  I am very sure the Giraffes Can’t Dance Tonie will quickly become a firm favourite with our little listeners!”

New deal with internationally renowned lantern and light trail festival Lightopia

International media group and rights owner Coolabi has today announced a new deal with award-winning winter light festival Lightopia. For the first time ever, Lightopia Festival will host an installation with Coolabi’s BAFTA award-winning pre-school property Clangers at Crystal Palace Park this winter.

Taking place from the 17th November ‘22 – 2nd January ‘23, the festival will showcase an immersive, multi-sensory interactive light installation for all the family to enjoy.

The installation will feature the iconic Clangers family Mother, Major, Tiny, Small and Granny Clanger, plus their friends the Soup Dragon and Iron Chicken. Families will be able to see the iconic, kind-hearted characters, and their infamous friends at the spectacular, reimagined neon-lit Clangers planet.

The exciting new deal is a first for both Coolabi and Lightopia. Since 2019, Lightopia has been partnering with various parks and trusts to host the award-winning light festival, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to each location every year.

Inspired by the ancient Chinese lantern festivals, Lightopia combines handcrafted lanterns with new technology and creative approach.

Michael Dee, Director of Content at Coolabi Group comments: “We’re delighted to announce this new deal with Lightopia, and for Clangers to be the first licensed brand to join this internationally renowned light festival. The Clangers family has been brought to life in a new and enchanting way, creating a joyful experience where families can interact with the brand.”

Coolabi Group has been acquired by Talenthouse AG, home to the world’s largest creative community

Talenthouse AG is the technology platform serving a community of 18+million members and is an innovator at the forefront of the Creator Economy, specifically within the digital marketing and entertainment space. Together, Talenthouse and Coolabi plan to connect the IP and Creator Economy spaces, initially through gaming and in the metaverse. Additionally, this will open up exclusive opportunities for Talenthouse’s creative community to produce assets for Coolabi’s global brands.

Talenthouse empowers the world’s largest global creative community across 195 countries, to produce the highest quality, localised digital content for leading global brands. Its clients include Universal Music Group, Unreal Engine, Bombay Sapphire and HBO, to name but a few, who are all able to utilise Talenthouse’s creative community to produce visual assets both locally and internationally.

The Creator Economy is truly thriving in 2022, with more than 303 million people around the world now considering themselves to be creators according to Adobe. The global creator economy is estimated to be worth in excess of $2.8 trillion. It is the engine that will drive business and society forward, and Talenthouse holds the key to progression and the future stakeholding of the sector.

Coolabi Group has created and licensed to publishers over 2,000 book titles across some 200 book series to publishers and actively manages the intellectual property it creates in order for it to achieve international recognition and commercial success as brands. For example, Warrior Cats has so far been played 200 million times on Roblox by some 2 million unique users a month and has been viewed on YouTube over half a billion times all just in the last year. In addition, Coolabi’s books are licensed in over 40 languages and its award[1]winning TV shows are licensed in over 140 countries.

Jeremy Banks, CEO of Coolabi, Tim Ricketts, COO of Coolabi, and Chris Snowdon, MD of Working Partners, join creative, financial and advertising serial entrepreneurs Clare McKeeve, CEO of Talenthouse, and founders Maya Bogle and Roman Scharf on the leadership team to push the group into a new era of creative endeavours.

Clare McKeeve, CEO of Talenthouse AG, comments: “The team is thrilled to welcome Jeremy Banks and the Coolabi team into the Talenthouse family and combine their content generation capabilities and younger audience reach to supplement the 18 million members within Talenthouse’s community. We strongly believe that the acquisition will result in new routes to market and maximise our potential within existing international markets.”

Jeremy Banks, CEO of Coolabi, comments: “We are pleased to be joining Clare McKeeve and the highly-regarded Talenthouse team through this acquisition. Their extensive, diverse and engaged creative community strongly ties into what we do here at Coolabi and our ambitions for the future. The merging of both groups will allow us to offer more of what we do best; create stories, brands and content that excites and entertains children across the globe.”