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Curious Fox has signed a three-year deal with Warner Bros to publish new children’s titles based around classic characters such as Batman and Scooby-Doo.
Under the terms of the deal, Curious Fox will create books for the DC Comics Justice League, Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo and The Wizard of Oz brands. The publisher has the licence for a variety of different formats, including chapter books, picture books, board books, anthologies and e-books, and is planning to release 30 books for the five to 12 years age market in the first year, starting in May 2014.
Titles this year will include three-in-one fiction box-sets for the Batman and Superman Justice League characters (June 2014), and illustrated non-fiction titles such as Batmobiles and Batcycles and The Engineering Behind Batman’s Vehicles (July 2014). Looney Tunes and Scooby-Doo Treasuries will be released as hardback gift books in the summer.
In May, Curious Fox will publish a Wizard of Oz book, to coincide with the release of a new animated film, “Legends of Oz”.
The UK deal is an extension of an existing relationship between Capstone and Warner Bros Consumer Products in the US.
“The relationship with Warner Bros developed through us initially having a licence to sell DC Comics, which is part of Warner Bros, chapter books in schools and libraries,” said Curious Fox m.d. Miles Stevens-Hoare. “Through the success we had with those titles in the education channel in the US and the UK, the conversation with Warner Bros. developed into other characters.”
Stevens-Hoare said brands such as Scooby-Doo have been “resting” for a few years and needed to be brought back into the limelight. “Warner’s ongoing programming, film releases and licensees show that these characters have stood the test of time and have strong appeal for both children and adults,” he said.
For Paul Bufton, general manager of consumer products UK at Warner Bros, publishing is the cornerstone of any successful licensing campaign because books are often a child’s first experience of a brand.
“Quality books such as those created by Curious Fox add credibility and aid parental favour with our brands,” he said.
Stevens-Hoare said the deal was part of a plan to expand the reach of Curious Fox, which is owned by Capstone, and only launched in 2012.
“In 2014 we are really spreading our wings, expanding our range with fiction and non-fiction for a wider range of ages,” he said. “Warner Bros is a key part of this.”