Peanuts Entering the Digital Landscape
Peanuts Worldwide has announced a worldwide expansion into the digital, web, and social arena with multiple new partnerships and initiatives.
These deals mark the initial phase of the company’s long term goal of developing the Peanuts brand into a global entertainment and multi-media property. Over the next few months, fans will experience Peanuts in multiple new formats, with more to come in 2012 and beyond.
“Since taking over ownership of Peanuts, our overall strategic goal has been to continue to make the brand relevant to younger generations,” said Neil Cole, chairman and CEO of Iconix Brand Group, which owns Peanuts Worldwide.
“In order to accomplish this, we had to substantially expand our efforts for Peanuts into the digital, web and social categories of our business, which is demonstrated in the initiatives outlined in this first phase announcement.”
Initial deals and marketing initiatives include:
MOBILE GAMING: Capcom’s wholly owned subsidiary, Beeline Interactive, Inc., a leading developer and publisher of video games, partnered with Peanuts on a global deal, wherein Beeline will license and develop a new freemium game for smartphones and tablets based on the Peanuts characters. The game, which is expected to be available this fall, will feature fan favorites Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock, Lucy, Linus and more.
E-BOOKS: Peanuts favorites, Happiness is a Warm Puppy (RP: $4.99) and Happiness is a Warm Blanket (RP: $6.99), will soon be available in digital format for the first time through Barnes and Noble Nook applications and www.barnesandnoble.com.
DIGITAL APPS: iVerse, the digital distributor of comic books and strips for mobile platforms, has been compiling vintage Peanuts strips and will be releasing them for purchase this September at www.itunes.com. The first two collections include It’s a Dog’s Life, Snoopy and It’s a Big World, Charlie Brown.
DOWNLOADABLE GRAPHIC NOVELS: KaBOOM!, an imprint of BOOM! Studios, recently released Happiness is a Warm Blanket as a print graphic novel, as well as a downloadable digital version available for purchase via Comixology’s IOS app, as well as a Peanuts branded app both available at www.itunes.com. Additional graphic novels from Peanuts and KaBOOM! are in store for the future.
WEB: Fans of all ages can now experience an all new and expanded web presence for Peanuts at www.peanuts.com. Look for an even wider offering of games, content and other interactive entertainment this fall, with more to come in 2012.
SOCIAL MEDIA: The official Peanuts Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Snoopy was recently launched. The page offers fans a way to interact with their favorite brand and characters and also demonstrates the popularity of Charles M. Schulz’s characters across the globe. You can also follow Peanuts on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Snoopy.
FACEBOOK APPLICATIONS: Cedar Fair Amusement Parks, home to eleven parks across the U.S. that feature Peanuts including Knott’s Berry Farm and Cedar Point, has launched Amazement Park, an all new Facebook gaming application. While playing the game, fans can build and manage their very own virtual amusement park equipped with the popular Planet Snoopy attractions.
It was announced today, August 3.
The Peanuts characters and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide LLC, a joint venture owned 80% by Iconix Brand Group, Inc. and 20% by members of the Charles M. Schulz family.
