Starbright Licensing has been appointed by Spiralcute International to represent Chiikawa, Mofusand and Koupen Chan in Italy, bringing three distinctive, creator-led character brands with established fanbases and growing international momentum to the Italian licensing market.
Chiikawa, created by illustrator Nagano, has grown from a much-loved manga into a cultural phenomenon and powerhouse character IP, with its first feature film opening at No.1 in July 2026.
Mofusand, created by illustrator Juno, captures the mischievous charm of cats in adorable, unexpected ways, with a soft, sophisticated illustration style that has made it universally shareable.
Koupen Chan, created by illustrator Rurutea, is the adorable baby emperor penguin that spreads positivity through simple words of encouragement, originally launched on social media as a way to celebrate life’s everyday wins.
Starbright’s portfolio of evergreen titles also welcomes Barbapapa, the beloved family of multicoloured creatures created in 1970 by Annette Tison and Talus Taylor, managed in Italy on behalf of TF1 Licensing, continuing through the series “Barbapapa – A Happy Big Family”; Bratz, the iconic fashion brand from MGA Entertainment, will mark its 25th anniversary in 2026 with a global programme spanning special initiatives, new collections and high-profile collaborations.
Starbright Licensing also spotlights key Japanese properties heading into a landmark 2026-2027 season:
- Dragon Ball – an evergreen classic entering a landmark two-year run: Dragon Ball Daima debuts on Italia 2 this autumn alongside Dragon Ball Super: Beerus, while the classic series continues on Italia 2 and Prime Video.
- Hello Kitty and Sanrio Friends – after Pompompurin’s 2026 anniversary, Sanrio celebrates Cinnamoroll’s anniversary in 2027.
- Naruto – delivering strong performance, the property celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2027 with a wide slate of international projects.
- Yu-Gi-Oh! – the evergreen anime trading card game franchise, engaging generations of fans worldwide through a strong ecosystem spanning entertainment, trading cards and consumer products.
“Our portfolio grows stronger every season, combining bold acquisitions with iconic, evergreen brands – proof of our ability to build solid, innovative opportunities that generate long-term value for our partners,” said Giada Paterlini, CEO of Starbright Licensing.
