The winners of this year\u2019s License This! competition \u2013 Carrot & Toast and My Little Opera \u2013 were announced at Brand Licensing Europe this afternoon following an hour of pitching and presentations from seven finalists.<\/p>\n
The brainchild of Drew Bristow who was also a License This! finalist in 2018, Carrot & Toast<\/strong> are two best friends: an odd combination who adhere to the chaos\/order theory. Carrot is grounded and sensible. Toast is a little haphazard, clumsy and silly. They both feature in a series of mini comics aimed at younger readers and their first adventure \u2018Carrot & Toast Are Coming Home\u2019 sees them get into trouble on holiday when Toast loses his passport.<\/p>\n License This! judge Will Stewart commented: \u201cIt really wasn\u2019t an easy decision this year, we had quite the battle choosing just two winners. My Little Opera is visually very beautiful, but what I loved about Carrot & Toast is that Drew had taken on board everything we said to him in last year\u2019s final and returned with characters who have a distinctive identity. I also loved that he shared the back story of how his two characters came about \u2013 few creatives will share that level of vulnerability but I think it\u2019s a a really important thing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n Chair Kelvyn Gardner<\/strong> added: \u201cWith over 50 entrants, it\u2019s an achievement in its own right just to make the final.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n My Little Opera <\/strong>is inspired by the world\u2019s greatest operas and ballets and has a fresh visual illustrated narrative.<\/p>\n \u201cWell known characters that were part of the contemporary culture a century ago have now been side-lined, unlike many from classic literature and myths,\u201d<\/em> said its creator Rosie Brooks<\/strong>. \u201cI am bringing these characters to a modern audience through this new fun and humorous illustrated brand. The target demographic extends way beyond the \u2018opera lovers\u2019: it is a springboard for the creation a new world of characters with limitless global possibilities.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n This year\u2019s License This! winners will receive a free exhibition stand at BLE 2020, one year\u2019s Licensing International membership and PR support. Finalists will also receive legal consultation from competition sponsor Wynne-Jones. Previous entrants \u2013 both winners and finalists \u2013 have also signed lucrative agent and licensing deals off the back of the competition. Last year\u2019s winners \u2013 Zara Picken and Sara Burman Designs \u2013 both exhibited at BLE 2019 in the Art, Design & Image zone.<\/p>\n The finalists were:<\/u><\/p>\n This year\u2019s judges are:<\/p>\n Character & Entertainment award <\/strong> <\/p>\n Brand & Design award<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n
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