– Thumbs up for Fingles

Fingles Productions has acquired the worldwide rights to develop Roger Knights’ pre-school characters, the Fingles, into a 26 x 10-minute fully 3-D animated television series. The 10 Fingles characters are drawn on fingers and thumbs, which allows children to play along with the show. Fingles Productions includes Trigger Licensing, Treehouse Productions and Lettermen Publishing.

– Muppets take France

PARIS: Muppets Tonight (French title: Muppets) has topped off Canal+’s fall schedule. The program, which has the 8 p.m. Sunday slot replaces The Simpsons and will be available to non-pay TV subscribers. Canal+ subsidiary Ellipse License plans an extensive licensing campaign throughout 1996 and 1997 around the new show. Bedding, clothing, home decor, gift items, games and toys are all planned, as well as a fast-food campaign.

– Arthur gets into fashion

S. Goldberg and Co. of Hackensack, New Jersey, has signed a licensing agreement with Marc Brown, author of the Arthur children’s book series, which is due to launch as an animated series on the Public Broadcasting Service in the U.S. on October 7.

The daily series was created by television station WGBH of Boston and Montreal-based Cinar Films. S. Goldberg will create boys and girls footwear in sh’es, sneakers, slippers, slipper socks, boots and sandals featuring Marc Brown’s aardvark.