Ladybug and Cat Noir may be heroes, but at retail level, the crime-fighting duo are ready for supervillain-style world domination. ZAG has named new licensing partners and inked several renewals across multiple territories for its flagship brand Miraculous Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir.

New North American licensing partners include Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (picture books, leveled readers, storybooks, chapter books, middle grade novels, guide books and sticker books), Jay Franco (bedding and home décor), Handcraft Manufacturing (underwear) and Customized Personal Solutions (print-on-demand merchandise). Additionally, a new agreement with InSpirit Designs (costumes and accessories, pictured) extends ZAG’s existing relationship with Spirit Halloween.

These new items will first hit shelves this fall, with additional products launching at retail through 2021.

New agreements in Europe include La Plume Dorée (back to school), Turbulences (magazines), Prodhex (first aid kits), Eksik Parca Yayincilik Ticaret (publishing), Ranok Publishing Limited and Kennedy Publishing. ZAG also inked a new publishing agreement with The Novelty Book Company in Latin America.

ZAG renewed existing licensing agreements across Europe with partners including Panini (sticker albums, magazines and books), Ferrero (seasonal products) and McDonald’s (arts and crafts kits). In Australia, the studio renewed its agreement with Five Mile Press (chapter books, novelizations, guide books and book gift sets).

Barcelona-based Planeta Junior acquired a stake in ZAG earlier this year in an agreement that sees Planeta join ZAG’s management board. The companies also drafted a European strategic plan that includes a TV and movie content creation agenda as well as a roadmap for strengthening licensing and merchandising plans in the region. The studio grew its licensing and merchandising team with a trio of hires in March.

This focus on licensing comes ahead of the brand’s upcoming TV movies. Disney Channel and Disney+ acquired the global premiere rights to two animated TV movies from ZAG and ON Kids & Family, which are set to debut in fall 2020 and spring 2021. Additionally, an animated theatrical film is in production and expected to launch globally in fall 2021/early 2022.