Nickelodeon Announces New Art Toy Deal With Toynami and UNKL© for Co-Branded SpongeBob SquarePants Vinyl Figures

NEW YORK, July 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon, Toynami, Inc. and successful designer vinyl toy brand UNKL have entered into a new licensing agreement to create a line of co-branded SpongeBob SquarePants urban vinyl toys modeled after UNKL's successful UniPo™ figures. The new toy line, which will offer fans and collectors a unique take on the world's most popular yellow sponge, was today announced by UNKL co-founder Jason Bacon, George Sohn, President of Toynami, and JJ Ahearn, Managing Director, Licensing Street, LLC, the exclusive worldwide licensing agent for UNKL.

The first wave of figures will include SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick, Squidward, Mr. Krabs and The Flying Dutchman, which will be available to specialty retailers this Fall. Toynami will unveil working prototypes of the figures at Comic-Con International in San Diego on July 21-24.

"Our collaboration with UNKL and Toynami has resulted in a truly unique line of figures that showcase SpongeBob's spirit through an innovative new toy design," said Manuel Torres, Senior Vice President, Global Toys and Video Games for Nickelodeon Consumer Products.  "These products will appeal to SpongeBob fans and collectors of all ages."

"UNKL is thrilled to offer their creative take on one of the most iconic characters in pop culture history," said Jason Bacon. "Combining the irreverence and loveable nature of SpongeBob and his friends with UNKL's UniPo character and adding the expertise of Toynami, we've created something special that fans will love."

The SpongeBob SquarePants/UNKL figures can be found at the Toynami booth, #3229, at San Diego Comic-Con.

About Nickelodeon Consumer Products

Nickelodeon Consumer Products manages the world's number-one TV-based licensing business, representing leading properties such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer, and managing merchandising for Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTVN International, and Spike TV.

Nickelodeon, now in its 32nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does.  The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 16 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com.  Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).

About UNKL, LLC

UNKL was founded in 2003 by Derek Welch and Jason Bacon.  Based in Portland, Oregon, the founders also own and operate Big-Giant, a full-service design studio whose clients include Nike, Dell and Starbucks.  UNKL's mission is simple: to create original characters and products for aesthetic-minded people and to affect anything it finds interesting – from vinyl figures and other consumer products to television and movies.  For more information: http://www.unklbrand.com/

About Toynami, Inc.

Toynami is a manufacturer and distributor of toys and collectibles based in Van Nuys, California. Formed in 2000, Toynami has quickly made a name for itself as the home for high-quality, highly detailed toys based on some of today's hottest media licenses. With a dedicated in-house staff of designers, artists, sculptors and writers, and under the supervision of Toynami CEO and founder George Sohn, Toynami is poised to make an even bigger splash in 2011 and beyond.

About Licensing Street, LLC

Licensing Street, LLC was founded in 2009 as a global licensing and management firm. The firm specializes in strategically developing licensed properties across all retail channels. For further information on UNKL's licensing program, please contact: J.J. Ahearn at Licensing Street, LLC, [email protected].

SOURCE Nickelodeon