Leading licensing agency Maurizio Distefano the evolution of Licensing has announced some important deals and retail launches for its brands, notably Bing, Care Bears™, Polaretti™ and Bluey.
They include a new partnership between Acamar Films, producer of the much-loved preschool series Bing, which is broadcast daily on Rai Yoyo, and event organiser and manager Inscenando – Eventi su Misura, for the management of costume characters in Italy.
The agreement foresees the development of a structured programme of activities featuring Bing and Flop costume characters across shopping malls nationwide. The initiative is designed to deliver immersive, high-impact live experiences aimed at strengthening brand awareness and fostering direct, meaningful engagement with families.
Maurizio Distefano the evolution of Licensing has also announced that a long-awaited capsule collection dedicated to the iconic Care Bears™ is now available online and in United Colors of Benetton stores, featuring a line designed for kids (ages 1–6) and junior (ages 7–14). The collection offers an exclusive range of apparel for younger audiences, distinguished by original designs and the brand’s signature vibrant colour palette.
The collaboration brings together values of caring, joy, and sharing in a bright and playful collection designed to resonate across generations. It also aligns perfectly with the Care Bears™’ global 2026 theme, “Colors of Caring,” celebrating the ways in which the Care Bears™ use colors to express different shades of care and empathy.
To further accelerate the brand’s growth in the Italian market, Cloudco Entertainment, owner of Care Bears™, has rolled out a new digital strategy, marked by the launch of an official and localised Care Bears social media channel: @carebears_ita on Instagram. This initiative represents a significant strategic milestone in strengthening brand awareness in the region while fostering a more direct, consistent and meaningful connection with the local audience.
The activation is part of a broader content localisation framework, designed to tailor tone of voice, creative assets and storytelling to the cultural nuances of the Italian market, ensuring greater relevance and resonance.
Supported by a dedicated editorial strategy, the channels will deliver highly engaging content, brand-consistent visuals, and targeted activations aimed at driving interaction, participation and community building. At the same time, this approach will play a key role in supporting licensing partners, creating a robust digital ecosystem that amplifies campaigns, drives traffic, and enhances brand visibility across all key touchpoints.
Italy’s legendary Polaretti®, an iconic symbol of Italian summer and a pop cultural language associated with joy and freshness, has announced an exclusive collaboration with MC2 Saint Barth. For spring / summer 2026, Polaretti® makes its debut in the beachwear segment with a men’s swimsuit featuring Mr Polaretto, the penguin mascot of the iconic brand, reimagined in a new micro-print designed by MC2 Saint Barth.
This project opens a new chapter for Polaretti® as the pop symbol becomes wearable, fully stepping into the contemporary lifestyle.
The design blends style and functionality: lightweight technical fabric with quick-dry properties, an impeccable fit, and carefully crafted tailored details to accompany every moment of the holiday, from the beach to aperitivo.
The agency has also announced the forthcoming release of three new films dedicated to three of its key IPs: Bluey, Asterix and CoComelon.
Starting in December 2026, fans of Asterix will be able to enjoy a brand-new CGI feature film – Asterix: The Kingdom of Nubia – bringing an original adventure to the big screen, packed with humour, action and unexpected twists, featuring all the beloved characters from the iconic saga.
And from 3 February 2027, audiences will be able to experience YouTube phenomenon CoComelon in cinemas. CoComelon: The Movie (final title tbc), is to be distributed globally by Universal Pictures and produced by Moonbug Entertainment, Flywheel Media, and DreamWorks Animation. Fans will be able to follow JJ and his friends on a brand-new adventure featuring new characters, new music and new locations. The US release is planned for 19 February 2027. Italy will follow at the end of February 2027.
Finally, the Bluey film will premiere in cinemas worldwide in August 2027, followed by streaming on Disney+. The movie will also air on ABC iView and ABC Kids in Australia post-theatrical release.
These developments further reinforce the distinctive approach of Maurizio Distefano the evolution of Licensing, which is increasingly focused on seamlessly integrating content, brands, and experiences within a consistent and forward-looking strategic vision.
This has been underlined by wins at the Bologna Licensing Awards including, for Bluey, Best Property of the Year, Best Pre-School Licensing Project (with Ladybird Books, Penguin Random House UK), and Best Licensed Videogame Award (with Lego). Best Licensed Kiosk Product was given to the project developed by Panini S.p.A. under the Moomin license. Bluey was also a big hit at family theme park Leolandia’s special Easter Egg Hunt, when children and families visiting the park were able to collect a map that guided them through clues and across the park in search of hidden eggs, with a 20g chocolate egg branded Dolfin as a reward.
Maurizio Distefano says: “2026 has opened with a series of strategic initiatives and high-value projects for Maurizio Distefano the evolution of Licensing, which continues to strengthen its market positioning through high-profile partnerships and impactful activities. The agency is further advancing its integrated approach, developing strategies that enhance IPs in a cross-category and innovative way for each consumer target.”