Rubicon at Character Dubai 2009

Rubicon Group Holding, a leading company in Interactive Multimedia, Production and Entertainment in the MENA region has again inked its participation for the second Dubai International Character and Licensing Fair. The Character Dubai Fair is due to take place on the 27th to the 29th of October 2009, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

• Rubicon Studios: a production house for 2D and 3D animation, as well as CG and multimedia.
• Rubicon Education: This pioneering effort in k-12 ICT offers educational services and products as well as professional development.
• Rubicon Brand & IP Licensing: This unit focuses on licensing of Rubicon Group’s own IP as well as the IP of major studios including MGM studios in LA and Sun R&P in Japan.
• Rubicon Themed Entertainment: Rubicon, in partnership with MGM studios, provides value added entertainment concepts from design, to implementing mixed-use destinations around the Middle East and North Africa region.

"In such an evolving industry, the Character Dubai is a timely platform for us to showcase all our services. It is not a hidden fact that Rubicon has to continuously examine its growth strategies to maximize and sustain its position among one of the leaders in licensing and interactive multimedia. Our main purpose is to place ourselves as a key player covering a wider field in the said industry and at the same time build new contacts and to learn from our peers.“ said Ghassan Al Ayoubi, Executive Director, Rubicon.

Rubicon Studio was established to forge a new path in creative superior photo-realistic, high-resolution, 2D and 3D computer-generated animation for television and entertainment industries, while providing inspiring and professional products starting from the Adventures of Ben & Izzy, a 13-half hour 3D animated comedy and adventure series who’s plot revolves around two adolescent boys persuaded by the desert genie “Yasmine”, The MGM collaboration 2D animated series Pink Panther & Pals, which is scheduled to debut on Cartoon Network channels worldwide in the fall of 2009.

Created for pre-school children Tareq Wa Shireen is another animated series under Rubicon’s world class line up. the cartoon series which carries the rich Arabic heritage, history and music is intended to be an excellent early childhood development tool which suites ages between 3 and 8. “Tareq Wa Shireen” was researched and developed by specialists to address the key factors of a child's development through song and dance.

Commenting on Rubicon’s participation, Eng. Anas Al Madani, Vice President of Index Conferences & Exhibition, said “The 2nd edition of Character Dubai can be sighted as a complete event for content providers and licensing professionals, in having an exhibitor like Rubicon we extend our appreciation in welcoming their participation and moreover recognize the integral part they will play in shaping the image of interactive multimedia in the Middle East.”

Arab Asian Entertainment Content & Licensing

In association with the Dubai International Character and Licensing Fair – The Arab Asian Entertainment Content & Licensing (AAECL) constitutes of licensors and licensees of animation, content creators, entertainment, cartoon characters, logos, films, brands, arts & designs, animation producers, drama, comics, media, advertisers, graphic designers, marketers, manufacturers, intellectual property owners, retailers, licensees, licensing agents, and other decision makers and investors from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries, the Indian Sub - continent, Asia Pacific, Europe and the United States of America. The Arab Asian Entertainment Content Licensing – AAECL is being formed to represent the above mentioned business categories, their scope, and services and further expand into the Global Entertainment Content Licensing Arena, catering exclusively to the needs of the Character Licensing Content, Entertainment and Animation Industry.

Objectives

• To introduce the new advancements of the Entertainment Content & Licensing Industry prevalent in the MENA region and through AAECL to the Global community.
• To establish a strong business and networking association between the EU, North & South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East and Arab World Entertainment Content Licensing Market.
• To foster better interaction among the licensor and the licensee, other decision makers and investors in this industry.

Movie's Magic

The sorcery and spell’s cast by the entertainment licensing were more than enough to challenge the looming global economic down turn. Movie magic appeared on time lifting the dwindling retail sales then beaming the wizard like wand licensing the movies lined up for this year.

• X-Men Origins: Wolverine - Out 2009 May
• Star Trek - Out: 2009 May
• Terminator Salvation – Out: 2009 May
• UP – Out: 2009 May
• Land of the Lost – Out 2009 June
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - Out 2009 June
• Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs – Out 2009 July.
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – Out 2009 July
• G.I. Joe: The rise of cobra – Out: 2009 August
• Astro Boy – Out: 2009 September
• Twilight movie: New Moon – Out 2009 November
• Princes and the Frog - Out 2009 December

The positive indicators like the one coming from the motion Picture Association of America states that the projected box office sales will hit $ 11 billion in the U.S. compared to last years $ 9.8 billion. And backed up by the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index posting an increase in last March standing from 26.9 to 39.2 stating that consumers are gaining confidence in the market. To date the entertainment licensing is justifiably the main movers of the retail market, a proven fact that there is life behind the movie screens.