WB, DC & Mattel To Deliver DC SUPER HERO GIRLS This Fall!

It took awhile for Warner Bros. to get on board with a Wonder Woman movie long after several failed attempts to rebrand the popular female-centric property on television reprising. And rest assured, even that effort a snag recently before recovering with a new director. All in all, it's understandable that one can be led to wonder if the studio cared at all about lending a female the spotlight in today's movie and television fandom.

Thankfully, the studio is making up for it; Other networks have some properties on the way, but Warner Bros. is going all-in with a number of digital products for the female-centric DC Super Hero Girls with toy company, Mattel. The studio's press release from Wednesday has more details and specs about what fans of comic book lore can expect below. Kudos WB!

Beginning in Fall 2015, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Mattel join forces to launch “DC Super Hero Girls,” an exciting new universe of Super Heroic storytelling that helps build character and confidence, and empowers girls to discover their true potential. Featuring DC Comics’ most powerful and diverse line-up of female characters as relatable teens, “DC Super Hero Girls” will play out across multiple entertainment content platforms and product categories to create an immersive world. 

Developed for girls aged 6-12, “DC Super Hero Girls” centers on the female Super Heroes and Super-Villains of the DC Comics universe during their formative years—prior to discovering their full super power potential. Featuring a completely new artistic style and aesthetic, DC Comics’ icons such as Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, Harley Quinn, Bumble Bee, Poison Ivy, Katana and many more make their unprecedented teenaged introduction. Each character has her own storyline that explores what teen life is like as a Super Hero, including discovering her unique abilities, nurturing her remarkable powers and mastering the fundamentals of being a hero. 

“DC Entertainment is home to the most iconic and well-known Super Heroes including Wonder Woman, Supergirl and Batgirl,” said Diane Nelson, President of DC Entertainment. “‘DC Super Hero Girls’ represents the embodiment of our long-term strategy to harness the power of our diverse female characters. I am so pleased that we are able to offer relatable and strong role models in a unique way, just for girls.” 

The initial launch of “DC Super Hero Girls” in Fall 2015 will include an immersive digital experience, original digital content and digital publishing—providing opportunities for girls to interact with characters, learn about the storylines, and engage in customizable play. TV specials, made-for-videos, toys, apparel, books and other product categories will begin to rollout in 2016. 

“Developing a Super Hero franchise exclusively for girls that includes all of the key components of a comprehensive entertainment experience—from content to consumer products—is something we are excited to be doing in conjunction with our great partners,” said Brad Globe, President of Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “It’s really an honor to be part of this cultural moment and to be delivering a concept so rooted in a relatable and empowered theme that the characters of DC Comics are uniquely able to present.” 

As master toy licensee, Mattel is collaborating with DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Bros. Consumer Products on “DC Super Hero Girls’” narrative creation, interactive digital activations and ultimately a toy line launching in 2016. Mattel category-leading firsts include a line of characters for the action figure category, an area of the industry that has been primarily developed with boys in mind, and fashion dolls featuring strong, athletic bodies that stand on their own in heroic poses. 

“Partnering with the best and being the best partner is of paramount importance,” said Richard Dickson, President, Chief Operating Officer, Mattel. “Together with Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment, the ‘DC Super Hero Girls’ franchise will further expand our already powerful girls portfolio. We know Super Hero is a culturally relevant theme and the ‘DC Super Hero Girls’ franchise will engage and inspire girls, providing cues to explore heroic acts through play and into real life.” 

The Random House Books for Young Readers imprint of Random House Children’s Books has been appointed the master publishing partner for the franchise and will be creating a portfolio of books that will bring the “DC Super Hero Girls” world to life, beginning in Spring 2016. Random House’s publishing program will be complemented by a series of original graphic novels from DC Entertainment. The LEGO Group will also be key to building the “DC Super Hero Girls” franchise, leveraging their experience and success engaging girls in creative construction play to bolster this universe through an array of LEGO building sets designed to inspire girls' imaginations. Additionally, consumer products partners around the world will be engaged in creating a merchandise line dedicated to “DC Super Hero Girls” across all key categories.

WB And DC Entertainment Reveal Animation Slate For BATMAN UNLIMITED And DC SUPER FRIENDS

Various live-action TV properties are now underway between Marvel and DC with the latest news now making the rounds regarding TNT's current character line-up for Titans. However, with animation still being a popular being a popular tool among consumers, Warner Bros. is now moving forward with its DC Characters in two popular toylines to head directly to video.

Chalk it up as part of WB's campaign to promote its live-action DC Universe coming soon with Batman V. Superman: Dawn Of Justice, if you so see fit. Rest assured, the kids won't be bored anytime soon.

BURBANK, Calif., Feb. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP), DC Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Animation today unveiled an unprecedented wave of content inspired by two of the company's most successful toy lines developed in partnership with Mattel and Fisher-Price. Inspired by Mattel's new toy line, Batman Unlimited will launch in 2015 with new made-for-video movies and shorts that will extend the play experience for kids. DC Super Friends, inspired by the Fisher-Price Imaginext toy line, will also offer original content as a series of shorts launching in spring of 2015. Bringing dimension to the action figures and playsets available in toy aisles globally, each program will engage millions of young fans around the world like never before. 

Batman Unlimited will debut as a made-for-video animated movie entitled Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts that stars Batman alongside key Super Hero allies such as The Flash, Red Robin and Green Arrow, coming face to face with DC Comics Super-Villain, The Penguin, and never-before-seen cyber animals. The sequel is set to release the second half of 2015.  Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts will be available on May 12, 2015 on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. 

"We are excited to continue to forge new ground with our long-time partners Mattel and Fisher-Price to build on the success of these popular toy lines by bringing the play pattern to life through this original content that we will be able to offer across multiple platforms," said Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. 

Adding to the slate of new Batman Unlimited content, Warner Bros. will release 22 stand-alone, two-minute shorts. Featuring additional story elements, the shorts will be available for fans to enjoy online for free on dedicated channels. Companion apps will also be produced for young fans to extend and develop their experience in an interactive new way. 

"We are thrilled to be working with our Warner Bros., Mattel and Fisher-Price colleagues to create new Batman and DC Super Friends kids' content," stated DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson. "These new animated projects will offer all new Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman adventures that seamlessly jump from toybox to screen." 

Building upon Mattel's hugely successful Batman toy line, the new Batman Unlimited content will bring a new wave of Mattel toys expanded under the banner of Batman Unlimited, including action figures with Animal Ally accessories, a new Batmobile, and the all-new CybeRex robot dinosaur, all featured in the Batman Unlimited content. Additionally, DC Comics master costume partner, Rubie's Costumes, has signed on to support the new content with a line of inspired-by dress-up and costumes; and toymaker Thinkway will introduce new Batman Unlimited-themed role-play accessories.  Batman Unlimited will also have a major QSR partner in 2015, with other key categories, such as apparel, to be announced at a later time. 

"Our longstanding collaboration with WBCP has given Mattel the opportunity to engage fans of all ages with the very best in DC Comics Super Hero play," said Doug Wadleigh, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Mattel Toy Box. "It is a true compliment that our evergreen DC Comics toy lines have inspired a whole new universe of storytelling that will dramatically expand kids' imaginative play with their favorite Super Heroes." 

Also debuting in spring 2015, Warner Bros. Animation will release a slate of DC Super Friends animated shorts featuring designs inspired by the popular Fisher-Price Imaginext DC Super Friends toy line. The 15 three-minute shorts will extend the characters' storylines for fans to enjoy online for free on dedicated channels. Accompanying the shorts will be the release of companion apps that offer young DC Comics fans the chance to advance the storyline and further engage with their favorite characters. 

DC Super Friends content will build upon the existing world of Fisher-Price Imaginext DC Super Friends toys with an expansion of the toy line following the shorts. Exciting additions to the line include all-new playset environments seen in the shorts such as The Joker Laff Factory, as well as a new design of the fan-favorite Batcave, all of which will feature Imaginext's interactive Power Pad, enabling kids to activate key features in the toy. Among other key categories to come, Publishing partners will also partake in the expanded universe of DC Super Friends storytelling with new titles.