ABSTRACT
Merchandising revenues can be so significant that this ancillary market actually becomes the primary revenue stream targeted. Many animated properties originate from toys or with the intent of generating toy sales, with the producer sometimes viewing the cartoon (and, in extreme cases, its telecast) as a marketing expense. In the era of social networking and digital versions of content, transmedia emerged as a new buzzword for extending stories into other media and platforms; in general, the term refers not to sequels and remakes, but rather the production of new stories and content via different platforms and media, which serve to expand the fabric and experience of the core content. Most successful film- or TV-based merchandising programs are built around either franchise properties or properties targeted at the kids/family demographic such as animated features. To the extent that a property crosses over to both categories, namely franchises and kids, then the potential is that much greater.
