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| (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Warner Bros. Discovery) |
Warner Bros. Discovery celebrated the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros. Studio last April 4, 2023. This milestone birthday is being celebrated across the Asia Pacific through a variety of consumer touchpoints including special programming and content, exclusive products, and live events. Warner Bros. was founded by Albert, Sam, Harry, and Jack Warner and incorporated on April 4, 1923. Today, the Studio is home to one of the most successful collections of brands in the world and stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry, from feature film, television, and direct-to-consumer production to animation, comic books, video games, consumer products, themed entertainment, studio tours, and brand licensing.
The Studio’s vast library, one of the most prestigious and valuable in the world, consists of more than 145,000 hours of programming including 12,500 feature films and 2,400 television programs comprised of more than 150,000 individual episodes. Warner Bros. is also home to one of the most diverse portfolios of adored franchises in the world including Looney Tunes, Wizarding World, DC, FRIENDS, Game of Thrones, Hanna-Barbera, and many more. In celebration and commemoration of Warner Bros.’ 100th anniversary, Warner Bros. Discovery is staging the following across Asia Pacific throughout the year.
“Real Life” Experiences
• Candlelight: 100 Years of Warner Bros. from Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment and Fever will bring to life score tracks from some of the studio’s most celebrated films and television series with commemorative candlelight concerts in 100 cities worldwide. Featuring a range of music from the studio’s past and present, the program will include songs from “FRIENDS", “A Star Is Born", “Willy Wonka", “Purple Rain", “The Wizard of Oz" and many more. The concert will take place and be held in the following venues:
- CHIJMES Hall, Singapore; April 19 and May 8
- National Theatre, Melbourne, Australia; April 21
- St. John’s Cathedral, Brisbane, Australia; April 22
- St. Stephen’s Uniting Church, Sydney, Australia; April 22 and May 27
- St. Mary’s in Holy Trinity Church, Auckland, New Zealand; June 9
- Perth Town Hall, Perth, Australia; August 26
• Warner Bros. Movie World in Australia officially kicked off the global Warner Bros. 100 celebrations with events such as DC Super Heroes and Super-Villains, Fright Nights and Hooray for Hollywood which will run throughout the year. Guests at these events and others will have the opportunity to be transported into the world of Warner Bros.’ iconic franchises such as the Looney Tunes, Justice League, and Hollywood classics like “The Wizard of Oz".
• Fans will gather and commemorate Warner Bros. 100th at the China World Mall, a landmark in central Beijing, China, from now until May 8, 2023 as they “Celebrate Every Story” through a journey of stunning photo-ops and immersive environments.
100th Anniversary Products
As part of its centennial campaign Celebrating Every Story, Warner Bros. Discovery has unveiled its collection of global products, content, and experiences honouring Warner Bros. Studio’s 100th anniversary. The commemorative offerings celebrate the company’s milestone birthday and includes toys, apparel, collectibles, concerts and more that showcase key moments in Warner Bros.’ rich history — from its beginning with “Casablanca” to Looney Tunes to DC and everything in between. Across Asia, retailers and suppliers in the home and apparel space have partnered with WBDGCP including Popmart’s blind box figures and Tom & Jerry mashup toys from Soap Studio. Skechers will launch an apparel range in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
In Singapore, shoppers can keep a look out for other exciting collections from brands including iORA, Enchante, and EZ-Link in time for the June school holidays. In Malaysia, Royal Selangor celebrated the centennial with the release of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck figurines. Apparel from Common Sense and Padini is available now and from Cheetah in May. A series of WB100 home goods from Sheldonet and Objet will be also available in May. Across Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, Rhinoshield has created mobile phone cases with WB100 designs incorporating Looney Tunes and Tom & Jerry mashup characters including Batman, Scooby-Doo, FRIENDS and The Flintstones. In Indonesia, Giordano has launched a line in January and Matahari Department Store, Shining Bright and Thanksinsomnia will release collections this June. The collection will also include a limited edition WB100 Flazz Card from BCA. Investors and collectors will enjoy a special edition gold mint bar from Lotus Archi. In Thailand, shoppers can look out for WB100 apparel from CPS CHAPS and DOSH, plus a cosmetic collection from Archita. A wide range of stationery, gifts, novelties, and houseware will be available from VS and Moshi Moshi throughout the year. In Vietnam, local streetwear brand BOO will launch a Looney Tunes x WB100 collection aimed to inspire people with positive vibes.
In Japan, a special BE@RBRICK collection of Tom and Jerry figures dressed in Hogwarts house-robes from the Wizarding World will be available globally this August from MEDICOM TOY. The special Tom and Jerry figures come in three different sizes – 100%, 400% and 1,000% scale set. Smartphone accessories provider ray-out will launch a range of products including rings and cases featuring the iconic Warner Bros. shield. Small Planet is launching a collection of Tom & Jerry mashups dressed in DC Super Hero costumes including pouches, bags and socks. In South Korea, ice cream brand Baskin-Robbins is offering Looney Tunes and WB100 branded products to celebrate in its 1,570+ stores nationwide. Suhyang Networks, the popular kids fashion brand, is unveiling its WB100 collection in more than 40 department stores this April. On the other hand, fashion e-commerce platform Musinsa has collaborated with WBDGCP on four Warner Bros. brands. Coming soon to India, The Souled Store is launching eight different styles of t-shirts with three new designs across categories launching every month. Macmerise is launching no less than 25 different products featuring Warner Bros. characters as part of its consumer electronics accessories, gifts and novelty ranges. Suditi, an online sports apparel platform, will introduce 15 different styles, while later in the year Balenzia will introduce its premium socks.
Now available, New Zealand’s Mint has stepped back in time to launch a series of silver coins called “Art of the 100th” which showcases Warner Bros. movies over the decades. The first 5 oz coin features the classic 1952 movie “Singin’ in the Rain". The second 2 oz coin shows Looney Tunes dressed as characters from the iconic 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz". In Australia, there will be dedicated capsule collections featuring Looney Tunes inspired WB100 products across toys from global powerhouse Headstart, homewares and stationery from Zak, and apparel from EB Games Australia. Zing Pop Culture, The Warehouse Group, Woolworths, Coles, JB Hi Fi and Australia Post will all be supporting with WB100 merchandise ranges available throughout the year.
Programming
Among the centennial programming and content highlights to be held throughout the year are a four-part documentary on the history of Warner Bros. from WB Unscripted Television and programming marathons and special episodes across Warner Bros. Discovery’s 40+ networks and channels in the region including HBO, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Warner TV and truTV among others.
