Singing sensation Kelly Clarkson is voicing Moxy, the lead Uglydoll in the new animated feature film, UglyDolls.
Kelly is also performing original songs for the movie as well as Pitbull, who is also part of the voice cast. The film tells the story of Moxy and her Uglydoll friends “as they confront what it means to be different, struggle with their desire to be loved and ultimately discover that you don’t have to be perfect to be amazing because who you truly are is what matters most.” Wow, that’s a mouthful … and describes what many children face in their lives every day.
Robert Simonds’ global next-generation media company STX Entertainment is producing the film and STXtv also has the dual role of studio and producer for the UglyDolls animated kids series streaming exclusively on Hulu. STX is moving beyond traditional platform-driven content to creating talent-driven entertainment with a mission “to unlock the value of the direct connection stars have with their fans through the development, financing, production, marketing and distribution of film, television, VR, digital video, music and live entertainment content.” Wow, another mouthful.
Created as a plush toy line by David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim, the Uglydoll brand quickly gained a cult following around the world. The first hand-sewn plush character, Wage, came to life in 2001. In 2006, Uglydoll is named Toy of the Year by the Toy Industry Association. Uglydoll characters are distinct for their endearing “ugliness,” in a wonderful “uglyverse” where differences are celebrated and embraced.
Their company, Pretty Ugly, LLC is having quite the year. Earlier in 2018, Hasbro signs on as global master toy licensee, Walmart signs on to give Uglydoll its highest level of retail support and White Space Entertainment, global master licensing agent for STX Entertainment, selects Jay Franco as key licensing partner for the UglyDolls brand. Under the licensing agreement, Jay Franco will have rights to a variety of home products, including bedding, bath, pillow, beach and more.
“We are thrilled to be working with STX and White Space on UglyDolls, to develop products that elevate their message of positivity, friendship, uniqueness and self-empowerment aimed at inspiring young people to follow their dreams and never be afraid to be themselves,” Elisha Gordon, VP of Licensing at Jay Franco and Sons, says.
Next year looks beautiful for Uglydolls everywhere. The UglyDolls franchise is set to kick off with the animated feature film slated for a May 10, 2019 release via STXfilms, with additional UglyDolls projects in the works across STX’s multiple divisions, including STXtelevision, STXdigital and STXsurreal.
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