NICKELODEON AND MR. KIASU CREATOR MAKE A SPLASH WITH SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS X MR KIASU COFFEETABLE BOOK COLLABORATION
Continues SpongeBob’s 20th anniversary celebrations with launch at Singapore Comic Con, 7 – 8 December 2019
Extends into collectible licensed merchandise
SINGAPORE, 27 NOVEMBER 2019 – Two icons meet when Nickelodeon and Johnny Lau, the creator of Mr. Kiasu, collaborate on a coffee table book that features everyone’s favourite yellow sponge, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Singaporean comic figure, Mr. Kiasu. To celebrate 20 years of SpongeBob SquarePants, the coffeetable book is a localised tribute to the number-one kids’ animated series on TV and titled ‘When Mr. Kiasu Meets SpongeBob SquarePants’. This will launch at the Singapore Comic Con, held on 7 – 8 December 2019.
Conceptualised by Nickelodeon and Lau, the book features the unique illustrative style of Lau who blends the two characters into each other’s world. Bikini Bottom will meet Singapore in this clash of worlds, when SpongeBob runs into Mr. Kiasu and both embark on an epic adventure.
Dennis Tan, Vice President, Brand & Retail Marketing Asia Pacific, Viacom Nickelodeon Consumer Products said, “To continue to commemorate SpongeBob’s 20th Anniversary, we wanted to partner an artist to highlight SpongeBob’s influence on pop culture through a distinctively Asian lens. This partnership with Mr. Kiasu is all that and more. It juxtaposes SpongeBob with the truly local Mr. Kiasu but also shows what they have in common – imagination, humour and a whole lot of heart – that makes this combination compelling for fans.”
“As a pop culture enthusiast and a longtime fan of SpongeBob, I couldn’t be happier to re-imagine him with Mr. Kiasu and create a unique take on SpongeBob in Asia,” said Johnny Lau.
The concept mashup will also extend into licensed merchandise ranging from apparel to home décor items, designed by local creator and retailer Meykrs. Look out for tees, pouches, notebooks, washi tape, cushion covers, coasters etc. which are priced from S$4.90 - S$24.90.
The ‘When Mr Kiasu Meets SpongeBob SquarePants’ coffeetable book is a 64-page full-colour edition priced at S$18.90, published by Shogakukan Asia. The book and licensed merchandise will launch exclusively at the Shogakukan Asia booth (C6) and SpongeBob x Mr Kiasu booth (C4) respectively at the Singapore Comic Con.
Fans can also get their books autographed by Lau, who will conduct fan-signing on both days. Thereafter, the coffeetable book will be available at leading bookstores from 9 December onwards. The merchandise will retail at Area65 and VivoCity Toys“R”Us.
Enjoy the Water B SpongeBob-themed Cruise
Fans can also look forward to a complimentary round-trip ticket ride onboard the Water B SpongeBob-themed cruise ride [1] with every purchase of the book. One ticket is issued with each book and this is limited to 200 books.
20th Anniversary Celebrations in Asia in 2019
During the Hari Raya season, SpongeBob celebrated with fans in Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru in Malaysia with a gigantic inflatable which made it into the Malaysia Book of Records as the biggest inflatable cartoon character in the country. In the Philippines, Nickelodeon partnered with Secret Fresh – a collective of Filipino artists representing a variety of mediums, including graffiti, paintings and sculptures, art toys, street wear fashion, furniture and other innovations of classic and modern designs combined – who re-imagine SpongeBob and create limited-edition art, figurines and prints. Japan kicked off celebrations at Tokyo Summerland, one of the largest waterparks in Japan; while in China, Nickelodeon collaborated with internationally renowned artists whose unique creations were available for sale at an exhibition pop-up in Shenyang’s MIXC mall. Later in 2019, there will be publishing and merchandise collaborations with Faza Meonk (creator of Indonesia’s Si Juki).
About Viacom Nickelodeon Consumer Products
Viacom Nickelodeon Consumer Products (VNCP) oversees all merchandising and retail operations for Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), one of the world’s leading multimedia entertainment companies and home to such powerhouse brands as Nickelodeon, MTV, Paramount Network, Paramount Pictures and Comedy Central. With a diverse portfolio spanning animation, preschool, youth and adult licenses, VNCP is committed to providing key partner development and innovative marketing solutions, ensuring the highest quality product offering across some of the world’s most powerful TV and entertainment properties, including SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
[1] Embarkation will be at the Fort Canning Jetty at Clarke Quay (next to Liang Court).
From Variety:
Singapore Comiccon: Spongebob Squarepants Collides With Local Character Mr Kiasu
Fans Flock to First Singapore ComicCon
SpongeBob SquarePants Mr Kiasu | CREDIT: MILTONTAN.COM - MILTON TAN
Enormously popular Nickelodeon character, SpongeBob SquarePants is 20 this year. To commemorate the anniversary Nickelodeon commissioned Singaporean artist Johnny Lau, creator of iconic local animated character Mr Kiasu, to draw a coffee table book converging the wildly diverse worlds of the two. Lau released the book “Mr Kiasu Meets SpongeBob SquarePants” at the Singapore ComicCon on Saturday.
In local parlance, ‘kiasu’ means fear of missing out. Lau conceived the character when he was doing his national service in the Singapore armed forces. “Both characters come from very different worlds, literally – one is very local and the other is very international,” said Lau. “Between myself and Nickelodeon, it took us three months to brainstorm the story.”
The story has Mr Kiasu going to the beach at Bikini Bottom where SpongeBob lives. When Mr Kiasu takes a swim in the sea, SpongeBob gets accidentally sucked into his body through his ear and the two end up imbuing some of each other’s characteristics. Lau illustrated the story with a live sketch on stage.
Lau said that he was not going to draw and write Mr Kiasu any more. “I am going to move on to other things,” said Lau. “I am going to invite young artists and writers to come along, take over the character and create new stories.”
“The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run,” featuring Keanu Reeves and Awkwafina, and in which Tom Kenny reprises his SpongeBob voice role, is due May 2020. A “Mr Kiasu” web series is in development with local studio mm2.
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More Nick: Nickelodeon Marks 20 Years of "SpongeBob SquarePants" with the "Best Year Ever"!
Originally published: Wednesday, November 27, 2019.
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