Entertainment tycoon buys entertainment icon Humphrey B. Bear
HE has been confined to the showbiz wilderness but Australian children's icon Humphrey B Bear is back and ready to take on the world.
HE has been confined to the showbiz wilderness but Australian children's icon Humphrey B Bear is back and ready to take on the world.
Adelaide company Imagination has bought the rights to the "funny old fellow", breathing new life into Humphrey in a bid to captivate a new generation of children - almost 45 years since he first graced black and white TV screens on Channel 9.
Imagination chief executive Shane Yeend said he was still pinching himself over his company snaring the rights to Humphrey B Bear ahead of about 100 groups that had shown interest.
"I used to get up every morning and watch Humphrey," he said. "Who would have ever thought that we would end up owning him? Who wouldn't want to own one of their childhood icons?"
Dual Logie Award winner (1970 and 1982) Humphrey's famous suit has been sitting idle in an Adelaide accounting firm office since his former owner Banksia Productions was wound up three years ago.
That was until Imagination clinched the deal this week for an undisclosed sum. Mr Yeend said he was exploring how Humphrey - created by former Nine program director, the late Rex Heading - would make his return. Options included a new TV program, charity work or a re-invention in an animated series.
"Anything is possible," he said.
"Look what happened with Bananas In Pyjamas.
"They made it into an animated series and now it is on its way to becoming a billion-dollar brand. It is not an easy road. The kids' market is a very tough market these days, but Humphrey is still recognised by young children. My daughter loves him."
Mr Yeend said he planned to celebrate Humphrey's comeback with a reunion of those who helped bring him to life in the world's longest-running children's program, screening in Asia, US and Latin America.
"For the last few months, we have been going through 40 years worth of material," he said.
"We have come across all these people who have had something to do with Humphrey and we thought it would be nice to have a reunion later this year to celebrate how he has affected so many people."