Magic Light Pictures’ preschool brand, Pip and Posy will be coming to life at Whipsnade Zoo this Easter through a programme of activities.
From Saturday 1 April to Tuesday 9 May, children will be able to enter Pip and Posy’s world of play, friendship and exploration through a new adventure trail across the UK’s largest zoo – inspired by the Pip and Posy stories.
Meeting Asian elephants, red pandas and reticulated giraffes along the way, youngsters can invent special ‘animal communication’ handshakes next to the ring-tailed lemurs, snuffle through a treasure hunt like a wild boar, get creative making a cosy bug hotel for the conservation zoo’s insects and wind down listening to Pip and Posy story time sessions in the farmyard.
The news follows Merlin Entertainment’s announcement last week that it is teaming up with Magic Light Pictures to produce a multi-million-pound family attraction on Blackpool’s seafront to create the world’s first The Gruffalo and Friends Clubhouse.
“This collaboration with Whipsnade Zoo is the latest in a long line of immersive activities which have seen us work with best in class partners to find wonderfully creative ways to engage children with our brands off screen,” commented Magic Light Pictures’ Aidan Taylor-Gooby. “In addition to Pip and Posy taking wildlife explorers on adventures at Whipsnade Zoo we have had the Gruffalo and Friends entertaining visitors at Chessington World of Adventures, Warwick Castle, Forestry England venues and the forthcoming Blackpool seafront attraction.”
Magic Light Pictures holds the global distribution and merchandising rights to Pip and Posy (excluding publishing) and has launched a full consumer products programme to complement the property.
Products already rolling out include tie-in publishing from Nosy Crow; puzzles from Ravensburger; apparel from Aykroyds and TDP and Blues; dress-up with Amscan; and audio figurines with Tonies. The Pip and Posy characters are also appearing in Milkshake! Live, headlining Parkdean Resorts’ Milkshake! Mornings at key times during the season and will be touring nationwide throughout 2023.
