LINE FRIENDS Partners with UK IP 'Ketnipz' to Accelerate Global IP Expansion
LINE FRIENDS (corporately known as IPX) has officially partnered with Ketnipz, the popular character-driven brand with over 10 million fans across social media platforms.
This highly-anticipated collaboration aims to grow the Ketnipz IP on a global scale, leveraging LINE FRIENDS' storytelling expertise, global infrastructure and creative vision.
The partnership will focus on expanding Ketnipz's presence in key markets such as North America and Asia through licensing opportunities, brand collaborations and original content development.
LOS ANGELES, May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With a strong fanbase in Europe and the U.S., Ketnipz brings a unique cultural resonance that, combined with LINE FRIENDS' global reach, is expected to strengthen both brands' influence in the international IP landscape.
LINE FRIENDS (corporately known as IPX) is proud to announce its partnership with Ketnipz, the UK-born character IP that has captured the hearts of over 10 million fans worldwide, through its unique illustrations, relatable story-telling and always-uplifting messages. The partnership grants rights for Ketnipz in South Korea and China, with plans to scale IP activities across various countries and regions, including North America.
Ketnipz, created by Welsh artist Harry Hambley in 2016, has gained viral popularity primarily in Europe and North America through its genuine, relatable content, with themes of self-love and positivity. The brand began with just one character "Bean" but has since expanded its universe with additional characters such as 'Nana Bean', 'Catto' and 'Doggo'. Ketnipz holds a strong online presence through social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, with over 10 million global fans following. The brand has extended its IP global footprint through collaborations with major global companies like McDonald's, Instagram, Casetify and Samsung.
LINE FRIENDS, with over a decade of expertise developing its globally loved original character IPs like LINE FRIENDS and BT21, is well positioned to partner with Ketnipz and expected to bring the unique identity of Ketnipz through Gen Z trends worldwide. The partnership will expand its business not only in Asia but in Europe and North America.
LINE FRIENDS plans to leverage its IP business capabilities to expand Ketnipz's presence across Asia while solidifying its leadership in the global IP market. By utilizing its broad network of LINE FRIENDS flagship stores, partnerships with major global brands and diverse business models including licensing, collaborations and content development, LINE FRIENDS will be expanding Ketnipz's business in Asia and North America.
LINE FRIENDS has previously led the successful expansion of South Korean IPs such as JOGUMAN, DINOTAENG and MONAMHEE, offering unique IP experiences to fans beyond the home country. The company expects partnering with Ketnipz will further strengthen its presence in the Western market.
LINE FRIENDS representative stated, "Ketnipz IP has delivered joy and connection with their audience through its heartwarming messages and storytelling. As a leader in global IP business, we believe the company can bring great success with Ketnipz in Asia as well as global markets. Building on our successful global expansion with South Korean IPs, we expect to lead the UK-based IP Ketnipz into the Asian market and will continue to discover character IPs to bring new IP experiences for global fans."
ABOUT LINE FRIENDS (corporately known as IPX) LINE FRIENDS is a global character brand that originally started from Original Characters including BROWN, CONY, SALLY created for use as stickers for the leading mobile messenger app, LINE, and its 200 million active users worldwide. LINE FRIENDS has been accelerating its strategy to expand its IP businesses by diversifying its IP portfolios targeting all ages and advancing its digital and retail business. With its diverse IP experiences, LINE FRIENDS is winning hearts of over 50 million Millennials and Generation Zs worldwide. IPX currently operates in 18 markets worldwide including Seoul, New York, LA, Tokyo, and Shanghai, and operates in 8 online sale platforms. For more information, please visit http://www.LINEFRIENDS.com/.
Media Contact:Emily FletcherPublic Haus Agencyemily@publichausagency.com
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/line-friends-partners-with-uk-ip-ketnipz-to-accelerate-global-ip-expansion-302459580.html
SOURCE LINE FRIENDS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News24
20 minutes ago
- News24
Meghan Markle's As Ever brand marks her 44th birthday with stunning new portrait
Meghan Markle turned 44 on Monday. Her lifestyle brand, As Ever, posted a birthday message on its Instagram page, along with a new portrait of the Duchess of Sussex. In the black and white photo, Meghan is smiling, wearing a sunhat and dress. 'Celebrating the woman behind it all,' they wrote in the image caption. 'She pours her heart, vision and magic touch into every detail, and today, we raise a glass to her! Happy birthday to our founder [Meghan],' the message continued. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @aseverofficial The brand also celebrated Meghan's birthday in an email message and announced that one of its wines would be made available. 'Today, our founder celebrates another year (Happy Birthday, Meghan!) and tomorrow, we're raising a glass to celebrate our newest release!' said the email message, according to People. Actor Pamela Anderson also responded to comparisons between her cooking show, Pamela's Cooking With Love and With Love, Meghan on Netflix. On Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, the Baywatch alum was asked if she felt Meghan's show, With Love, Meghan, was a 'rip-off' of her show. 'On a scale from one to ten, how much of a rip-off did you feel like With Love, Meghan was of your show, Pamela's Cooking With Love? ' Cohen asked. 'One. I didn't,' she replied. 'You did not see any similarities?' Cohen asked. Anderson replied, 'No, I didn't really look, but I didn't invent cooking shows,' and added with a laugh, 'She's just doing her thing.'
Associated Press
41 minutes ago
- Associated Press
‘Pundalik & Lord Vitthala' Shares a Timeless Story for Children, of Love and Respect for one's parents and what this truly means in life
LEICESTER, U.K., Aug. 4, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Mala Khiroya, a pharmacist turned author and storyteller, introduces young readers to the beauty of love, respect, and family values through her new children's book, 'Pundalik & Lord Vitthala: The Man Whom God Visited Because He Served His Parents Selflessly with Love' (ISBN: 9781779628800; released July, 2025 by Tellwell Publishing) – this inspiring story is now available worldwide. Rooted in the rich cultural and spiritual traditions of India, 'Pundalik & Lord Vitthala' invites readers into the world of Pundalik, a kind boy from a magical forest near Pandharpur who, as he grows older, begins to neglect his parents. When Lord Vitthala himself visits Pundalik, the encounter teaches a powerful lesson about the importance of honoring and caring for one's parents. The book gently weaves these themes into a tale that children and families of all backgrounds can appreciate. Designed for readers aged five to ten, the book also includes engaging activities at the end, encouraging young readers to continue exploring the story's message in a fun, interactive way. Early feedback from parents and educators has called the book 'timeless' and 'a valuable tool for teaching empathy and respect.' Mala Khiroya's lifelong love for storytelling was nurtured through reading to her nephew and niece. Inspired by the teachings of Pujya Bhaishri Rameshbhai Oza and her own cultural heritage, Mala has spent the past three years running children's classes focused on character, values, and the joy of learning. She has also authored Hanuman Chalisa with illustrations for children and Shlokas, a meaningful calendar for young learners. 'Pundalik & Lord Vitthala' is currently available through Amazon and Ingram Spark. BOOK SUMMARY: Author: Mala Khiroya Email: [email protected] Buy Link: Genre: Children's Released: July, 2025 PAPERBACK ISBN-13: 9781779628800 Publisher: Tellwell ( ) NEWS SOURCE: Tellwell Publishing Keywords: Books and Publishing, Pundalik and Lord Vitthala: The Man Whom God Visited Because He Served His Parents Selflessly with Love, author Mala Khiroya, Tellwell Publishing, ISBN 9781779628800, childrens books, Lord Vitthala himself visits Pundalik, LEICESTER, U.K. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Tellwell Publishing) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P128224 APNF0325A To view the original version, visit: © 2025 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. RIGHTS GRANTED FOR REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY ANY LEGITIMATE MEDIA OUTLET - SUCH AS NEWSPAPER, BROADCAST OR TRADE PERIODICAL. MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY NON-MEDIA WEBSITE PROMOTING PR OR MARKETING SERVICES OR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
When Acting Is More Than a Career
These days, being an actor — especially if you're a woman, especially if you're an American woman — isn't just about acting. You have to also be a marketer (of yourself, of a product). Ideally, you should also be an entrepreneur. You should express your politics intelligently, but you should be prepared for public opinion to turn on you for doing so in a way that doesn't feel authentic or sounds too strident, or for choosing the wrong issues altogether. Acting itself is no longer the end goal of your career — it's a gateway to being a director or founding a production company. Acting is your way into a different life, not life itself. This is increasingly true for young actors everywhere, but it's perhaps less so in the U.K. There, for both business and cultural reasons, even internationally known and commercially successful actors are expected to make regular appearances in plays; you're more likely to see them turning up in strange, low-budget or otherwise unconventional TV or film roles. Many of them are graduates of the country's storied acting schools, where Shakespeare is emphasized and theater is prioritized. Actors are among the U.K.'s greatest exports; Hollywood and Broadway would be lesser places without them. But even in this context, the London-based Irish actress Jessie Buckley stands out for her diversity of roles and singularity of spirit. At 35, she skipped over the ingénue phase, choosing instead a series of indefinable, distinct characters marked not by their looks or sympathy but by their sincerity and sense of wounded, tender pride — a nuclear fallout survivor in the 2019 mini-series 'Chernobyl'; a dissenter in a close-knit Mennonite community in the 2022 movie 'Women Talking'; and the impassioned, fragile Sally Bowles in the 2021 London production of 'Cabaret.' 'There are threads that connect [her] performances,' writes T's digital director, Alice Newell-Hanson, in her profile of the actress. 'Buckley allows her characters to be prickly with unresolved tension — between individual and family, abandon and care, creativity and responsibility.' In the coming months, Buckley will have two starring roles in anticipated films: first as Shakespeare's wife in 'Hamnet,' and then as the titular character in 'The Bride,' a remake of the 1935 film 'Bride of Frankenstein.' When Newell-Hanson met her in May, she was also 33 weeks pregnant with her first child. Her life is about to change. But one senses that, no matter what, she'll continue to chart her own course, and that her ambitions will remain her own as well: a performer who lives to perform. 'Life is magical and mercurial,' she says. To watch her onscreen or onstage is to believe that too. Hair by Orlando Pita at Home Agency. Makeup by Francelle Daly for Love Craft Beauty. Set design by Patience Harding at New School Rep
