Uber get dressed up for ‘famous rides’ Halloween campaign
Uber licenses SpongeBob SquarePants’ Patty Wagon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Party Wagon, and Scooby-Doo’s Mystery Machine for a special Halloween campaign
Halloween is always one of the busiest weekends for Uber, so to celebrate in style, Uber is dressing up their cars as famous rides from iconic animations. During Halloween weekend riders in Miami will have the chance to take a spin in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Party Wagon, riders in Los Angeles will have the chance to ride in SpongeBob’s Patty Wagon, and riders in Atlanta will have the chance to motor around in Scooby-Doo’s Mystery Machine. And in the spirit of wishing riders a safe Halloween, folks who get connected to these famous cars will win a fun Scooby-Doo/SpongeBob/TMNT face covering.
Born Licensing Secures Famous Vehicles for Uber Halloween Campaign
Born Licensing were called on by Uber’s creative agency in the US, Kamp Grizzly, to secure licenses for iconic vehicles that would turn heads on the road. There were a number of famous vehicles of interest, and we helped explore all possibilities along with suggesting other iconic cars that fit the brief and budget.
Make it stand out
Working with multiple rights holders can sometimes add a layer of complexity and there were various combinations of vehicles that needed working through. We had to be ready with backup options throughout the process to ensure the campaign featured a strong selection of super fun and recognisable cars.
Time was of the essence for this campaign which had to launch Halloween weekend for maximum impact. Our vast experience and strong relationships with studios in the entertainment world meant we were able to help Kamp quickly whittle down a shortlist of feasible famous vehicles that ticked all boxes from both a creative and budget standpoint.
We’re thrilled with the final selection of iconic cars, which in our opinion are the Rolls Royce’s of animation vehicles!
Born Licensing is launching its Character Licensing Workshop series to help agencies confidently navigate the world of entertainment IP, turning a complex process into a clear, practical creative opportunity. Designed for creatives, producers and business affairs teams, the sessions demystify character licensing and unlock its full potential in advertising.
In a digital world where fraudsters rely on urgency, panic and split-second decisions, sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is pause. That's the thinking behind Take9's new "Count Before You Click" campaign, which enlists one of the world's most recognisable number enthusiasts: Sesame Street's Count von Count. Created in partnership with Sesame Workshop and developed by Bully Pulpit International (BPI), the campaign uses the beloved character to encourage consumers to take a simple nine-second pause before responding to suspicious online messages, emails or alerts.
Another year, another hugely successful week at Licensing Expo in Las Vegas — and if this year proved anything, it’s that the licensing industry continues to thrive. From entertainment and gaming to fashion, publishing and experiential, the appetite for character-driven storytelling and brand partnerships feels stronger than ever.
We’re pleased to share that “It’s Pixel, actually” — our campaign with Google Pixel and Love Actually — has been nominated for Best Advertising Campaign Featuring a Licensed Brand at the 2026 Licensing International Excellence Awards.
Born Licensing is launching its UK Character Workshop series to help agencies confidently navigate the world of entertainment IP, turning a complex process into a clear, practical creative opportunity. Designed for creatives, producers and business affairs teams, the sessions demystify character licensing and unlock its full potential in advertising.
Launched under Twix’s new global brand platform, “Two is More Than One,” the campaign invites audiences to reflect on a simple question: when else is one good, but two is better?
Optimism without irony, humour without edge. Paddington offers brands something rare in modern advertising: trust. Here's why the bear from Peru is a natural for brand storytelling.
Born Licensing is proud to announce that we now represent Mr. Men Little Miss as licensing agents in the advertising and marketing space, working alongside Sanrio to bring the iconic characters into bold, personality-led brand storytelling. With over 50 years of cultural relevance, the brand offers a powerful, playful way for advertisers to connect with audiences through instantly recognisable character and emotion.
Few characters in children’s storytelling have achieved the cultural reach of The Gruffalo. First published in 1999, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s instantly recognisable creation has become a true modern classic, adored by families around the world. Together with The Gruffalo’s Child, the books have sold more than 38 million copies globally, been published in 107 languages, and earned a permanent place in the collective imagination.
From multiple 5.9-star System1 campaigns to record-breaking festive launches, Born Licensing explores why character-led storytelling remains one of the most effective tools in Christmas advertising.
There are few comedy duos as universally recognised or as timelessly beloved as Laurel & Hardy. From slapstick silent shorts in the late 1920s to feature films and animated series that continue to entertain audiences around the world, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy shaped the very DNA of physical comedy. Nearly a century after their first screen appearance together, their appeal hasn’t faded: it has become a cultural touchstone spanning generations.
Christmas is rarely predictable, and The AA’s latest festive campaign leans into that truth with a playful character-led twist. This year, the brand has partnered with Elves Behavin’ Badly, bringing the nation’s favourite mischievous duo into its well-known platform, “It’s OK, I’m with The AA”.
Google Pixel’s ‘It’s Pixel, actually’ campaign reunites Love Actually stars to showcase the Pixel 10’s cinematic capabilities in a warm, nostalgic festive moment — with Born Licensing managing the entire licensing process behind the scenes. The result is a joyful blend of modern craft and beloved holiday storytelling.
IAMS and the Garfield collaborate to raise awareness on the issue of overweight cats. With Born Licensing helping bring the partnership to life alongside Paramount and adam&eveDDB, this partnership proves how iconic characters can elevate ad campaigns.
Candy Crush Solitaire and the Care Bears have joined forces for a month-long in-game celebration of love, color, and kindness. With Born Licensing helping bring the partnership to life alongside King and Cloudco Entertainment, this crossover proves that even in gaming, caring is still the sweetest win of all.
Ghirardelli teamed up with SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star for a campaign celebrating iconic pairs, with Born Licensing managing the clip licensing and approvals process with Paramount. The result was a sweet, nostalgic spot that perfectly paired beloved characters with Ghirardelli’s new chocolate and caramel squares.
The Born team attended BLE 2025 in London. Over three days packed with meetings, presentations (and characters!), we caught up with over 30 licensors — including industry heavyweights like Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros., Sanrio, Pokémon, Canal+, LEGO and The Roald Dahl Story Company, among many others. It’s always an incredible opportunity to connect face-to-face with the people behind the IPs that continue to define culture, spark creativity, and shape campaigns across industries.
Born Licensing won Best Licensed Promotions Campaign at the 2025 Licensing Awards for Sainsbury’s x the BFG Christmas campaign
Licensing doesn’t stop at advertising — it’s a global industry shaping products we see on shelves every day. With Learn to License, we’re opening up that world to newcomers, giving them the tools to navigate product licensing with confidence.
Sainsbury’s 2024 Christmas campaign, starring the BFG and colleague Sophie, has been shortlisted for both the IPM Awards and UK Licensing Awards 2025
Eleven years ago, Born Licensing began with nothing more than a laptop, a studio apartment in Melbourne, and a belief that advertising could be better when powered by characters people already loved. There was no investor pitch deck, no neatly laminated business plan – and there was a lot to learn! What was there, however, was a head full of ideas and a deep passion for the emotional shorthand that iconic IP can bring to a campaign.
It’s been nearly three decades since Adam Sandler first brought Happy Gilmore to life, and now the golf-club-wielding fan favourite is back. Netflix has just released Happy Gilmore 2, bringing a fresh wave of nostalgia to one of the most iconic sports comedies of the ’90s - and this time, the brand partnerships are as bold as Happy’s swing.
In May 2025, the Born team touched down in Las Vegas to attend the biggest licensing event of the year, the 2025 Licensing Expo. And, of course, to snap some pictures with our favourite characters!
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Born Licensing welcomes Emmet Wright to the team as Licensor Manager for North America, Australia and New Zealand-based campaigns.