Popular Characters Take Center Stage for Family Month Marketing
Various Events Planned for Young Fans
To celebrate Family Month in May, popular characters Pok?mon and Tinyping will make surprise appearances at baseball stadiums.
On April 24, professional baseball teams Lotte Giants and KIA Tigers announced that they have each prepared collaboration events with Pok?mon and Tinyping, respectively.
Pok?mon, the character Lotte collaborated with, is a global intellectual property that has been beloved for over 30 years. Pok?mon was first released as a game in 1996 and later expanded into animation and movies. Lotte will introduce clothing, cheering items, and commemorative merchandise featuring Pikachu, the most popular character among the many Pok?mon. In addition, a variety of cheering goods will be produced, including Pikachu clappers, Pikachu headbands, Monster Ball headbands, and battle mufflers.
Lotte will decorate various areas of Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium with different Pok?mon characters, and will also host exhibitions, a Pok?mon parade, and photo zones. In addition, the 'Lotte Giants X Pok?mon Store' pop-up shop will be open from May 2 to July 10.
KIA has prepared a collaboration with 'Catch! Tinyping,' a popular IP from SAMG Entertainment. Tinyping is a Korean original animation that began airing in 2020 and features various characters whose names end with 'Ping.' With so many Tinyping characters, a wide range of related merchandise has been released, earning the nickname 'Bankruptping' among parents.
KIA will launch 17 types of collaborative products, including uniforms, keyrings, and bags, which will be sold both online and at offline team stores throughout the season. Tinyping characters will also be featured throughout Gwangju Kia Champions Field. From May 2, a Tinyping photo zone and air balloon will be installed for one month, and during the three-game home series against the Hanwha Eagles from May 2 to 4, limited-edition Tinyping paper tickets will be issued.
The KIA team will wear Tinyping uniforms during the three-game home series against Hanwha and in the away game against Kiwoom Heroes at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome on May 5. Notably, the character Hachuping is scheduled to throw the ceremonial first pitch at the game on May 2.
Throughout May, there will also be events for young fans. On May 3, before the game, a children's drawing contest will be held where kids can color Tinyping designs and draw players next to them. There will also be a Champions Field tour for Kids Club members. During the three tours on May 3, 17, and 29, participating children will visit various areas of Champions Field and observe the team’s training. Additionally, on May 4 and 15, cheerleading events will be held on the cheerleading stage, allowing young fans to cheer alongside the cheer squad.
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