Carlos Valderrama has acquired exclusive animation rights with Bitzio, Inc. The deal announced on June 28, 2012, makes Bitzio the sole owner of animation rights to the Colombian football star in Latin America and the United States.
What happened?
Bitzio, Inc. acquired the rights to create animated content featuring Carlos Valderrama, also known as El Pibe.
The company plans to release several apps and digital experiences with the animated Carlos Valderrama character.
Why it matters for Carlos Valderrama
Carlos Valderrama is a former Colombian football player with 111 full internationals and 11 goals between 1985 and 1998.
He was included in the FIFA 100 list of "greatest living footballers" in 2004, chosen by Pele.
What comes next?
Bitzio, Inc. will create a special PiciBooth edition where fans can take pictures and apply big blond permed hair and a moustache to look like Carlos Valderrama.
The company aims to release many apps and digital experiences with Carlos in the coming months.
And William Schonbrun, President and CEO of Bitzio, said the company is excited to work with a star like Carlos Valderrama.
But the deal is not just about the animation rights, it's also about bringing fans closer to the players and teams they love.
So Bitzio, Inc. will use the animated Carlos Valderrama character to engage and delight his fans for years to come.
The goal is to allow fans to get closer to the players and clubs they support and love, said Schonbrun.
Bitzio, Inc. was founded in 2011 and is a leading mobile media and app development company.
The company uses the Bitzio Engine to capture valuable user data and drive increased user monetization.
Carlos Valderrama's unique look makes him easily recognizable, which is perfect for many of Bitzio's apps.
The company plans to release a short animated film of Carlos Valderrama created by MPC, now wholly owned by Bitzio, Inc.