Toronto-based Entertainment One has named Fisher-Price as its toy partner for the upcoming US merchandising launch of its Peppa Pig animated pre-school series.

The licensing deal is expected to see the first Peppa Pig toys land on US store shelves for Christmas 2012.

The TV series, which first bowed in Britain and secured impressive merchandising sales in that market, recently bowed on Nick Jr. in the US market.

Entertainment One has the distribution rights to Peppa Pig in the US market.