Below is a JAKKS Pacific, Inc. press release via
MarketWatch:
Boys Action Adventure Series, Monsuno, Takes Over TV TOKYO
MALIBU, Calif., Jul 02, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Pacific Animation Partners, LLC announced today that the Monsuno(TM) boys action original animated television series is set to premiere on TV TOKYO in Japan in October 2012. TV TOKYO is one of the major Tokyo television stations and specializes in anime programming.
"Securing placement on TV TOKYO fulfills the vision for global TV and toy distribution that JAKKS shared with its partners at the outset of the Monsuno program," said Jeremy Padawer, Executive Vice President, Marketing & Business Development, JAKKS Pacific. "The meaningful digital and terrestrial placement in over 60 countries, paired with best-in-class toy distribution deals in over 40 international markets, has set the stage for achieving true worldwide success for the Monsuno franchise."
"Dentsu is very excited to announce the launch of Monsuno on TV TOKYO this fall," said Yuma Sakata, President, Dentsu Entertainment USA, Inc. "Having a USA developed series air on one of the top destinations for animation programming is a great accomplishment and a testament to the global appeal of Monsuno."
Targeting 6-11 year old boys, Monsuno (52x30') is an animated action-adventure series where kids discover, command and battle creatures with destructive potential. A race to harness the power of Monsuno ensues between a group of heroic kids and the evil forces focused on destroying the planet. Monsuno will roll out in over 60 countries on Nickelodeon and free-to-air channels this Fall.
The Monsuno(TM) series is co-produced by Pacific Animation Partners LLC, a joint venture between JAKKS Pacific, Inc. and Dentsu Entertainment USA, Inc., with FremantleMedia Enterprises and The Topps Company, Inc. JAKKS Pacific is the creator of the underlying Monsuno property and master toymaker for the Monsuno toy line, featuring innovative, kid-controlled action figures, accessories, playsets, collectables, electronics and integrated role play. The Topps Company produces Monsuno trading card games, confectioneries and related products.
ABOUT JAKKS PACIFIC, INC.
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. [...] is a leading designer and marketer of toys and consumer products with a wide range of products that feature popular brands and children's toy licenses. JAKKS' diverse portfolio includes Action Figures, Electronics, Dolls, Dress-Up, Role Play, Halloween Costumes, Kids Furniture, Vehicles, Plush, Art Activity Kits, Seasonal Products, Infant/Pre-School, Construction Toys, Ride-On Vehicles, Wagons, Inflatable Environments and Tents, and Pet Toys sold under various proprietary brands including JAKKS Pacific(R), Creative Designs International(TM), Road Champs(R), Funnoodle(R), JAKKS Pets(TM), Plug It In & Play TV Games(TM), Kids Only!(TM), Tollytots(R), Disguise(R) and Moose Mountain(R). JAKKS is an award-winning licensee of several hundred nationally and internationally known trademarks including Nickelodeon(R), Warner Bros.(R), Ultimate Fighting Championship(R), Hello Kitty(R), Graco(R), Cabbage Patch Kids(R) and Pokemon(R). JAKKS' Monsuno(TM) toy line is based on the new Monsuno(TM) animated television series. www.jakks.com
ABOUT DENTSU ENTERTAINMENT USA, INC.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, CA, Dentsu Entertainment USA, Inc. was formed in April 2010 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Dentsu Inc. (Tokyo Stock Exchange, Code 4324), the world's largest advertising agency brand and a leading producer of Japanese animation, with over 18,000 full-time employees and close to 100 offices worldwide. Dentsu Entertainment USA develops original animation programming and media content for markets worldwide, and manages licensing programs for existing and new properties. Current projects include Chub City(R), a toy based property featuring street-savvy characters and vehicles, currently in development as an animated series, Deltora Quest(R), a 52-episode animated series based on the international top-selling fantasy-adventure book series of the same name already airing in multiple markets worldwide, and Mameshiba(TM), a collection of animated shorts and character licensing program with over $100 million in product sales since 2008.
ABOUT FREMANTLEMEDIA ENTERPRISES & FREMANTLEMEDIA
FremantleMedia is one of the leading creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world. FremantleMedia is part of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company, which is in turn 90 percent owned by Bertelsmann AG, one of the world's major media and entertainment companies. FremantleMedia's worldwide production arm is responsible for many of the world's highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial drama and factual entertainment programmes. FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment around the world. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes FremantleMedia North America, UFA, FremantleMedia UK, FremantleMedia Australia and Original Productions amongst others) has operations in 22 countries, one of the most comprehensive global networks, creating nearly 10,000 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 300 individual titles. FremantleMedia has some of the world's most sought after and long running formats in its catalogue, and globally, produces such programmes as: Idols (co-produced with 19 Productions in the US), Hole In The Wall, Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK), Take Me Out, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife, Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten, and Neighbours.
ABOUT THE TOPPS COMPANY, INC.
Founded in 1938, Topps ( www.topps.com ) is a leading creator and marketer of sports and entertainment cards, related collectibles, and popular confectionery brands. Topps products include Major League Baseball, NFL, WWE, UFC, Star Wars, Club Penguin, and other trading cards, sticker album collections, and collectible games. The Company's confectionery portfolio includes "Bazooka" bubble gum, "Ring Pop", "Push Pop", "Baby Bottle Pop" and "Juicy Drop Pop" lollipops. Topps was acquired in October 2007 by Madison Dearborn Partners, a private equity group, and Michael Eisner, former CEO of Disney. Headquartered in New York City, Topps also maintains offices in Pennsylvania, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, and Argentina.
This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" that are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about JAKKS Pacific's business based partly on assumptions made by its management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such statements due to numerous factors, including, but not limited to, those described above, changes in demand for JAKKS' products, product mix, the timing of customer orders and deliveries, the impact of competitive products and pricing, and difficulties with integrating acquired businesses.
Additional risks that may affect the Company's future performance are detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date on which they are made, and JAKKS undertakes no obligation to update any of them to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.
SOURCE: JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
Anne-Marie Feliciano, (310) 455-6245
anne-marief@jakks.net
Also, from
Variety:
TV Tokyo takes animated 'Monsuno' series
Jakks, U.S. arm of Dentsu, Fremantle among producers
'Monsuno'
TV Tokyo has picked up broadcast rights to "Monsuno," an original animated series targeting boys, which toymaker Jakks Pacific is producing with the U.S. arm of Japanese ad giant Dentsu and FremantleMedia Enterprises.
Series will bow in October on Tokyo TV, a channel specializing in anime programming.
Nickelodeon has already agreed to air the series in the U.S. and in over 60 countries this fall.
"Securing placement on TV Tokyo fulfills the vision for global TV and toy distribution that Jakks shared with its partners at the outset of the 'Monsuno' program," said Jeremy Padawer, exec VP, marketing and business development, Jakks Pacific.
Producers plan to make 52 episodes of "Monsuno," aimed at boys 6-11, as an action adventure where kids are imbued with the power to command and battle creatures with amazing destructive potential. Jakks Pacific will produce action figures, gadgets and collectibles around the show.
"Monsuno" is co-produced by Pacific Animation Partners, a joint venture of Jakks Pacific, Dentsu Entertainment USA (whose Tokyo-based animation subsid Dentsu Tec oversees the toon work), FME and trading card maker Topps. FME is handling worldwide distribution.
Jakks Pacific is treating the property as an inhouse entertainment franchise it can launch across various platforms to promote the toy line, similar to how Hasbro has recently grown "Transformers" or Saban is rebooting "Power Rangers."
"Having a USA-developed series air on one of the top destinations for animation programming is a great accomplishment and a testament to the global appeal of Monsuno," said Yuma Sakata, president of Dentsu Entertainment USA.
