New York – King Features Syndicate, a unit of Hearst and home to some of the world’s most beloved entertainment characters, today announced a series of new partnerships and deals for Popeye and Olive Oyl in China. The deals were brokered by Medialink, King Features’ licensing agent in China and Southeast Asia, ushering in a wave of captivating collaborations and product offerings.

This April, renowned streetwear brand BEASTER, from Hangzhou Bishite Garment Co., launched an enticing collaboration with the legendary retro sailor man POPEYE around the concept BEASTER x POPEYE™ Ship No. 2425. Building upon BEASTER’s classic street style, iconic Popeye elements such as anchors and nautical stripes are integrated into the designs along with Popeye and Olive, bringing back cherished memories in a trendy way. Available online and in stores now, this limited Drop.1 release seamlessly blends street style with nostalgia. In addition to a series of apparel items, the collection also includes the release of limited-edition nameplates, each uniquely numbered, serving as distinctive identity markers.

Also debuting this Spring, garment manufacturer Shishi Xinyu Garments Co. has unveiled a range of apparel including trendy tees featuring Popeye and Olive Oyl, underscoring the growing demand for iconic pop culture icons in the region. The store on the DEWU app was launched this month. They will gradually launch it on other online platforms in the future. Additionally, Zhejiang Semir Garment Co.has introduced an apparel line, launched in April, showcasing Popeye and Olive Oyl’s timeless charm. Semir has successfully participated in the Shanghai Fashion Week, with renowned actor Hu Bing donning its creations, further amplifying the characters’ appeal to audiences worldwide.

Launched in February, Jaspal Public Company presents a Direct-to-Retail (DTR) fashion collection inspired by the pop culture duo, enchanting audiences in Thailand with a unique blend of style and nostalgia. With a commitment to providing the highest level of taste and quality, Jaspal expertly crafts each piece with the finest local and imported fabrics, making affordable sophistication available to all.

In the collectibles category, LPM Group introduced an exquisite 1 oz Popeye & Olive Oyl Shaped .999 Silver Colored Proof Coin celebrating the enduring legacy of Popeye and Olive Oyl. This limited-edition coin, available for purchase today worldwide as part of an exclusive collection, features vibrant, colored designs showcasing the iconic characters in beloved moments. With a limited mintage of just 250 pieces, this coin is a rare and cherished treasure for fans and collectors alike.

“Popeye and Olive Oyl have a long history in Asia, and we are thrilled to bring these new collaborations to fans in the region,” says Carla Silva, Senior Vice President, General Manager, and Head of Global Licensing at King Features. “Showcasing their enduring popularity and universal charm, these partnerships represent an exciting opportunity to both offer new ways for current fans to show off their love for these beloved characters and to introduce them to new audiences, igniting a fresh wave of appreciation for their timeless appeal.

As Popeye and Olive Oyl’s influence continues to transcend borders, these recent ventures mark a significant milestone in their storied history, promising excitement, and delight for fans worldwide.

About Popeye
Sailor. Tough guy. Hero. Legend. That’s Popeye. He’s an underdog with bulging forearms, a mean uppercut, and a love of canned spinach; he is unassuming, unsophisticated, and undeterred by a challenge. From the minute he walked into the comic strip “Thimble Theatre” and muttered his famous “Ja think I’m a cowboy?” line, Popeye the Sailor Man captured the hearts of millions of fans around the globe. As the star of his own comic strips and animated content on the big screen and small, Popeye became quickly ingrained in American culture and today remains one of the most recognizable pop culture icons in the world. Popeye is celebrating his 95th anniversary in 2024. For more information, visit www.popeye.com.  

About King Features
King Features is a premier producer and distributor of the world’s most iconic intellectual properties and a leader in classic character licensing and franchise development. With one of the longest-running consumer products programs in the industry, King Features’ portfolio includes world-renowned pop culture brands such as Popeye®, Olive Oyl, Cuphead, Flash Gordon™, The Phantom™, Hägar the Horrible, Moomin, Prince Valiant® and Mandrake the Magician. King Features produced the Emmy-nominated series The Cuphead Show! with Netflix Animation that debuted in 2022 and continues to air on the platform. As content syndication specialists, the company distributes beloved comics such as Blondie, Beetle Bailey®, Mutts™, and dozens of others as well as columns, editorial cartoons, and puzzles across multiple platforms and content providers around the globe. King Features is part of Hearst Newspapers, which publishes 24 dailies and 52 weeklies, including the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, and Times Union (Albany, New York), and operates local digital marketing services and directories.

About Medialink
Medialink Group Limited (Stock Code: 2230.HK) is a leading intellectual property (IP) management company headquartered in Hong Kong, with business in China, Japan and Southeast Asia, actively promoting cultural exchanges through its IP, bring high-quality entertainment to the whole of Asia. Founded in 1994, its business mainly focuses on content distribution and brand licensing, and is also involved in content production, distribution arrangements and animation product development. The Group invests and cooperates closely with media content licensors to distribute media content related to animation, variety shows, TV dramas, animated and live-action movies. At the same time, it also obtains copyright licensing from various brand licensors in the Asia-Pacific region, including merchandising rights and location-based entertainment rights and promotion rights. The Group has its own animation brand, its various Ani-One® YouTube channels (including Ani-One® Asia which is Asia-focused, Ani-One® 中文官方頻道which is run in Chinese, and other South East Asia channels – Ani-One® Thailand, Ani-One® Philippines and Ani-One® Vietnam) have more than 5 million subscribers and more than 980 million views. There is also a channel broadcasting Asian-produced animations, Ani-Mi®, and an e-commerce platform, Ani-Mall®, which sells anime merchandise and exclusive anime products.