MALIBU, Calif.–Dec. 21, 2011– JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (Nasdaq: JAKK) announced today that it entered into a manufacturing agreement with Bandai Co., Ltd. for the toy line based on the Monsuno” boys action adventure property. The Monsuno original animated television series is in production by Pacific Animation Partners LLC, a joint venture between JAKKS Pacific and Dentsu Entertainment USA, Inc., a subsidiary of Dentsu Inc. (Dentsu). Bandai will exclusively distribute and market toys based upon the Monsuno television series in Japan under an agreement between Bandai and Dentsu, and JAKKS Pacific will manufacture the Monsuno toys to be distributed by Bandai in Japan.
“The strong reception we have received thus far for Monsuno
in international markets underscores our belief that Monsuno
is poised to become an outstanding international boys action adventure property,” said Stephen Berman, President and CEO, JAKKS Pacific, Inc. “We are thrilled to have Bandai on board to make Monsuno toys available to audiences in Japan and we look forward to adapting the U.S. toy line for the Japanese market, evoking all the action, adventure and fun of the Monsuno experience. Our goal is to reach as many fans around the world as possible, and connect them to Monsuno in meaningful ways.”
Bandai joins the roster of international distributors for Monsuno toys,
which also include the Giochi Preziosi Group for Europe, Hunter Products for Australia, Planet Fun for New Zealand and Prima Toys for South Africa.
The Monsuno series (52 x 30 min) is an epic boys action
adventure 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. Built around powerful, action-driven animation, dynamic characters and a deeply woven original story mythology, Monsuno is anticipated to develop into a powerful force in the boys action arena for years to come. Targeting boys 6 11, the Monsuno series will be supported by a JAKKS Pacific® toy line featuring innovative, kid-controlled action figures, accessories, playsets, collectibles, electronics and integrated role play.
Nickelodeon will launch the series to audiences on owned channels in the United States, Latin America, the United Kingdom, key European and Eastern European territories, Australia and New Zealand, India, Southeast Asia, Russia and Africa. The Monsuno series will first launch in the U.S. on Nicktoons, the fast-growing kids network, and select English speaking countries.
The Monsuno” series is being co-produced by Pacific
Animation Partners LLC, a joint venture between JAKKS Pacific, Inc. & Dentsu Entertainment USA, Inc., with FremantleMedia Enterprises and The Topps Company, Inc. FremantleMedia Enterprises will be responsible for the exclusive worldwide distribution of Monsuno TV
programming except for Asia and act as the Master Licensing agent for the Monsuno brand outside of Asia. JAKKS Pacific is the creator of the underlying Monsuno property and master toymaker for the Monsuno toy line, which is
expected to hit U.S. retail shelves to coincide with the U.S. TV series premiere anticipated for Spring 2012. The Topps Company has signed on to produce Monsuno trading card games, confectioneries and related products.
ABOUT JAKKS PACIFIC, INC.
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) is a leading designer and marketer of toys and consumer products, with a wide range of products that feature some of the most popular brands and children’s toy licenses in the world. 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 and Pet Toys sold under various proprietary brands including JAKKS Pacific®, Creative Designs International”, Road Champs®, Funnoodle®, JAKKS Pets”, Plug It In & Play TV Games”, Girl Gourmet”, Kids Only!”, Tollytots® and Disguise”. JAKKS
is an award-winning licensee of several hundred nationally and
internationally known trademarks including Disney®, Nickelodeon®, Warner Bros.®, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Hello Kitty®, Graco® and Cabbage Patch Kids®. www.jakks.com.
© 2011 JAKKS Pacific, Inc. All rights reserved.
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 20,000 full-time employees and more than 200 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®, a toy based property featuring street-savvy characters and vehicles, currently in development as an animated series, Deltora Quest®, 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”, 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, talkbackTHAMES, 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.
JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
Anne-Marie Feliciano
(310) 455-6245
anne-marief@jakks.net