Funimation has unveiled several licensing deals for their current and upcoming catalog:
Los Angeles, Calif. (April 2, 2018) – Today, Funimation® and BoxLunch unveiled the “Dragon Ball Z” Fusion Dance Funko Pop! Two-Pack, their shared exclusive for this year’s C2E2, Chicago’s Comic & Entertainment Expo. Stylized in Funko’s signature collectible form, this limited edition “Dragon Ball Z” set features characters Goten and Trunks in their iconic Fusion Dance pose as they prepare to become Gotenks. The “Dragon Ball Z” Fusion Dance Two-Pack will release this Friday, April 6 for $29.99. Fans will be able to purchase the set in-person at Funimation’s booth (#408) at C2E2 and BoxLunch retail locations or online at both Funimation.com and BoxLunch.com beginning at 12:00am ET that morning.
BoxLunch, a cause-driven pop culture retailer, offers a wide range of officially licensed products – from apparel and accessories to collectibles and home goods – from some of the most iconic brands. Connecting the passion of fandom with the spirit of philanthropy, BoxLunch donates a meal to a person in need for every $10 spent in-store or online through their partnership with Feeding America*.
Learn more about Funimation at Funimation.com and for more information about BoxLunch, please visit BoxLunch.com.
LOS ANGELES, CA – April 9, 2018. In advance of Licensing Expo 2018, Toei Animation Inc. and Funimation® today reported on the success of their Dragon Ball licensing efforts over the last 12 months as well as announcing new license agreements for the franchise since the beginning of last year. Introduced to U.S. & Canadian audiences more than 20 years ago, Dragon Ball has grown to become an iconic brand and pop culture phenomena that spans multiple generations of fans – from the current Gen Z to the post-Boomer Gen X.
Produced by Toei Animation and distributed in the U.S.A. & Canada by Funimation, the Dragon Ball anime franchise consists of 19 feature films and four TV series including “Dragon Ball Z,” which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2019, and most recently “Dragon Ball Super,” the first new Dragon Ball storyline from original creator Akira Toriyama in more than 18 years. Since Day One, beginning with its January 2017 premiere on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim, “Dragon Ball Super” TV ratings have consistently ranked #1 in its time slot each and every week – a testament to the intense popularity of the franchise.
Ahead of last year’s Licensing Expo, Toei Animation and Funimation executed multiple licensing agreements across a range of categories, including mass market apparel, home goods, wall décor, accessories, gifts calendars and costumes. These efforts succeeded in creating a new demand for “Dragon Ball Super” merchandise as well as boosting the popularity of “Dragon Ball Z” merchandise heading into the series’ 30th anniversary.
One of the top performing categories for “Dragon Ball Z” was mass market apparel. Consumer interest in “Dragon Ball Z” mass market apparel went global late last year when it was revealed that Adidas would be releasing a “Dragon Ball Z” themed sneaker collection. Dubbed “Adidas x Dragon Ball Z” by the media, this collaboration consists of multiple unique sneaker designs with each inspired by a different “Dragon Ball Z” character. This will be a highly collectible, limited edition sneaker series with the first design anticipated to drop in retail outlets this fall. In addition, “Dragon Ball Z” themed t-shirts and sell-thru from Bioworld rolled out with the biggest retailer in the U.S.
Similarly, gaming became an instant standout following this January’s release of “Dragon Ball FighterZ” from Bandai Namco Entertainment. “Dragon Ball FighterZ” quickly became the top selling Dragon Ball game of all time after reaching total sales of more than 2 million copies worldwide within the first week of its release. Following up on the success of “Dragon Ball FighterZ,” Bandai Namco revealed during the Game Developer Conference (GDC) that its next release will be “Dragon Ball Legends,” a 3D fighting game for iOS and Android mobile devices. Based on its support for real-time, global player vs. player (PvP) gameplay, media outlets are already predicting that “Dragon Ball Legends” could be the best mobile fighting game ever. As with Adidas, this was a global licensing deal by Toei Animation.
Over the last twelve months, Toei Animation and Funimation secured numerous additional licensing agreements with both new licensees as well as existing licensees for additional collections. These new agreements include:
- China Manufacturing Direct: Leading manufacturer of entertainment collectibles and accessories for two new collections of FigPins (combination enamel pins and collectible figures) based on “Dragon Ball Super” and “Dragon Ball Super FighterZ.” Image01
- Primitive Skateboarding: Well-known merchandiser of skateboard gear and clothing for a new
co-branded “Dragon Ball Z” collection of decks, wheels, apparel, headwear, grip tape, pins, patches, wallets, drinkware and home goods. Image02 - Just Funky: Premiere manufacturer of private label merchandise for a new “Dragon Ball Z,” “Dragon Ball Super” and “Dragon Ball Super FighterZ” collection of auto accessories, home décor, kitchenware, tableware, beverageware, bedding, fashion apparel, miscellaneous small items and impulse items.
- Trends International: Leading supplier of licensed posters, calendars, stickers and social stationary for a new “Dragon Ball Super” collection of calendars and stationary.
- Bioworld: Leading merchandiser of licensed apparel and accessories in the pop culture space for new collections based on “Dragon Ball,” “Dragon Ball Super” and “Dragon Ball Super FighterZ” including t-shirts, fashion tops, bottoms, jackets, skirts, dresses, headwear, bags and stationary. Image03
- Great Eastern Entertainment: Leading manufacturer of licensed anime and entertainment merchandise for new collections based on “Dragon Ball Z,” “Dragon Ball Super” and “Dragon Ball Super FighterZ” including wallets, buttons, pins, keychains, t-shirts, wall art, body pillows and bags. Image04 Image05 Image06 Image07 Image08 Image09
- Everything Legwear: Well-known merchandiser of licensed hosiery in the pop culture space will produce new collections based on “Dragon Ball Z” and “Dragon Ball Super” with all styles of hosiery for men, women and children.
Planning is currently underway for next year’s “Dragon Ball Z” 30th anniversary celebration which will include special advertising and fan activations that will benefit all “Dragon Ball Z” licensees by not only elevating brand awareness and interest but also driving retail sales of licensed merchandise. Toei Animation and Fox Sports are creating a World Cup commercial for U.S. broadcast that will depict the Super Saiyan transformation of Argentinian football star Lionel Messi. Next, Toei Animation and Bandai will kick-off the seven-city Dragon Ball North America Tour 2018 (www.db-tour.com) starting in San Diego this July. Lastly, to create a year-long, consumer call to action, all “Dragon Ball Z” licensees will be invited to produce limited edition merchandise to sold throughout 2019 and which will feature an as-yet-be-revealed, exclusive commemorative logo.
Toei Animation and Funimation will be actively seeking additional licensing partners at Licensing Expo 2018 for “Dragon Ball Super” and “Dragon Ball Z” themed merchandise in a variety of categories including sleepwear, pet accessories, bedding, health and beauty, consumables and construction. For more information or to schedule a meeting, please visit either the Toei Animation (#C196) or Funimation (#U252) booth to speak to a licensing representative.
FLOWER MOUND, TX – April 9, 2018. Casting a spotlight on the pop cultural status and ever-increasing appeal of anime, Funimation today released details on its major licensing push to aggressively address consumer demand for anime-related merchandise. To support these efforts, Funimation will be exhibiting at this year’s Licensing Expo 2018 (Booth #U252) and will showcase ten of its top anime properties and the wide range of branded merchandise that fans are consistently snapping up from retailers. The ten brands, a mix of franchise titles and hit series, are “Dragon Ball Super” (for U.S./Canada), “Dragon Ball Z” (for U.S./Canada), “My Hero Academia,” “Attack on Titan,” “Tokyo Ghoul,” “Full Metal Panic!” “Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card,” “The Seven Deadly Sins,” “Steins;Gate” and “Black Clover.”
2017 was a banner year for anime. From the broadcast TV launch of “Dragon Ball Super” and wildly successful second season of the breakout series “My Hero Academia” to the long-awaited return of “Attack on Titan” and the theatrical release of the top grossing anime film of all time “Your Name.” there was something for every anime fan – both young and old – while the overall consumer base with newcomers from the mainstream audience. And this industry momentum has continued into 2018 with January’s blockbuster release of the Dragon Ball franchise video game “Dragon Ball FighterZ” which generated sales of 2 million units in its first week. The success of “Dragon Ball FighterZ” highlights the crossover appeal of anime with the gaming market and the incremental consumer demand it generates for anime related merchandise.
To date, Funimation has executed 55 agreements with new and renewing licensees across the ten anime properties in a variety of categories including collectibles, apparel, toys, games, drinkware, costumes and accessories. Funimation is seeking additional licensees for all ten brands in various different categories; specifically, bath & beauty, collectibles of all types, toys, mobile and video games, tabletop games, consumables and costumes. Interested companies are encouraged to visit with Funimation’s Licensing team at Booth#U252 during Licensing Expo 2018. To schedule a meeting in advance, please email licensing@funimation.com.
Below is a summary list of the ten anime properties in alphabetical order along with a brief synopsis and genre details for each as well as key art and merchandise photos (as applicable).
- “Attack on Titan” – Humanity is forced to retreat behind the towering walls of a fortified city to escape the massive, man-eating Titans that roam the land. (Genre: Action/Adventure) Key Art Merch Image
- “Black Clover” – Asta and Yuno are two orphans who want the same thing: to become the Wizard King. To reach their goal, they’ll each find their own path to greatness—with or without magic. (Genre: Action/Fantasy) Key Art Merch Image
- “Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card” – After sealing the last of the Clow Cards, Sakura Kinomoto is ready to face her newest challenge. But just when she settles into a normal routine, a strange dream changes everything. (Genre: Action/Comedy/Slice of Life) Key Art
- “Dragon Ball Super” (for U.S./Canada) – When a powerful new enemy threatens Earth, Goku must go from radish farmer to hero! But can he and his friends take on a God? (Genre: Action/Adventure) Key Art Merch Image
- “Dragon Ball Z” (for U.S./Canada) – Goku – the strongest fighter on the planet – is all that stands between humanity and villains from the darkest corners of space. (Genre: Action/Adventure) Merch Image
- “Full Metal Panic!” – It’s tough enough to keep your grades up without having to take off at a moment’s notice to save the world. Just ask Sousuke Sagara, undercover high school student and member of the mercenary group Mithril. (Genre: Action/Sci-Fi) Key Art
- “My Hero Academia” – In a world where eighty percent of the population has some kind of super-powered “quirk,” Izuku was unlucky enough to be born completely normal. But that won’t stop him from enrolling in a prestigious hero academy. (Genre: Action/Comedy) Key Art Merch Image
- “Steins;Gate” – Fueled by their imaginations, Okabe and his friends form a secret laboratory and seek to unlock the mysteries of time travel! Blind to the ramifications of their actions, Okabe and co. aren’t prepared to deal with the side effects that go along with changing the past. (Genre: Drama/Sci-Fi) Key Art Merch Image
- “The Seven Deadly Sins” – When Holy Knights arrest her family, Princess Elizabeth seeks out a group of legendary warriors known as the Seven Deadly Sins. Finding them is no easy task. (Genre: Action/Fantasy) Key Art Merch Image
- “Tokyo Ghoul” – Tokyo lives in fear of creatures called Ghouls. When a young man becomes the first Ghoul-human half breed, he must learn to harness his deadly, newfound powers. (Genre: Drama/Horror) Key Art Merch Image
