Nintendo Grants JAKKS Pacific Consumer Product Rights

by Zack Kaplan - February 25, 2013, 10:53 am EST
Total comments: 12 Source: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201302250056..., Business Wire

Merchandising, merchandising - that is where the real money from games are made.

JAKKS Pacific will be marketing and distributing lines of Nintendo toys and costumes under JAKKS Pacific sub-division, Disguise, Inc.

Toys and costumes will come from multiple Nintendo franchise including Mario, Donkey Kong, and The Legend of Zelda. Jack McGrath, COO of JAKKS Pacific, says of the deal, "We are looking forward to expanding our top-tier roster of properties through this comprehensive licensing deal." The deal covers almost all worldwide territories and almost all Nintendo properties.

JAKKS Pacific is an American toy company that distributes its products worldwide. It has worked with Nintendo in the past with the Pokémon franchise.

New costumes will start appearing this Halloween, while toys will be hitting shelves Spring of 2014.

PRESS RELEASE

Game On: JAKKS Pacific to Bring Iconic Nintendo Characters to Life with Toy and Costume Line

MALIBU, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Leading U.S. toymaker JAKKS Pacific, Inc., (Nasdaq: JAKK) announced today that it has been granted rights in major toy categories by Nintendo of America Inc. to manufacture, market and distribute a line of toys and related consumer products based on a robust library of iconic Nintendo characters that generations have come to love. In addition, JAKKS’ Halloween costume division, Disguise Inc., has been given rights to offer Halloween costumes and accessories based on these Nintendo properties. With this licensing agreement, fans of all ages will be able to engage with their favorite Nintendo video game characters, from Mario and Luigi®, to Donkey Kong® and Princess Peach™, to Game Link® and Zelda®.

“Nintendo is a classic brand rich in content that appeals to today’s kids, parents and collectors alike and we are excited to partner together to bring their video game heritage to life in the toy aisle,” said Jack McGrath, COO, JAKKS Pacific, Inc. “We are looking forward to expanding our top-tier roster of properties through this comprehensive licensing deal, which covers a wide array of category rights for almost all Nintendo properties, and for nearly all worldwide territories.”

“We are eager to offer, a robust and comprehensive line up of products to satisfy our fan base and generations of Nintendo enthusiasts,” said Steve Singer, Nintendo of America’s Vice President, Licensing. “This partnership with JAKKS Pacific affords us tremendous opportunity to grow the presence of our iconic brands at retail.”

The licensing agreement allows JAKKS Pacific to manufacture, distribute and market toys, games, playthings, novelties, plush, key chains, and costumes worldwide (excluding Japan and Korea). JAKKS Pacific is expected to launch this new product line at retailers nationwide in Spring 2014. Disguise plans to launch Halloween costumes and accessories for the 2013 Halloween season.

Talkback

xcwarriorFebruary 25, 2013

2014? Ah, well my kid will be about a year old then. So maybe the toys will be out just in time for "my kid." Right, my kid's toys....

Pixelated PixiesFebruary 25, 2013

Am I finally going to get the Samus Halloween costume I've always dreamed of (i.e. a cheaply produced plastic helmet, rubber power armor, and foam arm cannon)?

OblivionFebruary 25, 2013

There needs to be adult women's Zero Suit Samus costumes for my girlfriend.

Pixelated PixiesFebruary 25, 2013

I guess if you wanted to be old school you could just ask her to wear a bikini and then she could dress up as 100% completion Samus from the original Metroid.

joshnickersonFebruary 25, 2013

Dude, is the sub-headline a Spaceballs reference? If so, kudos to you good sir!

AVFebruary 25, 2013

This makes me happy. , so many cool Nintendo toys are Japan only and have a huge markup . I am a collector of toys and action figured and Nintendo characters are not present in my collection and I'm unwilling to spend around 100 for one

JusDBerubeJustin Berube, Features EditorFebruary 25, 2013

My wallet is scared to death.

joshnickersonFebruary 25, 2013

I was pleasantly surprised by JAKK's Pokemon toys, moreso than Hasbro's offerings, so I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do with other franchises.

Spooky TanukiFebruary 27, 2013

JAKKS did some Dragon Ball Z toys years ago. I've lost track, but maybe they still hold that license? I liked those pretty well.

I have wanted a quality Nintendo action figure line since I was a little boy. If JAKKS makes them, I'll get them, and I hardly even collect toys anymore these days.