'Astro Boy' licensing takes shape
By Staff -- Playthings, 11/10/2008 10:55:00 AM
LOS ANGELES—Imagi Studios announced today that it has signed the first worldwide licensing agreements for its upcoming computer-animated film Astro Boy.
Among the property’s new licensees are Jazwares (master toy), American Greetings (social expressions), Penguin Group USA (publications), D3Publisher (video games) and IDW Publishing (comic books and graphic novels).
The studio’s agreement with American Greetings also extends to future Imagi films.
“The strategic partnerships with these product category leaders speak volumes about Astro Boy and its reach to fans of all ages around the world,” said Erin Corbett, president of Imagi Studios U.S. “In addition, the ongoing relationship with American Greetings reflects a shared vision for the enduring appeal of our upcoming titles and the characters that bring them to life.”
Imagi Studios and Summit Entertainment, the distributor for Astro Boy, also concurrently announced global marketing partnerships with Striker Entertainment as the exclusive licensing agent for the Astro Boy movie and public relations firm Rogers & Cowan as its promotional agency.
Astro Boy, slated for domestic release on Oct. 23, 2009, is being distributed worldwide by Summit Entertainment except for Imagi’s reserved territories of Japan, Hong Kong and China. Set in the future, the movie is described as “a classic superhero origin story about a young robot with incredible powers and his adventure-filled journey in search of his identity and destiny.”
The property’s consumer products program will target mass-market consumers, primarily focused on products that appeal to a 6- to 14-year-old demographic.
