By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
Sony Pictures Consumer Products has announced an expansion to its Cobra Kai consumer products program for the series’ fifth season release.
Building upon the success of several multi-layered partnerships in 2021, the global consumer products program will feature expansions in categories including interactive gaming, apparel, toys, home goods, and publishing.
“As we head into the highly anticipated release of Cobra Kai Season 5, Sony Pictures Consumer Products continues to find new and innovative ways to keep fans connected to the show, both on screen and off,” said Jamie Stevens, EVP, Worldwide Consumer Products for Sony Pictures Entertainment.
“Cobra Kai enthusiasts can expect to see even more unique products and experiences from fan-favorites like Vans and Hasbro, and get their hands on never-before-seen items made with Season 5 in mind!”
The popular video game publisher, GameMill Entertainment has announced the upcoming release of Cobra Kai 2: Dojos, a sequel to 2020’s Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues.
The game sees developer Flux Game Studio return for a continued adaptation of the hit series that greatly expands the playable roster of Cobra Kai characters.
Featuring 28 licensed characters, each with unique moves and abilities, players can access Story Mode to immerse themselves in a new plotline as well as relive iconic scenes and locales from the show in Cobra Classics Mode.
The game is scheduled to release this October and is available for pre-order now at https://playcobrakai.com/.
Hasbro will release a special Power Rangers Lightning Collection Mighty Morphin X Cobra Kai capsule collection that will be available in Q1 2023, exclusively at Target.
Vans is releasing a collection of footwear inspired by the All Valley dojos featured in Cobra Kai. Vans x Cobra Kai draws inspiration from each dojo’s sensei, with the Old Skool silhouettes paying homage to John Kreese and Johnny Lawrence, while the Sk8-Hi honors Daniel Larusso.
HERO Beverage Co. plans to release a licensed Cobra Kai product collection that includes coffee, apparel and accessories. Products will be available for purchase on drinkhero.com, Walmart.com and Amazon.com.
Sony Pictures Consumer Products will also be teaming up with Century Martial Arts to create authentic martial arts equipment, rash guards, tees, and uniforms for adults and kids.
Coming this fall, Sony Pictures Consumer Products and Harper Collins will unveil The Kick-A** Book of Cobra Kai, an official guide to the Emmy-nominated show. The legacy of The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai continues with never-before-seen photographs and illustrations, as well as interviews with cast and more.
Disguise, the costume division of JAKKS Pacific, will expand upon their collection of Halloween costumes and accessories with a Cobra Kai collection for the whole family.
The 2022 Cobra Kai collection of Contenders Clothing includes all-new graphic tees, hats, sweats, hoodies, and boxer briefs. Fans can expect to find references that harken back to the 1984 All Valley tournament; each piece has a retro 80s influence, combined with updated styles and imagery.
This September, Ripple Junction will introduce a Cobra Kai x Naruto apparel collection, including dojo-themed long and short sleeve tees, sweatshirts, and hoodies.
Cobra Kai products can be found in hundreds of formats across the globe, including key markets such as the U.S., Japan, and a significant expansion across the UK/Europe where licensees are engaging the Cobra Kai fanbase through extensive cross-category retail programs.
Expansions into Europe/UK include:
Bioworld International Limited continues to offer a large collection of licensed apparel and accessories. Cobra Kai was a standout performer in the recent Netflix collection with George at Asda stores and is also available at Next, Matalan, ASOS, and character.com.
Pyramid Posters Limited will extend their popular core gifting line, including water bottles, notebooks, posters, and mugs.
Now available worldwide on Zavvi.com, Cend International Limited (The Hut Group) will deliver a wide range of new Cobra Kai apparel, gifts, homewares and accessories.
Groovy UK Limited is set to unveil a line of sleepwear inspired by fan-favorite characters, including robes, slippers, and accessories.
In Japan:
Medicom Toy Corporation just released new products within their BE@RBRICK SERIES inspired by Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do.
“Cobra Kai has been reinvented for modern audiences in a way that’s clearly resonating with both original Karate Kid fans and new viewers,” said Maura Regan, President, Licensing International.
“The breadth of consumer products available each season continues to deliver new experiences, expressions, and unique collaborations for fans of all ages, taking advantage of the significant increase in revenue tied to evergreen brands.”
SPCP is giving fans a one-stop-shop to snag all their favorite goods across every major product category at cobrakaistore.com for shoppers in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Australia and uk.cobrakaistore.com for European shoppers.