By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
Konami Cross Media has announced several new licensing agreements for the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise across France and continental Europe.
The effort, led by Francoise Bouvet of MJA Licensing, serving as the sub-agent for Yu-Gi-Oh! in France, is headlined by deals with the leading French manufacturer Plastoys, and Paris-based Kettei Art, which specializes in the design and manufacturing of collectible statues and figurines.
Plastoy, which offers a variety of high-end products for collectors, will offer an array of Yu-Gi-Oh! merchandise including panoramic figurines, bust sculptures, money boxes, puzzles, magnets and key rings. These Yu-Gi-Oh!products will be available throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa territories.
In recognition of the 20th Anniversary of the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX series, which premiered on TV Tokyo in October 2004 and follows a new generation of Duelists including a young boy named Jaden Yuki, Kettei Art will offer GX collectible statues of our hero and Zane Truesdale, a fellow Duelist.
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To mark the anniversary milestone, this is the first time Konamin has commissioned statues featured in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX series. The collectible GX statues will roll out throughout Europe and the United Kingdom.
Recent licensing data has revealed that France is the second-largest manga market in the world, topped only by Japan. The result has been a significant demand for manga-related products, leading to success for licensed anime with a fan base that has been growing since the 1980s.
“France is a hot spot for Anime and the demand for licensed products remains strong and continues to grow,” said Konami Cross Media VP, Jennifer Coleman. “For over a decade or more, Japanese anime television series have captured the imagination of millions of viewers, significantly sparking the growth and demand in both Anime and Manga licensed products,” added Coleman. “The Yu-Gi-Oh! brand is a fan favorite and we are happy to work with such wonderful partners to round out our product offerings.”
First launched as a manga series by Kazuki Takahashi, Yu-Gi-Oh! follows a young boy named Yugi Mutou who is possessed by an ancient spirit after activating an artifact called the Millennium Puzzle.
Throughout the series, Yugi and his friends have to face numerous challengers who wield other Millenium artifacts through card-based Shadow games.
Since its initial debut, the Yu-Gi-Oh! IP has expanded into a global multi-media franchise that includes numerous manga volumes, anime series, feature films, trading card games, licensed consumer products and more.
Konami Cross Media NY is responsible for handling the licensing rights for the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise outside of Asia.
The franchise plans to release a robust slate of new content, games and merchandise to continue to engage with its global fan base.