Pacific Animation Partners—the joint venture formed by Jakks Pacific, Dentsu Entertainment USA, and FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME)— has announced that The Topps Company has signed on for its new animated entertainment property, Monsuno. Topps will be an investor in the production of the animated TV series, as well as a licensee and partner on trading card games, confectioneries, and related products.
Monsuno is an animated series (52 episodes of 30 minutes each) targeted to boys ages 6 to 11. The action-adventure show follows kids who command and battle creatures in order to protect the Earth against those who would tear it apart. Jakks is the primary owner of the intellectual property and is the master toymaker for the Monsuno toy line, producing action figures, gadgets, collectibles, and other role-play products. The toy line is expected to hit retail shelves in late fall 2011 or spring 2012, coinciding with the TV show launch (pending finalization of a U.S. broadcast deal).
FME is the production and distribution partner of the Pacific Animation Partners joint venture. Dentsu Entertainment USA co-produced the series, along with Jakks and FME, and serves as the distributor and master licensing agent in Asia.
