VIZ Media acquires DORAEMON merchandise rights in the Americas

SHOGAKUKAN-SHUEISHA PRODUCTIONS GRANTS

MERCHANDISE RIGHTS FOR BELOVED DORAEMON

FRANCHISE TO VIZ MEDIA FOR AMERICAS REGION

Beloved Cat-Type Robot From The Future Will Debut

In English This Summer On Disney XD Channel

Tokyo, Japan, May 28, 2014 – Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions (ShoPro) has announced an agreement with their subsidiary, VIZ Media, for DORAEMON merchandise rights for the Americas. VIZ Media will become the North & Latin American master merchandise licensee for the celebrated anime property, overseeing the licensing and development of a range of new products in all categories.

Currently, DORAEMON may be found in North America through digital manga via Amazon Kindle, as well as game apps for mobile devices. A MEET! DORAEMON exhibit was also held earlier this year at the Bernice Pauhi Bishop Museum in Honolulu, HI.

The DORAEMON anime series is set to premiere in English this summer on the Disney XD channel. Dubbed English episodes will be seen for the first time in North America.

DORAEMON is one of the most beloved character properties worldwide and started as a manga (graphic novel) series created by Fujiko F. Fujio in 1970. It later became a popular anime series in Japan and product franchise that continues to be smash hit worldwide, especially in Asia. The comedy series depicts the adventures of Doraemon, a blue cat-type robot from the 22nd century traveling back in time to help a boy named Noby using various secret gadgets that comes from his Four-Dimensional Pocket. Episodes often offer simple lessons to young viewers about honesty, cooperation, courage, and respect.

DORAEMON marks its 45th Anniversary in 2015 and continues to be a major worldwide franchise with over $500 million in annual global retail sales and over 600 active licensees. Over 140 million copies of the manga have been published, and DORAEMON also holds the largest box office attendance record in Japan of any movie franchise, toppling Godzilla, with 34 feature films released to-date and over 100 million tickets sold last year alone. The property’s first 3D feature film, Stand By Me Doraemon, is set for release in Japan in August. The Doraemon character is also Tokyo’s bid to act as its Special Ambassador for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Additional information on DORAEMON and other titles and properties available can be found at: http://www.viz.com/.