Today, in advance of Licensing Expo 2019, global anime distributor and Sony Pictures Television subsidiary Funimation issued its first everMy Hero Academiafranchise report. In addition to a comprehensive review of new license agreements for the brand since last year’s expo, Funimation details existing licensees including renewals and expanded rights as well as spotlights key partnerships in select major categories.
Funimation first acquired the exclusive international rights to theMy Hero Academia anime seriesin early 2016 from Toho Co. Ltd., which debuted in April that same year in Japan and on FunimationNow in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Ireland. Supported by Funimation’s brand marketing and fan engagement strategy, the show’s storyline about a group of students attending a hero academy quickly resonated with North American audiences who grew up with and continue to gravitate to superhero lore in pop culture.
Coupled with the end of its second season,My Hero Academiawas universally recognized by both fans and critics as the best in anime in 2017 - winning accolades and honors from major outlets including IGN, ComicBook.com, Gamespot, Anime News Network and Fandom.com. Now three years, three seasons and a hit feature film later since its premiere,My Hero Academiahas achieved franchise status - amassing a fanbase and level of brand recognition unprecedented for a new series.
Produced by the critically acclaimed studio Bones, “My Hero Academia” is based on the New York Times best-selling superhero manga of the same name that first appeared in Shonen Jump in 2014. To date, there are a total of 22 volumes in the manga series with an estimated 20+ million copies in print around the world. Funimation recently released the home video for theMy Hero Academia: Two Heroesfeature film and will be releasing Season 3 of the series on home video later this year.
Before 2018’s expo, Funimation had already laid a solid foundation of 13 licensing partnerships for the franchise. Since then, the company has expanded the My Hero Academia brand with an additional 18 new agreements encompassing a wide array of partners from both well-established and fast-growing companies. In less than a year, Funimation has more than double the total number of franchise licensees to 31, with additional new partnership discussions already underway ahead of Licensing Expo 2019.
These 18 new agreements will result in an exciting variety of new branded merchandise for fans of the franchise, such as toys and collectibles from McFarlane Toys, The Loyal Subjects, Just Toys, First4Figures and Zag Toys including Mochibi plushies from Infinifan and Pop!, Vnyl and 5 Star figure lines from Funko, as well as gifts and novelties like FigPins from China Manufacturing Direct (image04) and backpack clips from Surreal Entertainment. Collectively, My Hero Academia is now represented across all major merchandise categories, ranging from apparel, accessories, figures and collectibles to home goods, wall décor, gifts, calendars and costumes.
Funimation will be actively seeking additional partners at Licensing Expo 2019 for themed merchandise in a variety of categories. For more information or to schedule a meeting, please visit Funimation (K-230) booths to speak to a licensing representative. This news comes direct fromFunimation.
