Leading U.S. toymaker JAKKS Pacific, Inc, (Nasdaq: JAKK) announced today
a worldwide master toy licensing agreement with Sony Pictures Consumer
Products, Inc. to manufacture, distribute and market a line of toys and
products based on the 3D action comedy film Men in Black 3. Men
in Black 3 is directed by Barry Sonnenfeld from a screenplay written
by Etan Cohen, based on the Malibu Comic by Lowell Cunningham, produced
by Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald, and executive produced by
Steven Spielberg and G. Mac Brown. The film stars Will Smith, Tommy Lee
Jones, and Josh Brolin.
The agreement, which covers the Men in Black franchise, includes
action figures, accessories, playsets, role play, youth electronics,
novelties, games and puzzles, Halloween costumes and more. JAKKS expects
to launch its Men in Black 3 product line in Spring 2012 to
coincide with the film’s May 25, 2012 worldwide release.
"We are pleased to be a part of the hugely successful Men in Black franchise
and to bring to life the adventures of the famous, alien-fighting
government duo in the third installment,” said Jeremy Padawer, Executive
Vice President of Marketing, JAKKS Pacific. "We are looking forward to
launching a line of products that incorporate classic spy play patterns
with that extra added alien ‘wow’ factor, complementing the film’s fun,
high tech and action-packed themes to entertain families long after they
leave the theater.”
Mark Caplan, Vice President Consumer Products, Sony Pictures
Entertainment states, "We are pleased to work with JAKKS Pacific on Men
in Black and tap into their expertise in creating a comprehensive
toy merchandising program that epitomizes the essence of a property. We
are excited to offer a line of products that will spark the imaginations
and give our worldwide fans even more of their favorite Agents Jay and
Kay while bringing to life their own Men in Black experiences at
home.”
About Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of
America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global
operations encompass motion picture production and distribution;
television production and distribution; home entertainment acquisition
and distribution; a global channel network; digital content creation and
distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new
entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of
entertainment in more than 140 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment
can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.
About JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) is a leading designer and marketer of
toys and consumer products, with a wide range of products that feature
some of the most popular brands and children's toy licenses in the
world. JAKKS’ diverse portfolio includes Action Figures, Electronics,
Dolls, Dress-Up, Role Play, Halloween Costumes, Kids Furniture,
Vehicles, Plush, Art Activity Kits, Seasonal Products,
Infant/Pre-School, Construction Toys and Pet Toys sold under various
proprietary brands including JAKKS Pacific®, Creative Designs
International™, Road Champs®, Funnoodle®, JAKKS Pets™, Plug It In & Play
TV Games™, Kids Only!™, Tollytots® and Disguise™. JAKKS is an
award-winning licensee of several hundred nationally and internationally
known trademarks including Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Hello
Kitty®, Graco®, Cabbage Patch Kids® and Pokémon®. www.jakks.com
This press release may contain forward-looking statements (within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that
are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about JAKKS
Pacific's business based partly on assumptions made by its management.
These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve
risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict.
Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what
is expressed or forecasted in such statements due to numerous factors,
including, but not limited to, those described above, changes in demand
for JAKKS' products, product mix, the timing of customer orders and
deliveries, the impact of competitive products and pricing, and
difficulties with integrating acquired businesses. The forward-looking
statements contained herein speak only as of the date on which they are
made, and JAKKS undertakes no obligation to update any of them to
reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.
© 2011 JAKKS Pacific, Inc. All rights reserved.
