Dentsu Partners with JAKKS Pacific on Series, Toys

MALIBU: JAKKS Pacific, which designs and markets consumer products, is partnering with the Japanese animation producer Dentsu for a series and toy line based on the boys action property Monsuno.

The Monsuno property, in which re-awakened monster DNA finds its way into the hands of adventure-seeking boys, will be developed into a 52-episode animation series and as a toy line for boys 6 to 11. It is slated for a 2011 debut in North America, Europe and Asia.

“This new venture is an exciting new direction for JAKKS Pacific into owning our own entertainment and leveraging it into the toy line,” said Stephen Berman, JAKKS’ president and co-CEO. “We have been scouring the globe and are assembling the Monsuno team, and we believe Dentsu is the perfect partner, given their production expertise and global leadership position in developing children’s television.”

The brand will be developed by JAKKS and Dentsu in conjunction with Dentsu’s Los Angeles-based subsidiary, DCI-LA. Mitsuharu Inoue, who previously worked on Bakugan Battle Brawlers, will be the creative director of Monsuno.