Banner - Sonic Logo

Banner - My Hero Academia

Banner - Dragon Ball Z

Banner - Pokemon

Merchandise
Accessories
Cell Phone
Jewelry
Necklace
Patches
Pins and Buttons
Wallets
Apparel
Costume
Head Gear
T-Shirts
Bags
Blu-Ray
Books
Character Goods
Cups and Mugs
Magnets
Merchandise
Figures
Action Figures
Figures
Statues
Games
Board Games
Trading Card Games
Key Chains
Model Kits
Plush
Retailer Supplies
Stationery
Wall Art
General
New Arrivals
Pre-Orders
Recent Restocks
Manufacturers
Net Newsletter
Downloads
Miscellaneous
Bootleg Warning
Wholesale Section
Career Opportunities
Vendor Guide
About Us
Contact Us
Anime News
Trailers
UPS Map



Anime News

Bandai Gets Naruto TCG License Also Sony Videogame Rights
Date: 6/22/2005
Viz Media, LLC has announced a master licensing agreement with Bandai America for trading card games based on Viz Media's hit series Shonen Jump's Naruto. The licensing agreement covers North America and also includes Naruto videogames on Sony-based platforms. The Naruto manga series (published by Viz Media) is rated the #4 manga property in the U.S. in the soon-to-be-published ICv2's Retailers Guide to Anime/Manga #11, and the Naruto anime series (already a huge hit with the fansub community) debuts on the Cartoon Network this fall. Naruto is one of the most popular manga and anime properties in Japan where over 50 million total copies of the manga have been sold and the anime series has remained in the top five in TV ratings through more than 130 episodes.



Bandai will release the Naruto Trading Card Game in the spring of 2006. While there are lots of anime-based TCGs out now and more planned for the coming months, Naruto is already a very strong property and TV exposure could push it to the next level. If Naruto DVDs hit the market in early 2006 or before, it could become the breakout property in 2006 in much the same way that Full Metal Alchemist has established it self as the major "hit" of 2005.
Source: ICv2