News
Japanese Firms Pitch New Yu-Gi-Oh! at Licensing Expo (Updated)
posted on by Gia Manry
The exhibitor listings for next month's Licensing International Expo say that the Japanese firms Asatsu DK (ADK) and Nihon Ad Systems (NAS) will promote Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal at booth #1282. Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal is the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise's fourth television anime series which premiered in Japan this past April. According to the listing, Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal "will be available in the US market soon." The Licensing International Expo will run from June 14 to June 16 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
4Kids Entertainment served as the licensee for the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime franchise until this past March, when TV Tokyo and NAS terminated their agreement and sued 4Kids for allegedly underpaying the Japanese firms. 4Kids filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy eight days later. On April 21, United States District Judge Richard J. Howell ordered a stay (suspension) of the lawsuit after 4Kids informed the court about its pending bankruptcy. No further action on the lawsuit has been revealed via public documents or announcements from any of the parties involved.
4Kids continues to operate, and the Licensing International Expo lists 4Kids as having its own separate booth at the event.
Thanks to Liam for the news tip.
Update: ADK's name corrected.
this article has been modified since it was originally posted; see change history