News
Saban Brands Acquires Digimon Anime Franchise
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
Saban Brands confirmed on Tuesday that it has acquired the Digimon anime franchise outside of Asia. Saban noted that it will work with Marvista Entertainment to distribute the series outside of Asia. Toei Animation will handle licensing and distribution of the franchise in Asia.
Saban "will debut the newest season, Digimon Fusion," to potential broadcasters and distributors at the MIPCOM event in Cannes, France on October 8-11. Digimon Xros Wars premiered in Japan in 2010, and its follow-up Digimon Xros Wars: Toki o Kakeru Shōnen Hunter-tachi premiered last October. Neither of these television series have aired in North America yet, but Crunchyroll streamed the first series and simulcast the second series as it aired in Japan.
Saban Entertainment's Fox Family Worldwide distributed the first Digimon Adventure anime series in North America in 1999, just months after its debut in Japan.
New Video Group is slated to release the complete first season of Digimon Adventure on DVD on October 9. Twentieth Century Fox and Buena Vista Home Entertainment both previously released part of the series on DVD in 2000 and 2002, respectively.
Thanks to Mark Alv for the news tip.
this article has been modified since it was originally posted; see change history