m4e will represent Yo-Kai Watch in the G/A/S region m4e - October 2015

 
VIZ Media Europe has appointed m4e AG to represent the new Japanese anime TV series and huge licensing phenomenon “Yo-Kai Watch” in the German-speaking territories.

The popular Japanese anime TV series and IP phenomenon “Yo-Kai Watch” (78 x 30 minutes), which is about to debut on a global stage, is now bound to extend its success story further into Europe. The German brand management and media company m4e AG has agreed with VIZ Media Europe to establish a broad licensing program on the comedy-adventure TV show in the German-speaking territories. Since its first broadcast on TV Tokyo in January 2014, “Yo-Kai Watch” has become one of the most popular cross media franchises of all time in Japan. It dominates the television, merchandise, gaming and toy markets in Japan, with retail sales of over Euro 2 billion in just twenty months. A leading broadcaster in Germany will be announced soon for a TV launch in 2016. “We’re delighted to cooperate again with VIZ Media Europe and to be bringing the world of “Yo-Kai Watch” to Germany. These supernatural characters and the exciting adventures of Nate are a perfect property to target boys and girls. We’re confident to extend the success in the German-speaking region, having such partners as Hasbro and Nintendo on our side”, says Peter Kleinschmidt, Senior Vice President Brand Management at m4e.

“With m4e we have found the perfect partner to team up with for bringing Japan’s top-rated animated TV series and IP phenomenon ‘Yo-Kai Watch’ to Europe and the German-speaking territories. We are looking forward to further extending the amazing success of this brand together with m4e”, adds Aâdil Tayouga, EMEA Licensing Manager of VIZ Media Europe Group.

“Yo-Kai Watch” is a joint production effort by Level-5, Dentsu and TV Tokyo Corporation, appealing to kids aged 6 years and beyond. The story of “Yo-Kai Watch” follows an average boy, Nate, who gets a special watch empowering him to discover mysterious beings called “Yo-kai”. Yo-kai are everywhere, causing little nuisances in our daily lives. Nate’s ongoing quest is to find out the reason for the Yo-kai’s mischievous behaviours, with hopes of talking them out of it. Each time Nate needs to solve a problem – a problem often caused by another troublesome Yo-kai! – he uses his watch to call upon friendly Yo-kai to aid him. Adventure and highjinks ensue, to the great delight and amusement of the millions of “Yo-Kai Watch” fans across Japan, and soon across the world.