| MARVEL RECREATES WORLD RENOWNED SUPER HEROES FOR JAPANESE CULTURE, PARTNERING WITH LEADING JAPANESE ANIMATION STUDIO MADHOUSE | Madhouse to produce cutting-edge Japanese anime series based on Marvel Universe | NEW YORK, NY, August 25, 2008 – As part of the company’s aggressive strategy to grow the exposure of its character franchises in international markets, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is partnering with Madhouse - one of the top Japanese animation studios in the world - to create brand new characters inspired by the Marvel Universe for the Japanese market.
Working closely with Marvel, Madhouse will produce cutting edge Japanese anime series based on Marvel's world-renowned character library for the Japanese market. The characters will be adapted visually, using the unique style of Japanese anime, and their back stories and histories will interweave the local culture and history of Japan, with an eye toward making their mythology more relevant to the Japanese audience. This collaboration will result in a completely new character base, which will eventually cross-over into the current Marvel Universe.
“Marvel has continuously looked to push the boundaries with the Marvel Universe and seek new mediums for our characters. Madhouse is helping us expand the Marvel brand with a truly global vision tailored to themes and artistic styles popular in Japan, creating a uniquely localized and cross-cultural adaptation of the Marvel Universe,” said Simon Philips, President, International & Worldwide Head of Animation, Wireless & Gaming for Marvel Entertainment. “With over 35 years of experience developing and producing worldwide entertainment hits, we are confident Madhouse will be able to translate the vision of the Marvel Universe through the unique anime style, to create captivating new entertainment that will thrill both new and old fans alike.”
Madhouse is currently in production on the first of four new series (12 x 30 minutes), which are scheduled to launch in spring 2010. The initial series will feature characters including Iron Man and Wolverine, among others, and Madhouse will ultimately look to adapt the entire Marvel Universe, creating in essence a whole new character base for Marvel.
“We are incredibly excited to have this full collaboration with Marvel to create a completely new world that has never been done before in the Marvel Universe. This will be the first time there will be a full Japanese anime style for Marvel, and the Madhouse creative team is fully engaged to bring this to a worldwide audience,” said Jungo Maruta, president and CEO of Madhouse Inc.
The Marvel anime series will debut on ANIMAX, the first and largest 24-hour network dedicated to anime.
Additionally, Marvel and Madhouse will be exploring related merchandising initiatives to support the new series.
About Madhouse, Inc.
Madhouse, Inc., established in 1972 with offices in Tokyo, Los Angeles and Beijing, is one of the top animation studios in the world working exclusively with some of Japan’s top anime directors. They have created many well-known titles such as worldwide hits NINJA SCROLL, VAMPIRE HUNTER D, TRIGUN, TOKYO GODFATHERS, and METROPOLIS, Japanese successful TV series such as DEATH NOTE and NANA, as well as PAPRIKA (an Official Selection at the 2006 Venice Film Festival) and THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME (2007 Japanese Academy Award for Best Film – Animation)
Super Hero is a co-owned registered trademark. Marvel, Iron Man, Wolverine and their distinctive likenesses: TM & © 2008 Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
|  | | FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: | | Jeff Klein
Dan Klores Communications
212.981.5189
jeff_klein@dkcnews.com
Karen Silberg
Dan Klores Communications
212-685-4300
karen_silberg@dkcnews.com
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With a library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused on utilizing its character franchises in licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of emphasis include feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Rooted in the creative success of over sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel's strategy is to leverage its character franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world.
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Except for any historical information that they contain, the statements in this news release regarding Marvel's plans are forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including a decrease in the level of media exposure or popularity of Marvel's characters, financial difficulties of Marvel‚s licensees, changing consumer preferences, movie- and television-production delays and cancellations, toy-production delays or shortfalls, continued concentration of toy retailers, toy inventory risk, the imposition of quotas or tariffs on products manufactured in China and a decrease in cash flow even as Marvel remains indebted to its noteholders. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in Marvel's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Marvel's Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Marvel assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. |
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