NEWS
TOTAL LICENSING
MARVEL ANNOUNCE NEW INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS
Riding high from the successful debut of Spider-Man 3, Marvel are looking to replicate the success with a
number of key properties and launches in the works.
Marvel have invested $700 million in developing Marvel Studios in order to create their own television and
movies and next year sees the debut of two films from the new studio.
Iron Man will be released in May next year starring Robert Downey Jr in the title role together with Ter-
rence Howard, Jeff Bridges and Gwyneth Paltrow. A style guide has now been produced and the film will
be followed by an animated series expected to be ready by the end of 2008.
The second of the Marvel movies due out next year is The Hulk, which will release in June. The movie
stars Edward Norton as Bruce Banner, Liv Tyler as Betty Ross and Tim Roth as The Abomination – the
Hulk’s nemesis.
Marvel have already signed a number of global partners for both movies including Hasbro and Sega and
believe that Licensing Show will create the platform for launching licensing programs, on a worldwide
basis, for both of the new properties. In addition, Marvel plan to re-launch ‘classic’ Spider-Man and will
be looking ahead to Spring next year when the new Spider-Man animated series will debut, distributed
through Sony Television Distribution. Looking further ahead, Marvel are currently in production on an
animated series of Wolverine.
Through Marvel International, the company are actively growing their programs on a worldwide basis with
current key markets including the UK, Brazil, Mexico, France, Spain and Italy.
In Japan, Spider-Man enjoys 100% awareness and key licensees include Bandai and the Bank of Mitsubishi
Tokyo for a range of credit cards featuring a number of Marvel properties including Spider-Man and The Hulk.
TAFFY ENTERTAINMENT ADDS VETERAN MARKETING
EXECUTIVE DAVID DI LORENZO
Taffy Entertainment has hired veteran marketing executive David Di Lorenzo as Vice President, Retail Mar-
keting, it was announced by Cynthia Money, President, Worldwide Consumer Products and Marketing, to
whom he reports.
Di Lorenzo is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of merchandising and pro-
motional programs across all tiers of retail distribution in North America. He will also complement the
efforts of Taffy’s current UK Managing Director, Louise O’Toole, in further growing Taffy’s UK presence. In
addition, Di Lorenzo will be responsible for identifying new product and business opportunities, while work-
ing closely with licensees to develop sales and marketing strategies across all Taffy properties. He is based in
the Los Angeles office. Di Lorenzo comes to Taffy with a wealth of consumer products experience in both
kids and adult demographics, having previously served as Vice President, Retail Development for DIC Enter-
tainment and Director of Sales for Universal Studios Consumer Products Group. Di Lorenzo is a graduate
of California State University at Northridge.
VIZ MEDIA LICENSES NARUTO TO CHILEVISION
VIZ Media continuesues toto expandexpand itsits NarutoNaruto franchisefranchise internationallyy withwith thethe announcementannouncement thatthat �22 episodesepisodes ofof thethe
popular anime series have been licensed for terrestrial broadcast in Chile to Chilevision, one of the country’s most
popular television channels among young viewers. The series is projected to launch in the second half of 2007.
The animated series, which depicts the adventures of a young boy, Naruto Uzumaki, training to become a ninja, is a
ratings hit in North America where it is seen on Cartoon Network.
The manga counterpart, which is published under VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump imprint is one of the company’s most
viable in terms of sales, recently placing at Number 2� on the USA Today Top 1�0 Best Seller list. The success in the
United States has fueled continued interest in the brand from a variety of international media outlets.
The Chilevision agreement is the latest VIZ Media has secured with prominent terrestrial broadcasters across Latin
America. To-date the company has announced deals with broadcasters for both Naruto and Zatch Bell!. America TV
(Peru) acquired �2 episodes each of Zatch Bell! and Naruto; TV Globo (Brazil) acquired �2 episodes of Zatch Bell!
and Televideo Services picked up �2 episodes each of Zatch Bell! and Naruto for Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Honduras. Deals are now in the works to continue to bring Naruto to
other growing markets in Latin America.
“The Naruto agreement with Chilevision will bring one of the hottest and most popular brands to an audience that
is fast developing an appreciation for unmatched story-telling and quality animation,” says VIZ Media Senior Licens-
ing Manager Andrea Gonzalez. “The popularity of Naruto is growing significantly worldwide and Latin America is no
exception.”
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