The Koyo Store partners with Toei Animation to launch Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super collectables

The entertainment merchandise specialist, The Koyo Store has secured the EMEA rights to create a range of officially licensed collectables based on the popular Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super anime TV series.

Through its partnership with Toei Animation Europe, the Lancashire-based Koyo Store will launch an initial product line-up this May encompassing collectables based on popular characters and imagery from both series, including a Character Pin Badge Collection featuring Buu, Goku, Master Roshi, Piccolo, Trunks, Krillin, and more.

 Widely regarded as the series that made anime popular in the West, the Dragon Ball Z TV show was created by Toei Animation and first aired in 1989. Its popularity saw the franchise spawn movies, TV specials, soundtracks, video games and countless other items of merchandise.

 It’s sequel, Dragon Ball Super, followed the adventures of key protagonist Goku during the ten-year timeskip’ after the defeat of Majin Buu. Toei recently announced that a new Dragon Ball Super film was in development with a planned release for 2022.

 With Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super still huge favourites with pop culture fans, The Koyo Store is lining up a range of pin badges to celebrate these iconic brands. Available in-store and online from this month, the range will include a Goku & Vegeta Pin Badge Set, an Icon Pin Badge Set – including symbols for Kame, Majin, Capsule Corp, Red Ribbon, Radar and Dragon Ball, a Dragon Ball Z Symbol Pin, Dragon Ball Super Symbol Pin, Master Roshi Pin, Goku Pin, Vegeta Pin, Gohan Pin, and Trunks Pin.

 The collectables will be priced from £6.99 and will also be available for fans to buy direct at www.thekoyostore.com

Toei Animation is the latest major IP owner to join The Koyo Stores burgeoning collectables line-up, which also includes partnerships with Ubisoft, (Rainbow Six Siege), PUBG, Games Workshop (Warhammer 40,000), Capcom (Street Fighter) and HBO (Game of Thrones)

“Were delighted to be able to tell Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super fans that we can Summon You Forth’ to collect this range of officially-licensed pin badges,” said Lee Townsend, founder and CEO of The Koyo Store.

Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super remain among the most popular anime franchises across the world, so were honoured to be collaborating with Toei Animation to bring this range of collectibles to Dragon Ball enthusiasts.”

 The Koyo Stores high-quality pin badges, coins and other unique merchandise have proved a hit among games, Esports and TV and film fans who are looking for great collectibles and the opportunity to claim bragging rights within their peer groups.

Reemsborko named UK and Eire licensing agent for Dragon Ball

Reemsborko Ltd, the pop culture licensing specialist run by the industry’s own Max Arguile, has been named the exclusive licensing agent for the whole of the Dragon Ball franchise across the UK and Eire.

The appointment was made by Toei Animation Europe, the EMEA media company in charge of the distribution and exploitation of Toei Animation’s Japanese animated series in Europe. The deal encompasses the Dragon Ball brand, including Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball Super.

The new partnership arrives at an interesting time for animé brands here in the UK, a sector that has been steadily increasing in popularity with mainstream audiences over the last few years. Dragon Ball now joins the likes of other popular animé properties, including Cannon Busters and Hatsune Miku – the popular holographic animé character – that sit within Reemsborko’s growing brand portfolio.

With a 30 year heritage, Dragon Ball now boasts a fanbase of millions across the globe.

Max Arguile of Reemsborko, said: “I have worked on Dragon Ball many times over the years – what a great property. It is the single most widely recognised animé, with a demonstrable success at UK retail over the past 12 months.

“This year saw the launch of a new series, Dragon Ball Super, on kids TV channel Pop, which will grow a whole new generation of fans. I am very pleased to be able to represent this for Toei Animation Europe in the UK.”

Hélène Virenque of Toei, added: “We have been very happy with our past collaborations with Max, and we’re looking forward to working with him to grow the Dragon Ball licensing and retail opportunities even further in the UK and Eire.”

Max Arguile can be contacted for licensing opportunities around the Dragon Ball franchise via max@reemsborko.com