Tag Archives: Lucky Helmet

Japan’s biggest anime feature movie Demon Slayer has its sights on US licensing with Lucky Helmet

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The Japanese animated feature film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train is set to expand its licensing and merchandising presence across the US through the efforts of the IP development business, Lucky Helmet.

It will mark the first in a sweep of new IP to be brought to the region’s licensing sector thanks to the firm’s appointment by Aniplex of America Inc to represent selected titles released in North America.

Lucky Helmet is a newly launched agency focused on assisting creators, producers, and other IP owners with commercialisation strategies on existing brands, as well as with the development of new content-based franchises.

The partnership will be led by Demon Slayer, a highly anticipated film based on one of the best-selling manga series. According to the film’s official Twitter account, the film had grossed ¥28.8 billion ($277.5 million) as of December 7, overtaking the American film, Titanic. It is now the second highest-grossing film in Japan, ever, behind only Studio Ghibli’s 2002 release, Spirited Away.

The Demon Slayer film is breaking records in other Asia territories as well. In China, the movie surpassed China’s Jiang Ziya to become the highest-grossing animated feature of 2020; and in Taiwan, the film quickly earned over $15 million, making it the biggest release of the year, and the highest-grossing animation release of all-time in the territory.

The movie centers on the hero Tanjiro Kamado’s efforts to save the lives of passengers aboard the Mugen Train, named after the Japanese word for infinity, on which countless people have gone missing.

The film is currently being adapted for American audiences, and is expected to release in the US in 2021 by the Sony-owned division Aniplex of America in association with Funimation.

“Demon Slayer’s box-office success overseas, in the middle of a pandemic, is nothing less than extraordinary,” commented Marc Harrington, founder of Lucky Helmet.

“We are incredibly excited to have the opportunity to support Aniplex on its licensing and merchandising efforts in North America, and we are confident that the film will further excite fans, and that there will be great potential for new licensing partners across many categories.”

Lucky Helmet previously announced that it had signed four-time Academy Award-nominated animation studio, Cartoon Saloon, to consult on licensing and merchandising opportunities based on its original IP, including the animated feature film, Wolfwalkers; the International Emmy Award-nominated series, Puffin Rock, and its upcoming film, Puffin Rock-The Movie.

Japan’s biggest anime feature movie Demon Slayer has its sights on US licensing with Lucky Helmet

Posted on by

The Japanese animated feature film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train is set to expand its licensing and merchandising presence across the US through the efforts of the IP development business, Lucky Helmet.

It will mark the first in a sweep of new IP to be brought to the region’s licensing sector thanks to the firm’s appointment by Aniplex of America Inc to represent selected titles released in North America.

Lucky Helmet is a newly launched agency focused on assisting creators, producers, and other IP owners with commercialisation strategies on existing brands, as well as with the development of new content-based franchises.

The partnership will be led by Demon Slayer, a highly anticipated film based on one of the best-selling manga series. According to the film’s official Twitter account, the film had grossed ¥28.8 billion ($277.5 million) as of December 7, overtaking the American film, Titanic. It is now the second highest-grossing film in Japan, ever, behind only Studio Ghibli’s 2002 release, Spirited Away.

The Demon Slayer film is breaking records in other Asia territories as well. In China, the movie surpassed China’s Jiang Ziya to become the highest-grossing animated feature of 2020; and in Taiwan, the film quickly earned over $15 million, making it the biggest release of the year, and the highest-grossing animation release of all-time in the territory.

The movie centers on the hero Tanjiro Kamado’s efforts to save the lives of passengers aboard the Mugen Train, named after the Japanese word for infinity, on which countless people have gone missing.

The film is currently being adapted for American audiences, and is expected to release in the US in 2021 by the Sony-owned division Aniplex of America in association with Funimation.

“Demon Slayer’s box-office success overseas, in the middle of a pandemic, is nothing less than extraordinary,” commented Marc Harrington, founder of Lucky Helmet.

“We are incredibly excited to have the opportunity to support Aniplex on its licensing and merchandising efforts in North America, and we are confident that the film will further excite fans, and that there will be great potential for new licensing partners across many categories.”

Lucky Helmet previously announced that it had signed four-time Academy Award-nominated animation studio, Cartoon Saloon, to consult on licensing and merchandising opportunities based on its original IP, including the animated feature film, Wolfwalkers; the International Emmy Award-nominated series, Puffin Rock, and its upcoming film, Puffin Rock-The Movie.

Animation and licensing veteran Marc Harrington launches IP development business Lucky Helmet

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The animation and licensing industry veteran Marc Harrington has launched Lucky Helmet, a new business focused on assisting creators, producers, and other IP owners develop strategies for existing brands as well as with the development of new content-based franchises.

Lucky Helmet, headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, will work with property owners in setting-up procedures, securing the right merchandising-licensing partners, expanding beneficial collaborations, and building communities around their original characters and content – all of which support improved awareness and longer-term brand success.

“The landscape, for kids’ content especially, has changed dramatically in the past few years; discoverability has become a huge challenge,” said Harrington.

“Property owners cannot depend on distribution partners to build their brand, and while retail will surely return in force, rights holders are going to need to take more responsibility than ever before for attracting consumers directly, and for engaging with fans.”

Additionally, Lucky Helmet will work with artists and creators, in the earliest stages of brand development, to integrate play patterns, wish fulfillment, and other elements that can make a property more attractive for toy and gaming companies to work with, while also making it more accessible to enthusiasts.

Harrington added: “Most importantly, an authentic voice and an emotional connection with the story and characters must come across – but, when you have that right, there are certainly decisions that can be made, and elements that can be incorporated, in order to improve opportunities for consumer product programs and for the range of a property’s appeal.”

Already, the four-time Academy Award nominated animation studio, Cartoon Saloon, has signed Lucky Helmet to consult on licensing and merchandising opportunities based on its original IP, including the animated feature film, Wolfwalkers, the Puffin Rock series, Puffin Rock-The Movie, and Silly Sundays series.

Brian Tyrrell, general manager, brand development with Cartoon Saloon, stated: “Marc has been very helpful in setting-up processes for our ancillary rights business and for introducing Cartoon Saloon to highly respected potential partners. We look forward to working with Lucky Helmet on a number of upcoming projects.”

Prior to Lucky Helmet, Harrington developed and managed toy integrated animation projects with Dentsu Entertainment USA where he Executive Produced the original animated series Mega Man: Fully Charged and Monsuno and where he distributed and licensed Japanese originated series LBX and Yo-Kai Watch [all of which had global Master Toy programs attached].

Prior to Dentsu, Harrington was responsible for branding initiatives, merchandising and other partnerships for Genuine Character, Marvel Entertainment, and Paramount Pictures.

Animation and licensing veteran Marc Harrington launches IP development business Lucky Helmet

Posted on by

The animation and licensing industry veteran Marc Harrington has launched Lucky Helmet, a new business focused on assisting creators, producers, and other IP owners develop strategies for existing brands as well as with the development of new content-based franchises.

Lucky Helmet, headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, will work with property owners in setting-up procedures, securing the right merchandising-licensing partners, expanding beneficial collaborations, and building communities around their original characters and content – all of which support improved awareness and longer-term brand success.

“The landscape, for kids’ content especially, has changed dramatically in the past few years; discoverability has become a huge challenge,” said Harrington.

“Property owners cannot depend on distribution partners to build their brand, and while retail will surely return in force, rights holders are going to need to take more responsibility than ever before for attracting consumers directly, and for engaging with fans.”

Additionally, Lucky Helmet will work with artists and creators, in the earliest stages of brand development, to integrate play patterns, wish fulfillment, and other elements that can make a property more attractive for toy and gaming companies to work with, while also making it more accessible to enthusiasts.

Harrington added: “Most importantly, an authentic voice and an emotional connection with the story and characters must come across – but, when you have that right, there are certainly decisions that can be made, and elements that can be incorporated, in order to improve opportunities for consumer product programs and for the range of a property’s appeal.”

Already, the four-time Academy Award nominated animation studio, Cartoon Saloon, has signed Lucky Helmet to consult on licensing and merchandising opportunities based on its original IP, including the animated feature film, Wolfwalkers, the Puffin Rock series, Puffin Rock-The Movie, and Silly Sundays series.

Brian Tyrrell, general manager, brand development with Cartoon Saloon, stated: “Marc has been very helpful in setting-up processes for our ancillary rights business and for introducing Cartoon Saloon to highly respected potential partners. We look forward to working with Lucky Helmet on a number of upcoming projects.”

Prior to Lucky Helmet, Harrington developed and managed toy integrated animation projects with Dentsu Entertainment USA where he Executive Produced the original animated series Mega Man: Fully Charged and Monsuno and where he distributed and licensed Japanese originated series LBX and Yo-Kai Watch [all of which had global Master Toy programs attached].

Prior to Dentsu, Harrington was responsible for branding initiatives, merchandising and other partnerships for Genuine Character, Marvel Entertainment, and Paramount Pictures.