JAKKS Pacific and KODANSHA Ltd. Announce New Partnership to Release an Array of Toys and Collectibles Across Multiple Anime Properties, Including Attack on Titan and Gachiakuta
Rhea-AI Summary
JAKKS Pacific (NASDAQ: JAKK) announced a global licensing partnership with KODANSHA on March 4, 2026 to design, manufacture, market, and sell toys and collectibles tied to select anime properties. Initial collections will target Attack on Titan and the 2025 anime Gachiakuta, distributed across specialty, online, direct-to-consumer, collector platforms, and select major retailers.
The lineup includes figures, plush, and tech accessories aimed at both core collectors and broad retail audiences, marking an expanded push into anime-driven products.
Positive
- Partnership announced on March 4, 2026 to develop licensed anime products
- Attack on Titan tie-in leverages a franchise with >140 million copies in circulation
- Gachiakuta collection built on its 2025 anime adaptation momentum
- Planned multi-channel distribution including specialty, online, DTC, and major retailers
Negative
- None.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
JAKK was down 1.52% pre-news, while key peers like SRM (+32.05%), DOGZ (+3.52%), FNKO (+2.86%), and ESCA (+1.64%) were up, pointing to stock-specific dynamics rather than a coordinated toys/leisure move.
Previous Partnership Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 02 | Anime partnership | Positive | -3.9% | Extended Demon Slayer partnership with Aniplex to broaden toy and collectible lineup. |
| Feb 26 | Licensing deal | Positive | -0.9% | New Naruto licensing agreement with VIZ Media for toys and costumes in North America. |
| Feb 25 | Anime partnership | Positive | -2.2% | Crunchyroll partnership for multi-title anime figures, plush, tech accessories, and costumes. |
| Feb 24 | Creator collab | Positive | +1.6% | COVER/hololive agreement to launch VTuber-focused merchandise across several channels. |
| Feb 17 | Film tie-in toys | Positive | +0.7% | Renewed global toy partnership for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie merchandise line. |
Recent partnership announcements have shown mixed reactions, with an average next-day move of -0.95% and more instances of mild selloffs than rallies.
Over the past few weeks, JAKKS has executed a rapid series of partnerships tied to major entertainment IPs. Deals with Aniplex (Demon Slayer), VIZ Media (Naruto), Crunchyroll, COVER (hololive), and Universal/Nintendo (Super Mario Galaxy Movie) highlight a deliberate expansion into anime and pop-culture franchises. Price reactions to these 5 partnership headlines ranged from about -3.93% to +1.60%, suggesting investors have not consistently rewarded this strategy in the very short term despite its strategic continuity.
Historical Comparison
In recent weeks, JAKK issued 5 partnership releases, averaging a next-day move of about -0.95%. The new KODANSHA deal extends the same anime-licensing build‑out seen across those announcements.
Partnership news shows a clear progression: from renewing film IP (Super Mario Galaxy) to successive anime and creator deals with COVER, Crunchyroll, VIZ, Aniplex, and now KODANSHA, all feeding JAKKS’ dedicated anime and pop‑culture platform.
Regulatory & Risk Context
An effective S-3 shelf filed on 2025-10-29 allows JAKKS to offer up to $150,000,000 of securities, including an at-the-market program of up to $75,000,000 of common stock. As of the latest data, usage_count is 0, indicating no drawdown yet, but the capacity provides flexibility for future capital raises.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement advances JAKKS’ anime-focused strategy by adding KODANSHA properties like Attack on Titan and Gachiakuta to its licensing roster. It follows a cluster of recent partnerships that, on average, moved the stock about -0.95% the next day. Investors may track how these deals translate into sales against a backdrop of prior revenue declines, an unused $150,000,000 shelf, and ongoing dividend payments of $0.25 per share.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK), a leading global manufacturer of toys and consumer products, today announced a new licensing partnership with KODANSHA Ltd., the iconic Japanese publishing house behind globally beloved manga and anime titles, to design, manufacture, market, and sell a wide-ranging collection of toys, collectibles, and accessories inspired by select KODANSHA Ltd. anime properties.
Under the agreement, JAKKS will develop a full collection inspired by the beloved series Attack on Titan and the hit first season of Gachiakuta. The partnership marks an expanded push by JAKKS into anime-driven products, with offerings designed for both core collectors and broad retail audiences.
The lineup will include a wide assortment of figures, plush, and tech accessories, with a distribution roll out across specialty and online retailers, direct-to-consumer channels, and collector-focused platforms, with select products also available at major retailers.
“As JAKKS continues to build a focused anime portfolio, KODANSHA stands out as a partner with an extraordinary legacy and a deep roster of globally recognized properties,” said Ariana Berman, Senior Director of Anime Division at JAKKS Pacific. “Their compelling library connects emotionally with fans, and our goal is to translate that connection into products that feel authentic, collectible, and accessible across multiple retail outlets.”
“JAKKS has a proven track record of translating beloved brands into high-quality consumer products that resonate with audiences around the world,” said Yuichiro Takashima of KODANSHA Ltd. “Through this collaboration, we can bring Attack on Titan and Gachiakuta directly into the hands of fans, offering new ways to engage with these worlds beyond the page and the screen.”
For decades, KODANSHA Ltd has nurtured a dynamic roster of artists and collaborators across genres, building a legacy of inspired voices, narratives and platforms. Attack on Titan remains one of the best-selling manga series of the last decade, with over 140 million copies in circulation worldwide and a lasting legacy across print and animated media. Gachiakuta, first serialized in Kodansha’s Weekly Shōnen Magazine in 2022, has quickly built a dedicated following and expanded its reach with a 2025 anime adaptation that brings its distinctive world and characters to screens worldwide.
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of toys and consumer products sold throughout the world, with its headquarters in Santa Monica, California. JAKKS Pacific manages a broad portfolio of licensed and owned I.P. brands and products. All products are available online or in retail stores nationwide.
Media Contact:
JAKKS Pacific
Jessica Kavanaugh
publicrelations@jakks.net
About KODANSHA Ltd.:
Founded in 1909, KODANSHA is Japan’s leading publishing house, home to one of the world’s most extensive and celebrated libraries of manga and novels.
Publishing across 40+ countries, it has over 4,000 titles and decades of experience nurturing deep working relationships with a dynamic roster of renowned authors.
In addition to the influential Akira and Attack on Titan, KODANSHA’s globally popular manga titles include Tokyo Revengers, Blue Lock, The Kindaichi Case Files, Initial D, The Seven Deadly Sins, and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, selling over half a billion copies among them. KODANSHA is headquartered in Tokyo, with additional offices in China, Europe, and the United States.
About JAKKS Pacific, Inc.:
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of toys and consumer products sold throughout the world, with its headquarters in Santa Monica, California. JAKKS Pacific’s popular proprietary brands include Disguise®, Fly Wheels®, Charming™, Kidtopia™, Moose Mountain®, Maui®, ReDo® Skateboard Co., Sky Ball®, and Xtreme Power Dozer® as well as a wide range of entertainment-inspired products featuring premier licensed properties. Through their products and charitable donations, JAKKS is helping to make a positive impact on the lives of children. Visit us at www.jakks.com and follow us on Instagram (@jakkspacific.toys), X (@jakkstoys), YouTube (@JAKKSPacific), Facebook (@jakkspacific.toys) and LinkedIn (JAKKS Pacific).
©2026 JAKKS Pacific, Inc. All rights reserved
FAQ
What did JAKKS Pacific (JAKK) announce on March 4, 2026 about KODANSHA licensing?
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