JAKKS Pacific and VIZ Media Announce New Toy and Costumes Partnership for Best-Selling Anime Brand Naruto
Rhea-AI Summary
JAKKS Pacific (NASDAQ: JAKK) announced a licensing agreement with VIZ Media to design, manufacture, market, and sell Naruto action figures, playsets, role-play items, and costumes in the United States and Canada. Disguise, JAKKS’ costume division, will support costume development.
Products are scheduled to debut at retail in Spring 2027. Naruto is a long-running franchise with a 25-year history and a 220-episode anime run; VIZ Media is the global master licensor for the brand.
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News Market Reaction – JAKK
On the day this news was published, JAKK declined 0.94%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
Peers showed mixed moves: SRM up 32.05%, while PLBY, DOGZ, FNKO, and ESCA were modestly negative, suggesting stock-specific factors around JAKK’s anime partnerships.
Previous Partnership Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25 | Anime partnership | Positive | -2.2% | Crunchyroll licensing deal for toys, cosplay, and collectibles across major anime. |
| Feb 24 | VTuber partnership | Positive | +1.6% | COVER hololive merchandise partnership targeting 2027 product launch. |
| Feb 17 | Movie toy renewal | Positive | +0.7% | Renewed global toy partnership for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie collection. |
| Dec 04 | Candy IP licensing | Positive | -2.3% | Hershey-themed Charming mini-doll licensing partnership through 2026. |
| Nov 03 | Gaming IP renewal | Positive | -1.4% | Renewed global Sonic the Hedgehog toy partnership through 2029. |
Partnership headlines have produced mixed reactions, with more negative than positive 24h moves and an average move of -0.72%.
Over recent months, JAKKS has leaned heavily into partnerships, especially around high-profile entertainment IP. Deals with Crunchyroll, COVER’s hololive, Universal/Nintendo’s Super Mario, Hershey, and SEGA’s Sonic highlight a strategy of licensing well-known franchises across toys, collectibles, and costumes. Partnership news has historically led to modest, often negative, single-day moves on average (-0.72%). The current Naruto agreement extends this IP-led approach within anime, following the launch of a broader anime, manga, and digital creator platform and solid, though lower, 2025 sales with improved margins and ongoing dividends.
Historical Comparison
Past 5 partnership headlines saw an average 24h move of -0.72%, with a mix of small gains and selloffs despite generally positive strategic content.
Partnership news shows a progression toward marquee entertainment and anime IPs, from Hershey and Sonic to Super Mario, hololive, Crunchyroll, and now Naruto, aligning with JAKKS’ anime and pop-culture expansion strategy.
Regulatory & Risk Context
An effective S-3 shelf filed on 2025-10-29 allows JAKKS to offer up to $150,000,000 in securities, including an at-the-market program of up to $75,000,000 of common stock under a sales agreement with B. Riley Securities. No usage has been reported yet, but the capacity provides flexibility for future capital raises.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement deepens JAKKS’ expansion into anime by adding Naruto toys and costumes, with products slated for retail in Spring 2027. It follows recent partnerships with Crunchyroll, hololive, and major gaming and film IPs, reinforcing a strategy built around popular franchises. Investors may monitor how this pipeline of licensed products translates into revenue and margins alongside existing initiatives, as well as any future use of the $150,000,000 shelf registration for growth or balance sheet needs.
Key Terms
licensing agreement financial
master licensor regulatory
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) a top manufacturer of toys and consumer products, and its costume division, Disguise, announced today a new licensing agreement with VIZ Media for Naruto, one of the best-selling and most beloved anime franchises of all time.
Through the partnership, JAKKS will design, manufacture, market, and sell action figures, playsets, role-play items, and costumes, for Naruto in the United States and Canada. The all-new products will debut at retail in Spring 2027.
“We’re thrilled to bring Naruto to life through a new range of toys that celebrate this iconic manga series,” said Virginia Reneau, Sr. Vice President of Global Licensing at JAKKS Pacific. “From action figures and playsets to immersive role-play experiences, we look forward to working with VIZ Media to deliver exciting new ways for fans to engage with the world of Naruto.”
This collaboration marks another major venture for JAKKS Pacific into the world of anime, expanding its portfolio into one of entertainment’s fastest-growing global categories.
“JAKKS Pacific has a strong track record of producing high-quality, fan-focused products for major entertainment properties, so partnering with them on Naruto was an easy decision,” said Laura Takaragawa, Vice President Consumer Products, VIZ Media. “We know our beloved anime series is in good hands and can’t wait to see the incredible products they’ll create to captivate longtime fans and welcome a whole new audience.”
With over 25 years of history, Naruto is a best-selling manga published by VIZ Media about a young ninja who wants to become the leader of his village. Later introduced as an anime series with 220 episodes, Naruto is the most streamed anime on Netflix and Hulu in the US. VIZ Media is the global master licensor for the brand, which was first introduced in Japan in 1999 and has become one of the country’s most popular ninja manga properties.
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.
Owned by JAKKS Pacific, Inc., Disguise is a world leader in design and development of inventive and cutting-edge Halloween costumes and accessories with distribution across the world. With a dedication to quality and detail, Disguise continues to own the licensed costume space with additional lines rolling out each year.
Media Contact:
JAKKS Pacific
Jessica Kavanaugh
publicrelations@jakks.net
About VIZ Media:
Wherever manga and anime fans are, we are! VIZ Media is No. 1 in Japanese pop culture, introducing fans to what’s now, new, and next. Home to the world’s most influential and groundbreaking storytellers and artists, who today drive multiple industries from publishing and animation to film and gaming. If it’s big in Japan, you can find it at VIZ.
VIZ Media is proudly certified as a Most Loved Workplace® in America and Inc Magazine’s Best Workplace. For more information on VIZ Media visit: https://www.viz.com/.
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) and VIZ Media announce on February 26, 2026 about Naruto?
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Will JAKKS Pacific’s Naruto products be sold outside the United States and Canada (JAKK)?
What does the Naruto licensing agreement mean for JAKKS Pacific’s Disguise division (JAKK)?
