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Dentsu opens U.S. division to import Japanese properties

By Staff -- Gifts and Dec, 7/29/2008 2:17:00 PM

Dentsu SANTA MONICA, Calif.—Japanese advertising giant and television programmer Dentsu Inc. has launched a U.S.-based division, DCI Los Angeles, to develop, co-produce, distribute and license original Japanese animated programming.

“Although Japanese animation has achieved significant global success, many productions we currently see in development do not have broad appeal outside of Japan,” said Yuma Sakata, senior vice president for DCI-LA. “Working with Western partners in pre-production, and then production teams in Japan for animation, we can create content that will appeal to a wider audience.”

In addition to Sakata, DCI-LA’s management team includes Marc Harrington, vice president, business development; Yukio Kusumoto, group director; and Yulie Yoshimura, associate licensing manager.

DCI-LA plans to tap creative development expertise in North America and Europe to co-produce and distribute animation with “global appeal.” Programming targets are children aged 6-12 and males 17-25, via broadcasters, home entertainment and other media outlets reaching those demographics.

The company’s first property will be Japanese animated television version of Deltora Quest, the book series of the same name written by Australian Emily Rodda and published by Scholastic. In Japan, the series airs on the TV Aichi block of TV Tokyo. DCI-LA is currently seeking broadcast partners and licensees in all territories and categories.

Deltora Quest books have been published in more than 30 countries and have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, according to DCI-LA. The fantasy property stars a 16-year-old boy who must find seven magical gems that will empower the heir to the throne of Deltora and free its people from the tyranny of the Shadow Lord.

Japanese licensing partners for the property include Kodansha for manga, Bandai for card games, PVC figures and candy items, and Bandai-Namco for interactive games, all via Dentsu, which directly controls all rights to the series worldwide, and handles licensing, merchandising, television, home entertainment and all forms of digital distribution in Asia.

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