Mega Man Relaunches
DHX Media Ltd. and Dentsu Entertainment USA, Inc., signed a global deal to develop, co-produce, distribute, and jointly manage licensing for a new Mega Man animated series based upon the Capcom Mega Man video game franchise.
Under the terms of the deal, Dentsu Entertainment USA and DHX will manage all global rights for the new Mega Man animated series. Distribution and licensing in the United States will be handled by DHX in collaboration with Dentsu Entertainment USA. Dentsu, Inc., parent company of Dentsu Entertainment USA, will manage distribution and licensing in Asia. DHX will manage distribution and licensing in all other territories. Dentsu Entertainment USA and DHX will both participate in all revenue streams related to this agreement.
Aimed at kids ages 6–9, the animated series will feature new technologies and robots, as well as the introduction of Mega Man’s alter-ego, Aki Light, a normal, upbeat, schoolboy robot. When activated, his skin re-forms—in a flurry of computer code and visual pyrotechnics—into a suit of impenetrable nanocore armor, including the iconic Mega Buster arm cannon and helmet. Popular characters, like Rush, will return while new characters, like Mega Mini, will make their debut. The new Mega Man animated series has a target air date of 2017, coinciding with the franchise’s 30th anniversary. Man of Action will executive produce the all-new Mega Man.
Loot Crate Announces Funding; Deal with Halo
Loot Crate, the fan-based commerce and community platform announced its $18.5 million Series A funding round. The funding round was led by Upfront Ventures, with participation from Breakwater Investment Management, Time Inc., Downey Ventures, M13, and Sterling.VC.
Loot Crate offers its consumers, affectionately known as “Looters,” themed mystery boxes each month tailored around leading entertainment and pop culture franchises. Each box offers four to seven uniquely curated products (the majority of which are Loot Crate-exclusive items) and content that range from collectible figurines to comic books and apparel.
Since launching in 2012 with $25,000 in seed funding, Loot Crate’s revenues have grown to more than $100 million annually and in the process created a dedicated following of over 600,000 monthly recurring subscribers worldwide. The company currently services 35 countries, including the UK, which has become its second largest market and where the company will be opening secondary offices this summer. Loot Crate’s product lines now include apparel, gaming, pets, and anime crates.
Separately, Loot Crate has created a channel for consumers to discover new and heritage brands across a variety of growing genres, while allowing entertainment companies a new direct-to-consumer distribution platform connected with their multichannel marketing strategies. With that, the company is announcing a brand new integration with the Halo franchise, teaming up with 343 Industries, part of Microsoft Studios, to deliver an exclusive game-themed crate to Loot Crate’s growing subscriber base.
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