In case you forgot, Capcom property Mega Man is making quite a comeback in the next few years. On one end, 20th Century Fox are currently tasked with adapting it to live-action, and on the other, a brand new animated series is in development as of last summer with Dentsu Entertainment USA, Inc. and Man Of Action Entertainment.
This week, those efforts are now continuing as per the latest announcement citing DHX Media Ltd. in a joint effort toward a 26-episode series installation, last reported for Disney XD, based on the 1987 game franchise. Read on:
SANTA MONICA, Calif. and HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, May 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Dentsu Entertainment USA, Inc. and DHX Media Ltd. (“DHX”) (NASDAQ: DHXM; TSX: DHX.A, DHX.B), the world’s leading independent, pure-play kids’ content company, have struck a global deal to develop, co-produce, distribute and jointly manage licensing for a new Mega Man™ animated series based upon the legendary Capcom Mega Man video game franchise. The deal was announced today by Yuichi Kinoshita, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dentsu Entertainment USA, Inc., and by Asaph Fipke, Chief Content Officer of DHX.
Man of Action Entertainment logo
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.DHX’s Fipke, said, “We’re very excited to be working with Dentsu on Mega Man. This is yet another deal born of our strategy of teaming up with leading companies on high-profile kids’ brands that we can leverage across our platform of production, distribution, licensing and broadcast. We see this as an excellent opportunity to build on the rich legacy of the Mega Man video game series and introduce the famous boy robot to a whole new generation of kids worldwide.”
Dentsu Entertainment USA’s Kinoshita said, “Mega Man has a rare, nearly three-decade-long tradition with fans. We are excited to work with DHX to bring this newly imagined version of a long-beloved character back to the global marketplace.”
Aimed at kids 6 to 9, as well as their parents who grew up loving the videogames, the animated series will feature exciting 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. Beloved 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 Entertainment are creators of the $4.5 billion franchise Ben 10, Generator Rex, the team and characters in the Academy Award®-winner Big Hero 6, and the executive producers/writers who launched Ultimate Spider-Man and Marvel’s Avengers Assemble. Man of Action will executive produce the all-new Mega Man.
Man of Action’s Duncan Rouleau said, “The best thing about Mega Man is his unflinching wide-eyed optimism and an over-the-top sense of humor. This show reflects both qualities. We’ve got it all in here, it’s hopeful, forward-leaning, action-packed… It’s full-on fun ahead!”
