• Source: Jakks Pacific

Jakks Pacific, Inc. is an American toy manufacturer founded in January 1995. The company is best known for producing licensed action figures, playsets, dolls, plush toys and dress-up sets.
The company was founded by Jack Friedman, who had previously founded the toy and video game companies LJN and THQ. Friedman presided over the company, until retiring as CEO and chairman after March 31, 2010, a month before his death on May 3, 2010.




History



Jack Friedman had previously founded THQ (Toy Headquarters), with the business producing both toys and interactive software. In 1994, the business would become solely focused around interactive software, with Friedman feeling discontentment from this. He decided he wanted to go back to toys, so founded Jakks Pacific in January 1995. His first master toy license was a seven-year deal with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) to mainly produce figurines and playsets, similar to how Hasbro grew to success with the G.I. Joe toy line. In July 1998, the seven-year-deal that would have expired in 2002, was extended to December 2009.
In 1997, Jakks Pacific purchased the defunct Remco brand from Azrak-Hamway International (AHI).
Child Guidance, and Road Champions in 1997; Berk and Flying Colors in 1999; Pentech in 2000; Toymax, Go Fly A Kite, and Funnoodle in 2002; Color Workshop and Trendmasters in 2003; Play Along Toys in 2004; Pet Pal Corp. in 2005; Creative Designs International in 2006; and Kids Only Toys, Tollytots, and Disguise in 2008.
In June 1998, Jakks Pacific entered into a joint-license agreement with THQ to release WWF video games, to release their first title in October 1999. Under the deal, publishing would be handled by THQ, and with most of the development being handled by Yuke's. In October 2004, it emerged that the (since renamed) WWE had filed a lawsuit against Jakks Pacific, alleging that both parties had given bribes to the WWF executive Jim Bell and agent Stanley Shenker to hide 'superior' pitches from other publishers, such as Activision. The federal suit was dismissed in December 2007, the state court litigation was dismissed in August 2008 and an appeal was dismissed by the court of appeals in May 2009. In December 2009, WWE announced settlement of the litigation, without any party admitting any wrongdoing. By this point, the WWF's Bell and Shenker had both plead guilty to fraud involving illegitimate kick-back schemes. The end of 2009 saw the end of the joint-license agreement, THQ signed a new eight-year video game license with WWE, without Jakks Pacific.
In early 2002, Jakks began working on their own interactive software with creating their own handheld TV games called Plug It in & Play TV Games, where the user plugs the device straight into the television. As of 2002, the original TV Games device from Jakks Pacific sold over 350,000 units. By 2004, the TV Games series had sold 1 million units. As of 2007, Pac-Man TV Games sold over 15 million units.
In December 2002, FUNimation Entertaiment awarded Jakks Pacific with the master toy license to produce toys based on the Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT licenses.
In February 2005, Jakks Pacific was instructed to restate the financial statements for fiscal year 2003 to account for the acquisition of Toymax, Trendmasters, and P&M Products.
Also in 2005, Jakks signed a toy deal with Black+Decker.
In February 2006, Jakks Pacific announced it had signed a partnership with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) to make toys and playsets based on the Rocky franchise.
In June 2006, Jakks and Pokémon signed a master toy licensing deal.
In February 2008, it was announced that Jakks Pacific would sign a five-year deal with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), to commence in 2010. The existing WWE deal would expire in December 2009.
In March 2008, the company announced it had signed a deal with Taylor Swift and the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to produce a licensed series of dolls.
In June 2008, Jakks Pacific announced it had signed a four-year deal with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to produce action figures and licensed toys.
In 2010, the company formed Pacific Animation Partners LLC, a joint venture between that company and Dentsu Entertainment USA, Fremantle, and Topps, to launch the Monsuno property in 2012.
In 2012, Jakks Pacific announced the successful negotiation of licences for The Dark Knight Rises and The Amazing Spider-Man, promoting new toy ranges at the New York and other International Toy Fairs.
In 2014, the company launched Jakks Meisheng Trading, a joint venture with Meisheng Culture and Creative Corp., to bring its toys to China. In 2016, the two created Studio JP, a joint venture to produce animation.
In September 2015, it was announced that Jakks Pacific had signed a new licensing deal with WWE, but this time with Jakks making role-play sets and action figures, but only for Asian-Pacific region. Jakks would also work alongside Vivid Imaginations and Headstart Toys to make Oooshies, collectible rubber penciltips.
In February 2017, Jakks and Warner Bros. Consumer Products signed a deal for DC Super Hero Girls related merchandise.
In July 2017, Jakks signed a deal with Chicco to manufacture and distribute inspired merchandise for the United States and Canada.
In January 2023, Jakks Pacific signed a deal with Nintendo and Illumination to create toys for The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
In October 2023, Sega and Jakks Pacific formed a deal to make toys for Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
In May 2024, it was announced that Jakks Pacific and its costume division Disguise entered into a partnership with Dav Pilkey to make merchandise based on the Dog Man comic book series and film.




See also


Jack Friedman




References






External links


Official Jakks Pacific Inc website

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Monsuno
• Dragon Ball Z
• Taylor Swift
• Speak Now
• Jakks Pacific
• Jack Friedman
• WWE action figures
• Cabbage Patch Kids
• Plug It in & Play TV Games
• Handheld TV game
• Dog Man (film)
• List of Star Wars video games
• Ultimate Fighting Championship
• The Scorpion King (film series)