EVERETT, Wash., July 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Pokémon Company International and Funko, Inc. (Nasdaq: FNKO ) have officially announced their first-ever collaboration and licensing agreement to bring Funko Pop! Pokémon figures to retail this summer. Expected to launch on July 29, 2018, the initial 4-inch stylized vinyl figure features the iconic Pokémon, Pikachu, from the popular video game franchise featuring Funko’s whimsical take on the beloved Pokémon.
“Pokémon is always looking for the best ways to deliver its popular characters to its fans and the timing is perfect to team up with Funko,” said Colin Palmer, vice president of marketing at The Pokémon Company International. “We can’t wait to deliver the most iconic Pokémon, Pikachu, to fans of both the franchise and the immensely popular Funko Pop! figures with this launch.”
While the 4-inch scale Pikachu marks the first collaboration between Pokémon and Funko, a launch this big couldn’t be contained to Funko’s traditional figure size. A second Pikachu figure in a 10-inch scale is expected to arrive in stores later this year. Fans can stay tuned for additional details about the larger figure’s availability.
“As one of the preeminent entertainment properties in the world today, we’re thrilled to welcome Pokémon to the Funko Pop! lineup with this exclusive figure,” said Brian Mariotti, CEO of Funko. “Pikachu is one of the most recognizable characters in pop culture, and as the ultimate purveyor of pop culture we couldn’t be more excited to bring Funko’s signature style to the world of Pokémon. So much so that we plan to launch a larger 10-inch scale figure later this year.” Funko plans to release further information about the figures’ availability on their website at www.funko.com in addition to future production release information and details.
About Pokémon The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing and marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, visit www.pokemon.com .
About Funko Headquartered in Everett, Washington, Funko is a leading pop culture consumer products company. Funko designs, sources and distributes licensed pop culture products across multiple categories, including vinyl figures, action toys, plush, apparel, housewares and accessories for consumers who seek tangible ways to connect with their favorite pop culture brands and characters. Learn more at https://funko.com/, and follow us on Twitter (@OriginalFunko) and Instagram (@OriginalFunko).
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including statements regarding upcoming product releases and the timing of launch, our collaboration with Pokemon, and business strategy. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: our ability to maintain and realize the full value of our license agreements; the ongoing level of popularity of our products with consumers; changes in the retail industry and markets for our consumer products; our ability to maintain our relationships with retail customers and distributors; our ability to compete effectively; fluctuations in our gross margin; our dependence on content development and creation by third parties; our ability to develop and introduce products in a timely and cost-effective manner; our ability to obtain, maintain and protect our intellectual property rights or those of our licensors; potential violations of the intellectual property rights of others; our ability to attract and retain qualified employees and maintain our corporate culture; risks associated with our international operations; changes in U.S. tax law; foreign currency exchange rate exposure; the possibility or existence of global and regional economic downturns; our dependence on vendors and outsourcers; risks relating to government regulation; risks relating to litigation, including products liability claims and securities class action litigation; any failure to successfully integrate or realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions or investments; reputational risk resulting from our e-commerce business and social media presence; risks relating to our indebtedness and our ability to secure additional financing; the potential for our electronic data to be compromised; the influence of our significant stockholder, ACON, and the possibility that ACON’s interests may conflict with the interests of our other stockholders; risks relating to our organizational structure; volatility in the price of our Class A common stock; and the potential that we will fail to establish and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting. These and other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter year ended March 31, 2018 and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.
Press Contact: Daniel Benkwitt The Pokémon Company International (425) 229-6070 d.benkwitt@pokemon.com
Julia Young, ICR 203-682-8200 FunkoPR@icrinc.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/Attachm...e33e5c5ccf
