On Friday, North American anime distributor 4Kids filed a notice in its bankruptcy case that outlines who will take over its contracts and obligations. Under a proposed agreement, Kidsco Media Ventures LLC (an affiliate of Saban Capital) and 4K Acquisition Corp. (an indirect subsidiary of Japan's Konami Corporation) would divide the assets and obligations of 4Kids.
The proposed agreement has not been finalized, since Judge Shelley C. Chapman still has to approve the proposed agreement after a June 20 hearing.
If approved, the "Proposed Transaction" would assign several 4Kids contracts to Saban's Kidsco Media Ventures, including the following:
* The CW Network's Saturday Morning programming block (currently known as Toonzai) agreement terms
* Four Cubix agreements with Daiwon C & A Holdings, Cinepix, East Japan Marketing & Communications, CSC Media Group
* Dragon Ball agreement terms with Toei Animation and Funimation Productions
* Sonic X agreement with TMS Entertainment
If approved, the proposed transaction would also assign the following contracts and others to Konami's 4K Acquisition Corp.:
* Yu-Gi-Oh! distribution agreement with Warner Bros.
* 2003 Yu-Gi-Oh! movie deal memo with TV Tokyo, Nhon Ad Systems, Shueisha
* Yu-Gi-Oh! 3D: Bonds Beyond Time movie deal memo with TV Tokyo, Nhon Ad Systems
* TV Tokyo's agreement for Yu-Gi-Oh! seasons 1-3
* Nihon Ad Systems's agreement for Yu-Gi-Oh!
* Yu-Gi-Oh! music and soundtrack agreements with Cherry Lane, SKG Music, RCA Music Group
* Yu-Gi-Oh! merchandise license agreements with 2Feet, A&A Global Industries, Bentex Group/Extreme Concepts, Boss Creations International, Coveroo, Konami, and others
* Yu-Gi-Oh! foreign broadcast licenses to Ares Films, Digital Platform Iletisim Hizmetleri, KM Productions, Magus Entertainment, Nickelodeon UK, SIC TV, Televix Entertainment, Turner, United Channels of Israel, YTV, and others
* The lease on 4Kids Entertainment's 23rd/24th Street offices in New York City
The formal bankruptcy auction for "substantially all of [4Kids'] assets" began on June 5 between Konami's 4K Acquisition Corp. and Saban's Kidsco Media Ventures LLC. However, after a series of bids, the auction was adjourned to allow the two parties to consider an agreement that would split 4Kids' assets between them.
Konami is the Japanese licensor and distributor of the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game, while Saban once produced the Fox Kids programming block. (4Kids also once produced Fox's Saturday morning programming until 2008.)
Re: 4Kids Sells Yu-Gi-Oh! Assets to KidsCo for US$10 Million
SS5ant wrote:
So they are getting rid of their entire television block. I wonder if anything will change to hear 4Kids's side it is CW that makes them edit shows.
I don't think there getting rid of it, unless you mean 4kids is giving it up then yeah, it seems Saban & Konami are taking over 4kids Properties...hmmm. I guess this means we may see Power Rangers Samurai on CW's Satam block, which will be kind of interesting, and weird since PR was always on FoxKids back in the day, the potential to see it on CW will be both fun and weird, lol.
Back on topic though, personally I'm fine with Konami taking Yu-Gi-Oh its there franchise anyway, only makes sense that they would handle it. Not sure what this means for the franchise overall, but hopefully it leads to good things.
Re: Saban & Konami to Get 4Kids' Assets Under Proposed Deal
Looneygamemaster wrote:
Personally, I'd have preferred it if they had learned from their mistakes and improved their dubbing.
Same here, if it had actually happened anyway. I think we need some good kids anime dubbed, the kinds of shows that our more major companies tend to avoid nowadays, to get a new generation of fans going.
Re: Saban & Konami to Get 4Kids' Assets Under Proposed Deal
I agree GYT, aside from the occasional Toyetic anime on CN like Byakugan & Pokemon, theres not much kids/all-ages anime on TV these days. Hopefully Saban getting some of 4kids stuff is just the start though, I would love to see Saban pick up the slack for 4kids, Dic, Etc and bring more fun all ages anime series to saturday mornings. *would kill to see Digimon: Xros Wars brought stateside!*
The United States Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York filed a document on Tuesday after a 10:00 a.m. EDT hearing granting the sale of 4Kids' Yu-Gi-Oh! and CW Network-related assets to a joint bid by Saban's Kidsco Media Ventures LLC and Konami's 4K Acquisition Corp.
During a June 5 auction for the assets, 4Kids considered the joint bid "after a number of rounds of competitive bidding" by Kidsco and 4K, and the three companies agreed to the joint bid on Sunday.
The executed Asset Purchase Agreement document filed on June 24 outlining the joint bid notes that the purchase price for the assets is "Fifteen Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($15,000,000)." A final document clarifying whether the purchase price is US$15 million or US$15.1 million has not yet been filed, although the document filed on June 24 mentions US$15 million in another section.
4Kids had filed a notice on June 15 proposing that KidsCo and Konami would divide the assets and obligations of 4Kids.
According to the executed Asset Purchase Agreement, Konami will receive the rights to the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime franchise, which includes — aside from all production materials — internet domain names, website assets, print publications published by 4Kids, and music and sound recording rights. The company will also receive machinery and recording/editing equipment as well as office equipment, furniture, and computers located at 4Kids' 23rd Street offices in New York.
Kidsco will receive rights to the Dragon Ball Z agreement terms with Toei Animation and Funimation Productions that includes Dragon Ball Z Kai; the Cubix agreements with Daiwon C & A Holdings, Cinepix, and East Japan Marketing & Communications; the Sonic X agreement with TMS Entertainment; and The CW Network's Saturday Morning programming block agreement terms.
Konami is the Japanese licensor and distributor of the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game, while Saban once produced the Fox Kids programming block. (4Kids also once produced Fox's Saturday morning programming until 2008.)
Konami to Get 4Kids' Yu-Gi-Oh! Assets Under Proposed Deal
So they are getting rid of their entire television block. I wonder if anything will change to hear 4Kids's side it is CW that makes them edit shows.
I don't think there getting rid of it, unless you mean 4kids is giving it up then yeah, it seems Saban & Konami are taking over 4kids Properties...hmmm. I guess this means we may see Power Rangers Samurai on CW's Satam block, which will be kind of interesting, and weird since PR was always on FoxKids back in the day, the potential to see it on CW will be both fun and weird, lol.
Back on topic though, personally I'm fine with Konami taking Yu-Gi-Oh its there franchise anyway, only makes sense that they would handle it. Not sure what this means for the franchise overall, but hopefully it leads to good things.
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Thread title changed with new article on first post.
Geez, how many sueing's and bankruptcy's did it take before 4Kids really did die. At least they wont be able to butcher anymoe animes
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Personally, I'd have preferred it if they had learned from their mistakes and improved their dubbing.
"Of course you realize, this means war!" -- Bugs Bunny
"Here we gooooo!" -- Mario
Same here, if it had actually happened anyway. I think we need some good kids anime dubbed, the kinds of shows that our more major companies tend to avoid nowadays, to get a new generation of fans going.
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I agree GYT, aside from the occasional Toyetic anime on CN like Byakugan & Pokemon, theres not much kids/all-ages anime on TV these days. Hopefully Saban getting some of 4kids stuff is just the start though, I would love to see Saban pick up the slack for 4kids, Dic, Etc and bring more fun all ages anime series to saturday mornings. *would kill to see Digimon: Xros Wars brought stateside!*
LET ME PLAY FOR YOU, THE SONG OF MY PEOPLE!!!
Some documents have been released on Epiq so for details on this deal click here.
UPDATE!