Viewtiful Joe on US TVs, lunchboxes?
Geneon reportedly buys up US merchandising, TV and entertainment rights to the Japanese Viewtiful Joe anime. And wants to "go big" with it.
American Anime specialist Geneon Entertainment has reportedly acquired all North American merchandising, TV and home entertainment rights to TV Tokyo Medianet's Japanese Viewtiful Joe series.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Geneon plans to launch electronics, toys, action figures, clothing, publishing, food and beverage campaigns using the iconic little superhero - whose stylistic 2D beat-'em-ups have enchanted hardcore action fans on GameCube and latterly PS2, although not quite all the way to the bank for developer/publisher Capcom.
However Joe's popularity could be set to rise if Geneon has anything to do with it, as president and CEO Yosuke Kobayashi says he's in talks with major children's TV networks to secure distribution for the Japanese TV series, with a DVD release also planned.
Capcom Eurosoft could not confirm the above at the time of publication. The second Viewtiful Joe game is due out on PS2 and GameCube in Europe on 1st April.
