Inkmonster pens North American rep deal

L.A.-based Malibu Licensing Group has been appointed North American agent for San Francisco, California-based design studio Inkmonster’s tween brands Mischievous Girls (girls eight to 14), Pure Edge (boys six to 14) and Lil She Creatures (girls 13 to 20). Malibu Licensing Group also manages licensing programs for the Final Fantasy video game series and Square Soft/Columbia Pictures’ feature film Final Fantasy: the Spirits Within, as well as TV series That ’70s Show and Sloane Stanley Entertainment’s Popstars.

4Kids extends Nintendo agreement and acquires interest in The Pokemon Company

Under terms of a recently signed agreement with Nintendo of America, 4Kids Entertainment will serve as the exclusive licensing agent for Nintendo game systems, Nintendo classic characters and new characters (such as Pikmin) worldwide, excluding Japan. The deal also grants 4Kids exclusive live-action and animated TV rights, home video and feature film rights to Nintendo classic properties, and the right to produce, independently or with co-pro partners, TV series and other productions based on Nintendo classic characters.

4Kids will continue to serve as exclusive licensing agent for Pokémon outside of Asia under terms of a new five-year deal, retaining broadcast representation and home video rights to the property. The company also acquired a 3% interest in The Pokemon Company, organized in 1998 by property creators Nintendo, Creatures and GameFreak to manage global rights to the property.

Universal gets Butt-Ugly

Universal Studios has signed an agreement with Just Group, Mike Young Productions and DCDC for feature film rights (including licensing), worldwide home video distribution rights (excluding the U.K. and Germany), theme park rights and the right to finance and produce additional television episodes for CGI series Butt-Ugly Martians. Under terms of the deal, Universal Pictures Franchise Management and Just Group will coordinate and manage the property.