The global licensing award-nominated character franchise, and popular Japanese IP, Samurai Animals is preparing to celebrate its tenth anniversary next year, with an 11-month run-up of launches, including a new online platform, promotional video, and a series of trade show exhibit initiatives.
Samurai Animal is a mythical Japanese saga that pits armies of animal samurai against each other in a fight for justice. The IP was created and launched by the pop-culture specialist Kensin, a major name in the region, known for its design and manufacture of character figures, statues and artwork reproductions that includes a number of manga classics.
In the run up to the property’s tenth anniversary, Kensin has launched a dedicated website www.samuraianimals.jp that showcases the Samurai Animals concept, individual character introductions, e-books and licensing information.
The firm has also created a promotional video that captures the essence of Samurai Animals. A curated selection of traditional Japanese sumi-e drawings featuring Samurai Animals characters have been combined into a rich visual tapestry. The curated soundtrack is the world-famous cantata, “Carmina Burana” featuring the first and last section of the piece, “Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi” and starting with the iconic “O Fortuna”.
The two-and-a-half-minute promotional video, along with a shorter version, is now available on the artofwarkensin YouTube channel.
Finally, Kensin will mark ten years of Samurai Animals by exhibiting at the 10th LICENSING JAPAN – Character & Brand Licensing Trade Show taking place from 21st to 23rd October at Tokyo Big Sight.
The Samurai Animals website and promotional video will form key features of the booth. A range of Samurai Animals merchandise will be showcased.
Product to date includes digital books, jewellery, apparel, laser figure crystal stands, mobile phone accessories, wall panels and craft beer. Samurai Animals is a past finalist at the prestigious LIMA (Licensing International) International Licensing Awards in the Character or Toy Brand Program category.
Yutaro Sakakibara, founder and president of Kensin, said: “As Samurai Animals approaches its tenth anniversary, I am excited for the opportunities that lie ahead for the brand. We want to continue building the brand awareness all around the world and I am confident the new website and promotional video will help audiences to understand the world view and vitality of Samurai Animals and its possibilities. I am also optimistic that this new visualization will help realize my long-term goal of a Samurai Animals movie.”
Samurai Animals online: https://samuraianimals.jp
