Pokémon continues to be an entertainment behemoth, and in 2018 the franchise will see a toy aisle rebirth thanks to Wicked Cool Toys, who has just been appointed to be the master toy licensee. The Pokémon Company International and Wicked Cool Toys issued a joint statement earlier today, with new action figures, play sets, plush, roleplay items and other toys based on the hit Pokémon animated series in most areas of the world. But the partnership between Pokémon and Wicked Cool is even bigger…
From the Official Announcement: The Pokémon Company International also announced it has become a strategic investor in Wicked Cool Toys and will have a seat on the toy company’s board of directors. This new partnership will allow for enhanced collaboration in the development of Pokémon toys with the growing toy company. The investment in Wicked Cool Toys is in line with the strategic partnership approach The Pokémon Company International engaged in with Niantic Inc., the developers and publishers of Pokémon GO.
“Toys are a major part of Pokémon’s mission to bring the fun and joy of the brand to kids and fans around the world, and we’re excited to welcome Wicked Cool Toys to the Pokémon family as its master toy licensee,” said Colin Palmer, vice president of Marketing & Licensing at The Pokémon Company International. “Wicked Cool Toys is a growing company, and we’re thrilled to build a strategic partnership with them through both collaboration and financial investment.”
For those curious what will become of TOMY’s involvement with Pokémon, it has been revealed that they will remain as “a key licensing partner for the Pokémon brand” and will produce select items as well as products inspired by Pokémon video games, such as the popular Pokémon Z-Ring, which interacts with the mega hits Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, currently available for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
Wicked Cool Toys’ first Pokémon toys will begin hitting stores in mid-2018.
