UK-based licensing agency Reemsborko has just announced a deal with Octas to bring Mori Chack’s beloved character Gloomy Bear, All Purpose Bunny, Mimi & Neko to audiences in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Gloomy Bear was created in 2000. By day a professional manga writer and illustrator, on the weekend Mori Chack sold Gloomy Bear art and merchandise on the bustling streets of Osaka.
Cute-yet-edgy, cuddly-but-violent, the character soon took hold when counter-culture enthusiasts embraced Gloomy Bear as the perfect antithesis to the typically cute but harmless characters loved by the mainstream. (Who wouldn’t love a seven foot tall, pink grizzly bear that beats his owner to death?).
The license to love “kawaii”, no matter who you are, sets Gloomy Bear apart from the pack and drives the brand’s massive appeal, and this year, Gloomy Bear is going global!
Fuelled by 30 short humorous animé episodes that will soon stream everywhere, Gloomy Bear is being licensed around the globe. A long form Gloomy Bear anime series is planned, which will also stream globally.
After a plethora of products hit the Japanese market in 2021, expect the character and friends to go global throughout 2022, with Funko, Bioworld, Isaac Morris, ID Supply, GE Animation and Fossil already on board.
Also getting wider exposure is All Purpose Bunny, Mori Chack’s politics very relevant to the character – he’s an animal rights activist that explores his themes through his work. A common trend is cute animals getting revenge on humans for exploitation and abuse.
All Purpose Bunny’s story begins with it being an experimental rabbit in a test lab. Genetic modification led to its strange properties and unnaturally long ears, and it eventually retaliated against humans for the years of abuse.
All Purpose Bunny and Gloomy Bear often team up to attack humans and get their revenge!
Finally, watch out too for Mimi & Neko, a friendly duo of a cat and a bunny. Their origin story begins with Mimi & Neko as regular pets who aspired to become human. Suddenly, a magic star came along and granted their wish. But the wish was only 50 per cent effective! Mimi & Neko now have hands and feet – and distinctly cute behinds!
“Reemsborko continues to sign the most interesting IP out there,” says company head Max Arguile. “Octas are masters in securing very cool properties that will delight anime fans everywhere. There are some great partners on board already and if this looks right for you, please email max@reemsborko.com ”
“Octas bring Japanese artists and their IP to the World,” added Vince Shortino of Octas commented. “We are delighted to have Reemsborko as the agent for all our cherished properties and look forward to the hussle they will bring.”
Octas was established in 2018 by Vince Shortino, the founder of Crunchyroll Japan. With a mission to connect Japanese creators and their IP directly to fans around the world, Octas provides artists with collaboration opportunities, marketing support, brand management, and business development.
The Octas team taps into a vast network of pop-culture specialists across the globe, and draws upon years of expertise in media distribution, branding, publishing, marketing and manufacturing to produce amazing results for our clients and partners.
Reemsborko is the licensing agency repping the good stuff, from animé and animé-adjacent properties, to comics, films, TV and tattoo art. You might not know it, but you need it!
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Animation, Comics, Licensing, Other Worlds
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