Andamiro Co. Ltd. Acquires Rights to Astro Boy, One of World’s Most Popular Manga Characters
GOYANG, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea, November 2019— Andamiro Co. Ltd. is pleased to announce that it has obtained rights to Astro Boy, one the most successful manga and anime franchises in the world. The licensing agreement, entered by Tezuk Productions Co. Ltd. and Andamiro in October, authorizes Andamiro to develop and market arcade games based on the fabled superhero created by graphic novelist and filmmaker Osamu Tezuka, who is considered the Japanese equivalent to Walt Disney. Territories specified in the agreement include China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Astro Boy is latest property to join Andamiro’s expanding licensed portfolio, which includes Disney’s Marvel, NBCUniversal’s Jurassic World and Despicable Me, and Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants and Paw Patrol, along with such major sports brands as the MLB and NFL Players Associations and World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. Andamiro has created numerous electro-mechanical arcade attractions adapted to these themes and brands.
Known in Japan by its original name, Mighty Atom, the Astro Boy series enjoys widespread popularity throughout Asia. Set in a futuristic world where robots co-exist with humans, Astro Boy first appeared in a Japanese manga series from 1951 to 1968. A combined 23 Astro Boy tankōbon volumes have sold more than 100 million copies worldwide, making it the 10th bestselling manga series of all time. The 1963 anime series became a hit on television in Japan and the United States. And the character was the star of a TV series in 1980 and 2003. A CGI-animated “Astro Boy” feature film was released in 2009 by Imagi Animation Studios, while a live-action “Astro Boy” movie is reportedly in the works.
Founded in 1992 and based near Seoul, South Korea, Andamiro is a leading designer and manufacturer of ticket redemption amusements, prize merchandisers and video games, including the iconic Pump It Up music and dance series. Andamiro maintains regional divisions in the U.S., China and Japan. The company’s customer base spans the globe and its mantra is "for ultimate happiness of all.” Andamiro is online at andamiro.com.