Jakks Pacific

Jakks Pacific, Inc. is an American toy manufacturer founded in January 1996. The company is best known for producing licensed action figures, playsets, dolls, plush toys and dress-up sets.

The company was founded by Jack Friedman, who had previously founded the toy and video game companies LJN and THQ, and presided over the company until retiring as CEO and chairman after March 31, 2010, a month before his death on May 3, 2010.

History
Jack Friedman had previously founded THQ (Toy Headquarters), with the business producing both toys and interactive software. In 1994, the business would become solely focused around interactive software, with Friedman feeling discontentment from this. He decided he wanted to go back to toys, so founded Jakks Pacific in January 1995. His first master toy license was a fourteen-year deal with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) to mainly produce figurines and playsets, similar to how Hasbro grew to success with the G.I. Joe toy line.

In 1997, Jakks Pacific purchased the defunct Remco brand from Azrak-Hamway International (AHI).

Child Guidance, and Road Champions in 1997; Berk and Flying Colors in 1999; Pentech in 2000; Toymax, Go Fly A Kite, and Funnoodle in 2002; Color Workshop and Trendmasters in 2003; Play Along Toys in 2004; Pet Pal Corp. in 2005; Creative Designs International in 2006; and Kids Only Toys, Tollytots, and Disguise in 2008.

In 1998, Jakks Pacific entered into a joint-license agreement with THQ to produce World Wrestling Federation (WWF) video games, with publishing being handled by THQ, and development being handled by Yuke's. In October 2004, it emerged that the (since renamed) WWE had filed a lawsuit against Jakks Pacific, alleging that they had given bribes to the WWF's Stanley Shenker and Jim Bell to hide 'superior' pitches from other publishers, such as Activison. The federal suit was dismissed in December 2007, the state court litigation was dismissed in August 2008 and an appeal was dismissed by the court of appeals in May 2009. In January 2010, the joint-license agreement ended, with Jakks Pacific removed from the deal and THQ solely holding the license going forward.

In February 2005, Jakks Pacific was instructed to restate the financial statements for fiscal year 2003 to account for the acquisition of Toymax, Trendmasters, and P&M Products.

In February 2006, Jakks Pacific announced it had signed a partnership with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) to make toys and playsets based on the Rocky franchise.

In February 2008, it was announced that Jakks Pacific would sign a five-year deal with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), to commence in 2010. The existing WWE deal would expire in December 2009.

In March 2008, the company announced it had signed a deal with Taylor Swift and the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to produce a licensed series of dolls.

In June 2008, Jakks Pacific announced it had signed a four-year deal with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to produce action figures and licensed toys.

In 2010, the company formed Pacific Animation Partners LLC, a joint venture between that company and Dentsu Entertainment USA, Fremantle, and Topps, to launch the Monsuno property in 2012.

In 2012, Jakks Pacific announced the successful negotiation of licences for The Dark Knight Rises and The Amazing Spider-Man, promoting new toy ranges at the New York and other International Toy Fairs.

In 2014, the company launched Jakks Meisheng Trading, a joint venture with Meisheng Culture and Creative Corp., to bring its toys to China. In 2016, the two created Studio JP, a joint venture to produce animation.

In September 2015, it was announced that Jakks Pacific had signed a new licensing deal with WWE, but this time with Jakks making role-play sets and action figures, but only for Asian-Pacific region. Jakks would also work alongside Vivid Imaginations and Headstart Toys to make Oooshies, collectible rubber penciltips.

In January 2023, Jakks Pacific signed a deal with Nintendo and Illumination to create toys for The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

In October 2023, Sega and Jakks Pacific formed a deal to make toys for Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

Products
Jakks produces action figures, electronics, dolls, dress-up, role play, Halloween costumes, kids' furniture, vehicles, plush, art activity kits, seasonal products, infant/preschool, construction toys, and pet toys sold under various proprietary brands including Jakks Pacific, Creative Designs International, Road Champions, Funnoodle, Go Fly a Kite, Jakks Pets, EyeClops, Plug It In & Play TV Games, Girl Gourmet, Kids Only!, Tollytots, and Disguise.The company also licenses various brands for toy production, including Black & Decker, Cabbage Patch Kids, Care Bears, DC Universe, Marvel Universe, Sonic the Hedgehog, Disney, Star Wars, and Nintendo.

Handheld games include vMigo - A handheld virtual pet game, which can be docked into a TV adapter, BioBytes - A handheld game, where the player uses their animal to attack the computer's, or a friend's (wirelessly), Eyeclops and Telestory. Toy vehicles include Fly Wheels, Xtreme Performance Vehicle (XPV), Custom Garage, Shock Racers, MXSGX Racers, and GX SkatePower Trains. Infant and toddler toys include Child Guidance and KnotWud. Girls' activities include It's a Girl Thing, If you Say Sew!, Lucky Bee Bee, Girl Gourmet and Style Six. Boys' activities include Max Force, Real Construction and Spy Net Toys. Stationery products include BloPensVivid and VelvetPentech. Seasonal toys include FunnoodleGo, Fly a Kite, The Storm, Disguise, Halloween Costumes, PetWhite Bites and Naturally Convenient. Action figures include Dragon Ball Z, Pokémon, Real Steel and Ryuji Juwara.

, the original TV Games device from Jakks Pacific sold over 350,000 units. By 2004, the TV Games series had sold 1 million units. , Pac-Man TV Games sold over 15 million units.