4Kids Entertainment

Company Name: 4Kids

Company Name: 4Kids

Company Type: Public company (NYSE: KDE)

Foundation: 1970 (as Leisure Concepts, Inc.)

Location: New York City

Key People:

Alfred R. Kahn

Norman J. Grossfeld

Thomas J. Kenney

Bruce Raymond Foster

Samuel R. Newborn

Brian G. Lacey

Lee Ravdin

Industry: TV production, licensing'

Products 4Sight Licensing Solutions, Inc

4Kids TV

4Kids Productions

Revenue: ▲ $5.1 million USD (2005)

Number of Employees: 360 (2006)

Homepage

http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/ }}

4Kids 

is an United States film and television production company specializing in the acquisition, production and licensing of children's entertainment around the world. They are most known for their acquired television programs.

4Kids Productions
4Kids Productions is a wholly owned subsidiary of 4Kids Entertainment, and is responsible for the production of original or licensed properties owned by the company.

Current TV productions
4Kids Entertainment has production and/or distribution rights for the following current TV programming:


 * Bratz (Distribution Only)
 * Chaotic
 * G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 (Distribution & Dubbing Only)
 * Kappa Mikey
 * ''Kirby: Right Back At Ya! (new episodes have been shown)
 * Magical DoReMi
 * Pokémon Chronicles (Distribution Only)
 * Pretty Cure
 * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
 * Winx Club
 * Viva Piñata
 * Yu-Gi-Oh! Capsule Monsters
 * Yu-Gi-Oh! GX

On-hiatus TV productions
The following TV programs are on hiatus, and their futures are unknown.


 * Mew Mew Power (Tokyo Mew Mew) (Cancelled again; 2nd season in hiatus)
 * One Piece (Possible halt on English production)
 * Sonic X (New episodes confirmed to be in production.)

Former TV productions
The following TV programs have ended or expired (some are temporarily expired or ended) but were handled by 4Kids Entertainment along their run:


 * Alien Racers
 * Back to the Future: The Animated Series
 * Cubix: Robots for Everyone
 * Fighting Foodons (Bistro Recipe)
 * Funky Cops
 * F-Zero GP Legend
 * ''Incredible Crash Dummies'
 * Pirate Islands
 * Pokémon (Produced by 4Kids Entertainment 1998-2005; now handled directly by Pokémon USA)
 * Shaman King
 * Stargate Infinity
 * The Cramp Twins
 * The Menu
 * Tama and Friends
 * Ultimate Muscle: The Kinnikuman Legacy
 * Ultraman Tiga
 * WMAC Masters
 * Yu-Gi-Oh!

Other Properties handled by 4Kids Entertainment

 * Cabbage Patch Kids
 * Clear Channel Communications *"Monster Jam"
 * The Dog

NOTE: This list may not fully represent properties and licenses handled by 4Kids Entertainment 

4Sight Licensing Solutions Inc.
In April 19, 2006, 4Kids had announced a new subsidiary entitled 4Sight Licensing Solutions Inc. According to 4Kids, 4Sight will license and market brands aimed at adults, teenagers and tweens. While none of 4Kids's current anime property will be moved to 4Sight, Todd Fromer of KCSA publicity, representing 4Kids, has said that isn't necessarily ruled out of the 4Sight lineup, but that anime lends itself more to a children's market.

4Kids and Microsoft
On January 17, 2006, 4Kids and Microsoft signed a deal to license children's video games exclusively for the Xbox 360 gaming system, in an effort to put more child-oriented games on the system, whose gaming library is currently dominated by games targeted toward the 13-and-up market. One of the first titles announced was Viva Piñata which would be developed by Rare Ltd.

Awards, honors & facts
In June 22, 2005, LIMA, the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association, inducted 4Kids CEO & Chairperson Alfred R. Kahn into the Murray Altchuler Licensing Hall of Fame for his "continual and outstanding" contributions to the licensing industry for over 10 years. Over those 10 years, Kahn and 4Kids had licensed such huge and popular properties such as Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Cabbage Patch Kids, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Nintendo announced that as of January 1, 2006, 4Kids would not be handling most aspects of the Pokémon franchise, instead having Pokémon USA handle all aspects of the property in the United States. Previously, Pokémon USA and 4kids shared duties on Pokémon. The announcement also noted that the next Pokémon series, Battle Frontier, will not be handled by 4Kids. However, 4Kids will retain some control over any remaining Pokémon contracts set to expire later on.

Criticism and controversy
See also: Editing of anime in American distribution

In order to show anime properties 4Kids acquires to its targeted demographics, 4Kids typically cuts out or edits content. Reasonings vary from Federal Communications Commission regulations and Broadcast Standards and Practices (BS&P) policies of television networks to "localizing" content for local consumption. These edits often result in backlash within the anime fanbase.

Feelings with regards to the aired content have ranged from rage to apathy. Typical edits include, but are not limited to:


 * Removing items or incidents that may be deemed too violent or inappropriate for children.
 * Changing suggestive objects to less harmful objects (Cigarettes to lollipops, alcohol to juice, guns to squirt guns, etc.)
 * Removal of all overt religious symbols such as crosses.
 * Alterations to visible text (such as the translation of Japanese kanji into English, and in some cases the complete removal of text that was originally in English).

In the case of Yu-Gi-Oh, the issue of death is sidestepped: in the localized version, instead of being killed, the characters are sent to the "shadow realm." These edits are made to broaden the shows' appeal and ensure that they reach their intended markets, but some fans of shows with unedited counterparts in other media, such as the One Piece or Shaman King manga and the Sonic the Hedgehog videogames, claim that rather than broadening a shows appeal, they restrict it by alienating its pre-existing fan base. They contend that 4Kids has altered some of its titles to the point where they have lost the qualities that originally made them appealing in Japan, by rewriting entire storylines, altering character personalities, and replacing the original background music and themes. In one case, 4Kids scriptwriter Michael Haigney admitted in an interview "I’ve never played the game, seen the series or read the comics" when asked about his experence with the Sonic franchise.

4Kids states that localization is necessary for their imported shows in order to make them more marketable to their target demographic. CEO Al Kahn has been quoted as saying, "By the time we localize the programs kids don’t even know they’re from Japan any more.". Later, in an interview with Anime News Network, Kahn expressed that 4Kids attempts to "westernize anime so that children in English-speaking countries will understand it, and to us that is very critical."

4Kids scriptwriter Michael Haigney provided a somewhat similar take on the matter, when during an interview with a British anime faniste and asked about the changes made to eliminate Japanese references, Haigney responded that most of the Japanese references are too obscure and don't provide room to explain it further. Japanese creators efforts to "create 'universal' characters and situations is lamented by Haigney, but explains that my job is to remake these series for a mass U.S. audience.".

In 2004, 4Kids began testing the market for unedited versions of their properties by releasing uncut, bilingual DVDs of Yu-Gi-Oh! and Shaman King. Due to lower than expected sales and a contract disagreement with the distributor, Funimation citation needed, as of April 2005 future volumes of these titles have been delayed indefinitely. 4Kids CEO Al Kahn has stated in his interview with Anime News Network that 4Kids is planning on extending uncut DVD releases to include all anime titles in their lineup at some point in the future; however, there is no further indication that this is still a priority.

Statements and actions made by the company have prompted mixed reactions among anime fans. Criticism towards the localization of the original productions have gone as far as alleging that 4kids practices displays overt xenophobia due to editing of a show to mask it's origination from Japan.

Kahn comments on his company's reasons for editing, stating:

"...if they want this programming to come to the United States then they're going to have to accept the fact that it's going to be available in two styles. Because the only money that can be made that helps pay for the acquisition is obviously whether or not we're able to outfit it for the masses. And fitting it for the masses requires editing. And if we didn't do that, it'd be very difficult for us to afford to bring it in, just to release it to the anime fan who would be looking for the uncut version."

While Haigney states:

"I know some hardcore anime fans hate the fact that 4Kids doesn't simply air the original Japanese series with "literal" subtitles. I understand their feelings. I'd just ask them to remember that 4Kids has probably brought more anime to more viewers than any company in the world. It may not always be in the way some fans would like, but I think 4Kids has contributed greatly to the interest and availability of anime worldwide. Maybe that counts for something in their eyes."

"Kids don't read!"
Kahn incited controversy when at a manga panel at the 2006 New York Comic-Con, he bluntly stated "Kid's today don't read, they read less today." This incited some hisses from those present in the room, mainly librarians and other representatives of the book world. Kahn elaborated his comment by saying that "In every survey, we find that they're watching more television, they're on the Internet more, and that content, although being king, is very disposable. Because the way content gets put out now, it gets put out free. " Viz Media's Liza Coppola responded to Kahn's words by bringing up Viz's partnership with the Read for America literacy campaign, stating "Manga is a great medium to bring kids back to reading."

Publishers Weekly noted in their online article that "(Kahn) noted that many people in the U.S. walk around with MP3 players or other electronic devices, whereas in Japan, everyone on the subway seems to have a '3,000-page manga'." In Japan, manga remains a wanted commodity due to the cheapness, wide selection that caters to all ages, and availability. Also, given the geography and the culture, the Japanese rely heavily on public transportation, unlike most areas of the United States, and as such, have time to read manga and other forms of printed media while commuting.

Mile High Comics' The Beat thought differently by stating "Those are words to heed, we think. Anyone who isn't planning for a world of ever increasingly electronic gadgetry is already living in the past. But when did anyone in comics really show vision?".

Leadership Team

 * Alfred R. Kahn Chairman and CEO of 4Kids Entertainment, Inc.
 * Norman J. Grossfield has been President of 4Kids Productions, Inc., 4Kids’ television, film and home video production subsidiary, since February 1994. For two years prior to such time, he was President of Gold Coast Television Entertainment, a television production company. Prior to such time, Mr. Grossfeld served as Coordinating Director for NBC Sports from 1991 through 1992, and as Producer/Director for Television Programming Enterprises from 1988 to 1991.
 * Thomas J. Kenney is 4Kids's Vice President.
 * Bruce Raymond Foster has been Chief Financial Officer since December 1, 2005. From August 2002 to December 2005, Mr. Foster was 4Kids’ Senior Vice President of Finance. For more than four years prior to such time, Mr. Foster was with Deloitte & Touche LLP, most recently as an Audit Director.
 * Samuel R. Newborn has been the General Counsel since January 2000. Prior to joining 4Kids, Mr. Newborn was a partner in the law firm of Janklow, Newborn & Ashley for more than five years.
 * Brian G. Lacey has been Executive Vice President of International for 4Kids since July 2003. Prior to joining 4Kids, Mr. Lacey was the President and founder of Lacey Entertainment, a New York-based worldwide television marketing, production, and distribution company, specializing in innovative and creative approaches in the packaging, production and launching of television series in the U.S. and around the world.
 * Lee Ravdin was named President of The Summit Media Group on February 13, 2006. He has over 30 years of experience as a planner and buyer of kids’ media. Previously, he was President of Lake End Consulting, a full service media company specializing in the design and execution of media campaigns. He started his own media buying agency, Lee Media, in 1981 and sold it to Toy Biz/Tangible Industries in 1988. He continued to run Lee Media until 1999, when he started Lake End.

Other countries

 * United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland - Several 4Kids TV-distributed cartoons (notably the Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokémon franchises) are currently carried by leading subscription entertainment channel Sky One, generally in early morning slots. (Note that Sky is a corporate relative of Fox, via parent company News Corporation.) Other channels which show or have shown 4Kids properties include CITV, Jetix, Nickelodeon UK and Toonami in the United Kingdom, and RTÉ 2 in the Republic of Ireland.

Specific edits made by 4Kids
- There are many websites that show comparisons between the origninal Japanese version of a show acquired by 4Kids and its edited, North American version. By series:
 * Yu-Gi-Oh!
 * Shaman King
 * Sonic X
 * One Piece
 * Ojamajo Doremi
 * Mew Mew Power
 * Pokémon
 * Kirby
 * Winx Club