Miramax Licenses Pokemon Movies

According to the LA Times, Disney subsidiary Miramax Films has acquired the worldwide (outside Asia) distribution rights to Pocket Monsters movies 4 & 5 and all future films to be made. The company reportedly paid only $1 million for the license but promised that 75% of “back-end” profits will go to the Japanese licensor. While Pokemon is still massively successful in Japan, the franchise has been steadily declining in the rest of the world for the past two years. Miramax has plans to “reinvigorate the franchise” with a “bolder, smarter marketing concept,” beginning with the American release of movie 4 in October.

Miramax is known worldwide for being one of the biggest supporters of foreign and “art” films in America, however ironically Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein is also very famous for his predilection toward dubbing, editing and “Americanizing” the foreign films his company licenses.

Source: Anime News Network