Monsuno Toys

This article is about the creatures called Monsuno. For the television series called Monsuno, see Monsuno: World Master or Monsuno: Combat Chaos. Monsuno are creatures created from essence that was delivered to Earth via meteors millions of years ago, and are the creatures the Monsuno show is based around.

At the headquarters of Jakks Pacific Inc. On Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, Chief Executive Stephen Berman is busy playing with his toys.“Look, this is an amazing, ‘toyriffic’ product. Just a really magical toy,” Berman said, twirling around a small plastic cylinder that is part of a new line of toys for boys. “It’s truly magical.”Jakks isn’t as known to consumers as nearby rival Mattel Inc., which is nearly 10 times its size in sales, but it has built itself into one of the largest second-tier U.S. Toy companies mainly by bulking up on products it makes under name brands such as Disney, Nickelodeon, Cabbage Patch Kids, Hannah Montana and Pokemon.The toy maker, founded in 1995, has been struggling with largely declining sales for three years and lowered its forecast for annual sales last year nearly 15% to $660 million after a disappointing holiday season.

It is expected to report fourth-quarter and annual results next week. Jakks is trying to spur a recovery by launching a “magical” toy franchise created from scratch, along with an animated show to debut this month on Nickelodeon’s Nicktoons channel. The company was expected to unveil the line at a New York media event Thursday.The action figures, play sets and accessories hitting shelves in March are similar in concept to anime-based blockbusters such as Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh and feature a fictional world where youngsters battle the forces of evil using lab-created monsters called Monsuno.There’s a polar bear/gorilla Monsuno creature called Lock that is controlled by Chase Suno, the show’s plucky but unpredictable protagonist.

And the villainous Dr. Klipse controls Backslash, a wolf/gorilla Monsuno “as dark and aggressive as the evil intentions of its master.”Jakks could use a friendly Monsuno to help it navigate some treacherous waters.

In October, the company fended off a $670-million hostile bid from Los Angeles investment firm Oaktree Capital Management, and analysts speculated that another takeover attempt was imminent. About 70% of the company’s sales typically come from toys sold under license from well-known brands, analysts said. The rest comes from its own proprietary and less popular brands, such as SpyNet and TV Games.Jakks has grown also by buying 17 companies over the last 16 years. Its first hit was a line of action figures for the World Wrestling Federation. At its peak in 2008, Jakks raked in $903 million in revenue.The company’s problems began during the recession as once trendy toys such as Hannah Montana dolls lost steam.Analysts said the company has been plagued with a lack of focus and tendency to jump into product categories beyond toys. Jakks already makes pet treats, for example, and will roll out baby monitors this fall. “They have new-product ADD,” said Gerrick Johnson, a toy industry analyst at BMO Capital Markets, using the acronym for attention deficit disorder.

“They are in all different areas; there is no cohesion and it’s gotten worse over the last couple of years.”They lost valuable licenses, such as Care Bears, which went to rival Hasbro Inc. In Pawtucket, R.I., and World Wrestling Entertainment, which was awarded to Mattel in El Segundo. Johnson said the WWE license alone cost Jakks about $70 million in annual revenue. Sales of some licensed items also fell after television shows such as Pokemon waned in popularity.“In the toy business, the right license will sell the product,” said Arvind Bhatia, an analyst at Sterne Agee.

“But licensed products ebb and flow in popularity, and that has an impact on their bottom line.”Berman defended Jakks as a company reliant not on runaway hits but on steady sales of evergreen products, such as kids’ furniture and costumes. Any blockbuster toys are just a bonus, he said.

“Our true business is based off of singles and doubles,” he said. “We have a great core business, and sometimes you get very lucky, like Hannah Montana, and some areas just don’t pan out.”Almost three years ago, as part of an effort to expand sales internationally, Jakks set out to find a toy innovative enough to carry an entire entertainment property.

An inventor showed them the concept of a cylinder that ejected a toy upon impact, and Berman said his immediate reaction was “wow.”That concept grew into Monsuno. Aimed at boys 6 to 11, the line revolves around little action figures modeled on the Monsuno monsters that pop into plastic cylinders, or cores, about the size of a lipstick tube. Cores can be spun with a flick of the finger, and after hitting something, the cores eject the Monsuno tucked inside.Jakks also brought on partners Dentsu Entertainment to create the TV show, FremantleMedia Enterprises to distribute the show and Topps Co. To make trading cards, which boys can use to do mock battle with one another.

Analysts said they liked the innovative idea behind the toys but warned that the toys’ success may be closely tied to the popularity of the weekly half-hour “Monsuno” TV show debuting Feb. 23.“It’s a risk that is not without rewards,” said Sean McGowan, analyst at Needham & Co. “It can be several hundred million dollars in sales over a few years, or if it’s a big failure, it will be $5 million to $10 million and then it’s done. There’s no way to tell until it gets out there if it’s something kids want to play with.”The toy segment based on Japanese anime-inspired shows has been surprisingly robust for more than a decade, analyst Johnson said.“It’s been different products that have come and gone, like Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh and Bakugan, but the genre has been going strong for a really long time,” he said. On a recent weekday, Berman trotted out his son, Logan, 10, and Logan’s friend Jesse Motavasselan, 11, to demonstrate how boys might play with the toys.

The pair twirled, spun and threw cores, and then slowed down to watch a clip of the show.“I think it’s pretty cool. I like how it spins and pops out,” said Jesse, dressed in a Monsuno T-shirt and expertly twirling a core with a flick of his finger. “I liked Bakugan, and this is exactly like that.”Logan said he also liked the Monsuno show but confessed that his favorite programming was of a more adult variety, such as “American Dad,” “Blue Bloods” and the reality TV show “The Bachelor.”.

Monsuno, released as Jūsen Battle Monsuno (Japanese: 獣旋バトルモンスーノ, Hepburn: Jūsen Batoru Monsūno) in Japan, is an animated series that premiered in the United States on February 23, 2012 on Nickelodeon's sister channel, Nicktoons^[3][4] and began airing on TV Tokyo in Japan in October 2012,^[5] with global launches staggered by country sometime between summer 2012 and spring 2013 through Nickelodeon.^[6] The series was created by Jeremy Padawer and Jared Wolfson. It is distributed by FremantleMedia and is produced by Dentsu Entertainment USA (part of Dentsu Aegis Network), FremantleMedia, Jakks Pacific, and The Topps Company,^[3] with animation by Larx Entertainment.^[7]

I got largely the same ending as Tankfriend. Elin was the murderer in my game, though she said she did it because he was abusing his power and wanted to save everyone.Claire - Found guilty of murdering David, killed David a second time.

Synopsis[edit]

Season 1 – Monsuno: World Master[edit]

The show revolves around 're-awakened Monster DNA called Monsuno' that finds its way into the unsuspecting hands of adventure-seeking teenagers Chase, Jinja, and Bren. Accompanied by their Monsuno, Lock, Charger, and Quickforce, they are searching for Chase's father Jeredy Suno, the creator of the Monsuno.^[8] They are soon joined by Beyal, a monk from the Himalayas along with his Monsuno Glowblade. Beyal often speaks of five people that with the help of their Monsuno, could change the world. It just so happens that they are that five, along with Dax, a teenager who along with his Monsuno Airswitch, opposes the team and is disliked among most people. The team has yet to befriend him and persuade him to join their cause. They are also on the run from a H.A.M.M.E.R.-type agency called 'S.T.O.R.M.' (Strategic Tactical Operatives for Recovery of Monsuno) whose plans are still in question and Dr. Emanuel Klipse, a malevolent scientist who has his own nefarious plans.^[9]

Season 2 – Monsuno: Combat Chaos[edit]

The 5 adventure-seeking teenagers are once again in the battle of Monsunos, now, however, with Jeredy Suno officially back from being missing or kidnapped. But along with old foes, come new ones, with The Forge Resistance, a manufacturer bent on destroying the world with Wild Core Bombs, The S.T.O.R.M. Strike Squad, a team which could be considered the anti version of Team Core-Tech handpicked by Charlemagne, the Hand of Destiny, a team of century-old tribes who have hidden themselves from the world underground long ago, and Six, a teenager clone of Dr. Eklipse. Now on Team Core-Tech's tail, Chase and his friends are ready to take the heat. But as the battle becomes tougher, the team must face new problems and must come to connect to their Monsunos than ever before.

Season 3[edit]

The series continues after the events of Monsuno: Combat Chaos, with the introduction of Core-Tech and S.T.O.R.M's merging, Eklipse and Forge Resistance with the newly-manufactured Dino Monsuno, and return of Hand of Destiny with their new non-shapeshifting alien Monsunos. The three survived members of the Hand have been reverted to children- Petros, Terz and Dasha now work with Digby Droog. There are also some returning characters from Season 1, like the Bookman and Grandma Future. With the help of their new Hyper Monsuno, Team Core-Tech may stand a chance against their adversaries.

Characters[edit]

The characters are accompanied by Monsunos (giant high-tech/mechanical/armored hybrid monsters of one or more animal species), which are contained in cylinder regeneration chamber capsules known as 'cores'.

• Chase Suno (チェイス・スーノ, Cheisu Sūno) (voiced by Cam Clarke in English and by Kenn in the Japanese dub) - One of the main protagonists. A brave and adventurous boy, Chase is the leader of Team Core-Tech. In the first season 'World Masters,' Chase engages on a journey to find his father Jeredy Suno, a research scientist who disappeared while experimenting with the mysterious power source called Monsuno Essence which brought him into conflict with both the corrupt government agency S.T.O.R.M. and the rouge scientist Dr. Klipse. In the second season 'Combat Chaos' Chase is repeatedly having visions of his mother Sophia who was believed to be deceased which leaves him to confront The Hand of Destiny which might have a hand at Sofia's disappearance.
• Jinja (ジンジャ) (voiced by Karen Strassman in English and by Asami Tano in the Japanese dub) - One of the main protagonists, renamed Vicky (ビッキー, Bikkī) in the Japanese version. Jinja is the self-proclaimed 'sassy' and genuinely outspoken tomboy member of Team Core-Tech who is often the first one into battle. Jinja is a strong supporter to Chase in his journeys and is known to playfully tease Bren on occasion. Jinja was at first interested in Beyal and had no fear of showing it. In the second and third season she was more comfortable and calm about it.
• Bren (ブレン, Buren) (voiced by Christopher Corey Smith in English and by Chihiro Suzuki in the Japanese dub) - One of the main protagonists. A timid but inquisitive boy who's an adept computer programmer and hacker. Bren is one of Chase's closest friends and is usually the one to kaiser or decode any piece of Technology or Monsuno Equipment that Team Core-Tech comes across. Bren has a bit of a playfully antagonistic relationship with Jinja.
• Beyal (voiced by Kirk Thornton in English and by Sachi Kokuryu in the Japanese dub) - A supporting protagonist. He was renamed Noah (ノア, Noa) in the Japanese version. An introspective and spiritual young man, Beyal was introduced in the episode 'Knowledge' as a monk who possesses 'The Monsuno Sight'; A special ability that allows one to see into the future. Beyal helped Chase, Bren, and Jinja escape from The Bookman's evil clutches and joined Team Core-Tech afterwards. He was a good friend of Dax, since they were the last members who joined the team. His wide spectrum of knowledge, his alternative methods and his intense emotions have aided in tackling difficult situations and making him the most beloved character of the series. Beyal is attracted to Jinja although he does not admit it aloud.
• Dax (voiced by Keith Silverstein in English by Hiroshi Shimozaki in the Japanese dub) - A cocky young drifter that joined Team Core-Tech in the episode 'R.S.P.V.'. Dax has a mysterious past that might tie into Dr. Klipse's illegal Monsuno research. In the original English version, he has a bit of an Australian accent. Renamed Ash (アッシュ, Asshu) in the Japanese version. Dax enjoys making fun of Bren, since they are not fond of each other a lot. On the contrary, he likes gibing Beyal even though he is jealous of his relationship with Jinja. Having experienced the cruelty of street life, Dax has become impulsive and shrewd.

Episodes[edit]

The series premiered on February 23, 2012 with the first two episodes 'Clash' and 'Courage' as a back-to-back one-hour special.

Home media[edit]

Shout! Factory began releasing Monsuno episodes on DVD in January 2013. Monsuno: Destiny was released on January 8, 2013, and Monsuno: Power was released on May 21, 2013.^[10][11]

Other media[edit]

Toy line[edit]

Jakks Pacific owns exclusive worldwide rights to manufacture Monsuno's toy products.^[12]

Trading card game[edit]

A trading card game (TCG) adaptation based on the series was released on March 5, 2012.^[13]

References[edit]

1. ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2012-02-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
2. ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2011-11-25. Retrieved 2012-02-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
3. ^ ^ab'U.S. Nicktoons to Air Monsuno, Jakks Pacific to Sell Toys - News'. Anime News Network. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
4. ^Monsuno To Hit Nicktoons. 'Monsuno To Hit Nicktoons – Premier Pop C'. Mediaconnectiononline.com. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
5. ^'10月TVアニメ放送開始「モンスーノ」 東京おもちゃショーで玩具も披露 アニメ！アニメ！'. Animeanime.jp. 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
6. ^Lewis, Christopher (2012-02-19). 'Dad of Divas' Reviews: New Nicktoons Premiere: Monsuno To Debut On 2/23 New Nicktoons Premiere: Monsuno To Debut On 2/23 New Nicktoons Premiere: Monsuno To Debut On 2/23'. Dadofdivas-reviews.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
7. ^'Japanese-American Monsuno Show to Debut in Japan in October'. AnimeNewsNetwork. June 25, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
8. ^'Monsuno - Anime'. Animekon.com. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
9. ^'Clash (Lock!) (2012) Season 1 Episode 101- Monsuno Cartoon Episode Guide'. Bcdb.com. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
10. ^by Brett (2012-11-28). 'Shout! Factory and FremantleMedia Enterprises roll out Monsuno on DVD'. Graphic Policy. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
11. ^'Shout! Plans New Monsuno DVD License! Global'. Licensemag.com. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
12. ^'Jakks, Dentsu Develop Japanese-Animated Monsuno for TV - News'. Anime News Network. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
13. ^'Monsuno Trading Card Game Starter Box (2012 Topps)'. DA Card World. 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2017-07-23.

External links[edit]

• (in Japanese)Official Japanese Site at Bandai
• (in Japanese)TV Tokyo's Monsuno Website
• Monsuno on IMDb
• Monsuno at the Big Cartoon DataBase
• Monsuno (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia