JAKKS Pacific just signed a deal with Kodansha to produce toys and collectibles based on Attack on Titan and Gachiakuta. The announcement came March 4. Two days earlier, on March 2, JAKKS extended its existing Demon Slayer partnership with Aniplex.
That's three major anime properties locked up in a single week. JAKKS is not dabbling. They're building an anime collectibles portfolio.
The Kodansha Deal
The partnership with Kodansha Ltd. covers an array of toys and collectibles across both properties. Attack on Titan needs no introduction. It's one of the best-selling manga series of the last 15 years, with over 110 million copies in circulation worldwide. The anime ran from 2013 to 2023 and remains one of the most-watched series globally.
Gachiakuta is the newer bet. It's a Kodansha action manga that's been building momentum since its serialization began in 2022. Adding it alongside Attack on Titan signals JAKKS isn't just chasing established names. They're positioning early on properties that could break bigger.
No specific product details yet. No pricing. No release dates. Just the license announcement. But the deal is signed and the pipeline is active.
The Demon Slayer Extension
Two days before the Kodansha announcement, JAKKS extended its partnership with Aniplex for Demon Slayer. That franchise has moved over 150 million manga volumes and generated one of the highest-grossing anime films ever with Mugen Train.
JAKKS already had Demon Slayer product on shelves. The extension means more coming. The timing of both announcements back-to-back isn't accidental. JAKKS wants the market to understand the strategy.
The Strategy Is Clear
JAKKS Pacific has historically been known for kids' toys. Nintendo figures. Disney dolls. Licensed playsets. The anime push is a different lane entirely.
The anime collectibles market has been dominated by Japanese manufacturers. Bandai. Good Smile Company. Kotobukiya. On the U.S. side, Funko has covered anime with Pops for years, but that's vinyl figures with a uniform aesthetic. McFarlane just locked up Sony PlayStation. NECA owns horror and retro nostalgia.
JAKKS is carving out anime as its collector territory. Demon Slayer. Attack on Titan. Gachiakuta. If they deliver quality product at accessible price points, they're filling a gap that U.S. collectors have been importing to fill.
The Bigger Picture
The manga and anime collectibles wave keeps building. Jeremy Padawer just paid $275,000 for three graded manga volumes. BGS launched manga grading two years ago and the category already has six-figure sales. Bandai's Card Games Fest in Tokyo draws thousands. One Piece card sets sell out in hours.
Anime isn't a niche anymore. It's a full collectibles vertical. Cards. Figures. Graded manga. Statues. The audience is there. The spending is there. The only question has been whether U.S. toy companies would take it seriously beyond Funko Pops.
JAKKS just answered that question three times in one week.
