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{{Short description|Former American licensing company}}
{{Infobox_Company |
{{redirect|4Kids|the programming block|4Kids TV}}
| company_name = 4Kids Entertainment
{{Use American English|date=August 2021}}
| company_logo = [[Image:4kids updated.png|The current 4Kids logo since 2005.]]
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
| company_type = [[Public company|Public]] ({{nyse|KDE}})
{{Infobox company
| foundation = 1970<br>(as ''Leisure Concepts, Inc.'')<br>1992<br>(Began Television Production)
| name = 4Kids Entertainment, Inc.
| location = {{flagicon|USA}} [[New York City|New York]], [[New York|NY]], [[United States|USA]]
| logo = 4Kids Entertainment logo.png
| area_served = {{flagicon|Earth}} [[Worldwide]]
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| key_people = '''<big>Senior Management:</big>'''<br>'''[[Alfred R. Kahn]]'''<ref name="4Kids Entertainment, Senior Team"> [http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/#about/3/1 4Kids Entertainment - Senior Management Team]</ref> <small>([[Chairman]])/([[CEO]]) and (Also Member of Board Directors)</small><br>'''[[Norman J. Grossfeld]]'''<ref name="4Kids Entertainment, Senior Team"/> <small>(President of 4Kids Productions Division)</small><br>'''Samuel Newborn'''<ref name="4Kids Entertainment, Senior Team"/>
| traded_as = {{NYSE was|KDE}}<br />OTCBB: KIDE<br />OTCQB: FOUR
<small>(Vice President of Business Affairs & General Counsel) and (Also Member of Board Directors)</small><br>'''Bruce Foster'''<ref name="4Kids Entertainment, Senior Team"/> <small>(Executive Vice President) & (Chief Financial Officer)</small> <br> '''Brain Lacey'''<ref name="4Kids Entertainment, Senior Team"/> <small>(Executive Vice President of International Division)</small><br>'''Carlin West'''<ref name="4Kids Entertainment, Senior Team"/> <small>(Executive Vice President of [[Acquisitions]] & [[Corporate development|Development]])</small><br>'''Dan Barnathan'''<ref name="4Kids Entertainment, Senior Team"/> <small>(President of Network Advertisement Sales)</small><br>'''Rosalisa C. Nowicki'''<ref name="4Kids Entertainment, Senior Team"/> <small>(Executive Vice President of [[Marketing]] & [[Licensing]])</small><br>'''Sandra Vauthier-Cellier'''<ref name="4Kids Entertainment, Senior Team"/> <small>(Managing Director of the International Division) </small><br>'''Olivia Mellett'''<ref name="4Kids Entertainment, Senior Team"/> <small>(Executive Director of Finance & Operations) </small><br>'''<big>Board of Directors:</big>'''<br>'''Richard Block'''<ref name="4Kids Entertainment, Board of Directors"> [http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/#investor/0/1 4Kids Entertainment - Board of Directors]</ref><br>'''Jay Emmett'''<ref name="4Kids Entertainment, Board of Directors"/><br>'''Michael Goldstein'''<ref name="4Kids Entertainment, Board of Directors"/><br>'''Randy Rissman'''<ref name="4Kids Entertainment, Board of Directors"/>
| former_names = Leisure Concepts<br />(1970–1995)<br />4Kids Entertainment<br />(1995–2012)<br />4Licensing Corporation (2012–2017)
| industry = [[TV production]]<br>[[Licensing]]
| products = [[4Kids TV]]<br>[[The CW4Kids]]
| fate = [[Bankruptcy]]
| successor = [[Konami Cross Media NY]]
| market cap = [[United States Dollar|US$]] 25.00 million (''2009'')
| founded = {{start date and age|1970|04|28}} (as Leisure Concepts, Inc.)
| revenue = {{loss}} [[United States Dollar|US$]] 55.61 million (''2007'')
| defunct = {{End date and age|2017|02|07}}
| operating_income = {{loss}} [[United States Dollar|US$]] -25.77 million (''2007'')
| founders = Mike Germakian<br />[[Stanley Weston (inventor)|Stan Weston]]
| net_income = {{loss}} [[United States Dollar|US$]] -23.33 million (''2007'')
| hq_location_city = [[New York, New York]]
| assets = {{decrease}} [[United States Dollar|US$]] 151.08 million (''2007'')
| hq_location_country = U.S.
| equity = {{decrease}} [[United States Dollar|US$]] 128.09 million (''2007'')
| area_served = Worldwide
| num_employees = 233 (''2008'')
| industry = Media<br>[[License|Licensing]]
| divisions = 4Sight Licensing Solutions, Inc<br>[[List of 4Kids licenses and productions|4Kids Productions]]
| genre = [[Anime]]
| homepage = [http://www.4kidsentertainment.com 4KidsEntertainment.com]
| products = [[4Kids TV|Fox Box]]/[[4Kids TV]]<br />[[Toonzai|The CW4Kids]]/[[Toonzai]]
| num_employees = 16
| equity_year = 2012
| num_employees_year = 2013
| subsid = 4Kids Entertainment International Limited<br>4Kids Entertainment Licensing, Inc.<br>4Kids Entertainment Home Video, Inc.<br>[[Konami Cross Media NY|4Kids Productions, Inc.]]<br>4Kids Ad Sales, Inc.<br>[[The Summit Media Group|The Summit Media Group, Inc.]]<br>4Kids Technology, Inc.<br>Websites 4 Kids, Inc.<br>4Kids Entertainment Music, Inc.
| footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.otcmarkets.com/edgar/GetFilingPdf?FilingID=9191665|title=4Licensing Corporation Annual Report 2012|publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|SEC]]|access-date=August 21, 2016|archive-date=March 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305003007/http://www.otcmarkets.com/edgar/GetFilingPdf?FilingID=9191665|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/58592/000114036113014416/form10k.htm|title=FORM 10-K|publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|SEC]]|access-date=September 21, 2015}}</ref>
}}
}}
'''4Kids Entertainment''' ({{nyse|KDE}}) (commonly known as '''4Kids''') is a Worldwide [[International]] [[United States|American]] [[film]] and [[television]] [[production company]] and it was claimed to be one of the world's largest distributors in children's television. It is known for dubbing [[Japanese language|Japanese]] [[anime]], specializing in the acquisition, production and licensing of children's entertainment around the United States. The first anime that 4Kids dubbed was the first 8 seasons of [[Pokémon (anime)|Pokémon]] that aired on [[Kids' WB!]] in the [[United States]]. The company is most well-known for its range of television licenses, which has included the multi-billion dollar ''[[Pokémon]]'' and ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'' [[Japan]]ese anime franchises. They also ran two program blocks: [[The CW4Kids]] on [[The CW Television Network|The CW]] and [[4Kids TV]] on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] stations, both aimed at children.<ref>http://4kidsentertainment.com/services/4kidstv.html</ref> As of [[December 27]], [[2008 in television|2008]], the 4KidsTV block ended on Fox, leaving only 4Kids to broadcast The CW4Kids.
'''4Kids Entertainment, Inc.''' (formerly known as '''Leisure Concepts, Inc.''' and later known as '''4Licensing Corporation'''; stylized as '''4K!DS ENTERTAINMENT''') was an American [[licensing]] company. The company was previously also a film and television production company that produced English-[[Dubbing (filmmaking)|dubbed]] Japanese [[anime]] through its subsidiary [[Konami Cross Media NY|4Kids Productions]] between 1992 and 2012; it specialized in the acquisition, production and licensing of children's entertainment around the United States. The first anime that [[Konami Cross Media NY|4Kids Productions]] dubbed was the first eight seasons of ''[[Pokémon (anime)|Pokémon]]'' that originally began airing in [[Broadcast syndication|first run syndication]], and then it later moved to exclusively air on [[Kids' WB!]] in the United States. The company is most well-known for its range of television licenses, which has included the multibillion-dollar ''[[Pokémon]]'' and ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'' Japanese anime franchises. They also ran two program blocks: [[Toonzai]] (originally The CW4Kids) on [[The CW]], and [[4Kids TV]] (originally FoxBox) on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]], both aimed at children.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060206020901/http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/services/4kidstv.html|archive-date=February 6, 2006|url=https://www.4kidsentertainment.com/services/4kidstv.html|title=4Kids! Ad Sales|publisher=4Kids Entertainment|access-date=September 21, 2015}}</ref> The 4KidsTV block ended on December 27, 2008, while its Toonzai block ended on August 18, 2012, which was replaced by [[Saban Capital Group|Saban's]] [[Vortexx]], which in itself was succeeded by the [[One Magnificent Morning]] block by Litton Entertainment (now known as [[Hearst Media Production Group]]) in 2014.
==Licenses and productions==
[[File:4Kids.jpg|thumb|left|The former logo]]
{{main|List of 4Kids licenses and productions}}


4Licensing Corporation had its world headquarters on [[Third Avenue]] in [[New York City]], its former subsidiary, [[Konami Cross Media NY|4Kids Productions]], had its headquarters in a separate building in Manhattan. The [[New York Stock Exchange]] delisted 4Kids (NYSE: '''KDE''') on June 1, 2010. On April 6, 2011, it filed for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] protection following a lawsuit concerning the ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' franchise. On December 13, 2012, the company announced that it had emerged from bankruptcy.<ref name="law360.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.law360.com/bankruptcy/articles/401401/4kids-plan-confirmed-over-license-partner-s-objection |title=4Kids Plan Confirmed Over License Partner's Objection |publisher=Law360 |access-date=July 10, 2013 |date=Dec 13, 2012 |first=Lisa |last=Uhlman }}</ref> On September 21, 2016, it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection once again and shut down operations one year later.<ref name="businesswire.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922006380/en/4Licensing-Corporation-Files-Chapter-11-Bankruptcy |title=4Licensing Corporation Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy|website=[[Business Wire]]|date=September 22, 2016 |access-date=September 25, 2016}}</ref> 4Kids' former CEO, [[Alfred R. Kahn]], founded a successor company called Kidtagious Entertainment in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kidscreen.com/2019/06/05/al-kahn-toper-taylor-launch-kid-licensing-co/|title=Al Kahn, Toper Taylor launch kid licensing co|work=[[Kidscreen]]|date=June 5, 2019|last=Whyte|first=Alexandra}}</ref>
4Kids Entertainment licenses, develops, and distributes a wide variety of media products, ranging from [[video game]]s and [[TV|television programs]] to [[toy]] lines featuring the [[RAF|Royal Air Force]]. These have included such well-known programs as ''[[Pokémon]]'' and ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]''. Its most successful film to date is ''[[Pokémon: The First Movie]]''.
4Kids focuses on licensing content for the children and pre-teen market<ref name="ANN Kahn Interview"/>, including content for both boys and girls.<ref>[http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/docs/report2004.pdf 2004 annual report] of 4Kids Entertainment</ref> Many of its licenses come from English [[dubbing (filmmaking)|dubs]] of Japanese [[anime]], including ''[[Fighting Foodons]]'', and ''[[Shaman King]]'', while others are [[Traditional animation|Western]] animations or properties like ''[[Chaotic]]'', or ''[[Back to the Future: The Animated Series]]''.


== History ==
Most programs are either licensed out to local stations, or broadcast on their dedicated programming block [[4Kids TV]]. Typically, 4Kids will retain several properties on hiatus (such as ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX]]''), or in production to allow for turnover of their existing products. 4Kids also licenses, and merchandises, a number of non-animation based products, such as calendars like ''[[The Dog]]'', and toys like ''[[Cabbage Patch Kids]]''.
=== Company origins ===
Leisure Concepts was co-founded on April 28, 1970,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edgar.brand.edgar-online.com/efxapi/EFX_dll/EDGARpro.dll?FetchFilingHTML1?ID=101498&SessionID=Bze3ev6UTln0_z7|title=LEISURE CONCEPTS, INC|publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|SEC]]|date= November 1995|access-date=August 3, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Docstoc.com"/> by Mike Germakian (later who would be known as one of the creators of [[ThunderCats]]) and [[Stanley Weston (inventor)|Stan Weston]] (the creator of [[G.I. Joe]] and [[Captain Action]]),<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_Y7JAwAAQBAJ&q=gi+i+joe+stan+westom&pg=PA35|title=Entertainment Industries: Entertainment as a Cultural System|author=Alan McKee|author2=Dr Alan McKee|author3=Christy Collis|author4=Ben Hamley|page=35|access-date=August 8, 2016|isbn=9781317979197|date=June 11, 2014|publisher=Routledge }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/06/20/archives/advertising-bicentennial-help-big-money-say-hello-to-steve-peanut.html|title=Advertising: Bicentennial Help|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 20, 1974|access-date=August 8, 2016}}</ref> as an independent licensing agency in [[New York City]]. Mike Germakian was the secretary of LCI, while Stan Weston was initially the President and later the Chairman of Leisure Concepts.<ref name="Docstoc.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.docstoc.com/docs/15627668/Certificate-Of-Amendment-Certificate-Of-Incorporation---4-KIDS-ENTERTAINMENT-INC---8-16-1999 |title=Certificate-Of-Amendment-Certificate-Of-Incorporation 4 KIDS ENTERTAINMENT-INC|website=[[Docstoc]]|date=August 16, 1999 |access-date=July 10, 2016|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519102620/http://www.docstoc.com/docs/15627668/Certificate-Of-Amendment-Certificate-Of-Incorporation---4-KIDS-ENTERTAINMENT-INC---8-16-1999 |archive-date=May 19, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Thundercatslair.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.thundercatslair.org/animated-series/original-series/articles-features/mike-germakian-a-father-of-the-thundercats-in-memorium/|title=Mike Germakian, a Father of the ThunderCats – {{sic|nn memo|rium|hide=y|expected=In Memoriam}} — ThunderCats Lair|publisher=Thundercatslair.org|date=September 29, 2008|access-date=July 10, 2013|archive-date=November 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109183619/http://www.thundercatslair.org/animated-series/original-series/articles-features/mike-germakian-a-father-of-the-thundercats-in-memorium/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/02/style/j-j-winebaum-plans-to-wed-cindy-weston.html|title=J. J. Winebaum Plans To Wed Cindy Weston|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 2, 1986|access-date=August 8, 2016}}</ref> Weston was also the [[Treasurer]] of the company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/58592/0000950168-96-001231.txt|title=Schedule 13D|publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|SEC]]|date=July 9, 1996|access-date=August 16, 2016}}</ref>


=== 1970–1990: Early beginnings ===
==Television==
{{See also|ThunderCats}}
===4Kids TV (Defunct)===
In the beginning, the company pitched toy and cartoon ideas to various companies, as well as formed partnerships with companies such as [[Rankin/Bass Productions|Rankin/Bass]], among others.<ref name="Thundercatslair.org"/>
{{main|4Kids TV}}
[[File:250px-4Kids TV logo.png|thumb|left|4Kids TV logo from January 22, 2005 to September 1, 2007, now used on its website]]
In late January 2002, 4Kids Entertainment signed a four-year, US$100 million deal with the [[Fox Broadcasting Company]] to program its Saturday morning lineup.<ref>{{cite web
|last=McClellan
|first=Steve
|coauthor=Schlosser, Joe
|title=4Kids' win-win deal
|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA193178
|publisher=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]
|date=2002-01-28
|accessdate=2008-10-09
}}</ref> It premiered [[September 14]], [[2002]] as "[[FoxBox]]"<ref>{{cite web|title=The week that was|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA218328.html|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=2002-05-20|accessdate=2008-08-03}}</ref> after [[Fox Kids]] was dissolved following the purchase of [[ABC_Family#Beginning|Fox Family Worldwide]] by [[Disney]]. FoxBox rebranded to "4Kids TV" in [[January 2005]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=Fox Box To Be Rebranded 4KIDS TV|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2005-01-18/fox-box-to-be-rebranded-4kids-tv|publisher=4Kids Entertainment|date=2005-01-18}}</ref> 4Kids Entertainment is wholly responsible for the content of the block and collects all advertising revenues from it.<ref>{{cite web|last=Downey|first=Kevin|title=Signs of life for kids television|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2002/feb02/feb25/5_fri/news1friday.html|work=Media Life Magazine|date=2002-03-01|accessdate=2008-08-03}}</ref> 4Kids Entertainment announced that it would exit its contract with Fox and terminate its Fox programming block by the end of 2008.<ref>{{cite news|title=4Kids to End Its Fox Programming Block in December|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-11-10/4kids-to-terminate-fox-programming-block-in-december|publisher=Anime News Network|date=2008-11-10|accessdate=2008-11-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.variety.com/VR1117996360.html|title=Longform ads replace kid fare on Fox|last=Schneider|first=Michael|date=2008-11-23|work=Variety|accessdate=2009-03-15}}</ref> The final broadcast of 4Kids TV on Fox was on December 27, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://app.quotemedia.com/data/newsItem.htm?webmasterId=92403&storyId=14004012&topic=KDE|title=4Kids Entertainment Reports Third Quarter 2008 Results And Settlement of Fox Litigation|date=2008-11-10|work=QuoteMedia|accessdate=2009-03-15}}</ref>


LCI began making news in the 1980s through licensing actual people, a variety of products, and even concepts. The company also had a growing number of deals with television producers and toy manufacturers. Among the company's licenses at the time were [[Farrah Fawcett]] of Charlie's Angels fame, [[Charlie Chan]], [[James Bond|James Bond 007]], a wide array of Nintendo characters and products, [[Hulk|the Hulk]], [[Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV series)|Buck Rogers in the 25th Century TV Series]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=56121|title=Buck Rogers in the 25th Century|publisher=[[American Film Institute|AFI]]|access-date=August 12, 2016}}</ref> and many others.<ref name="Fundinguniverse.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/4kids-entertainment-inc-history/ |title=History of 4Kids Entertainment Inc |website=Fundinguniverse.com|access-date=July 10, 2013}}</ref>
Many of the licenses distributed by 4Kids Entertainment, and presented on [[4Kids TV]] are managed by '''4Kids Productions''', which is a wholly owned subsidiary of 4Kids Entertainment. First launched in 1992, 4Kids Productions deals primarily with television, film, home video, and music licenses, and currently manages the programming for 4KidsTV.


LCI is credited in its assistance in the initial development of the "ThunderCats" concept and acted on behalf of [[Lorimar-Telepictures]] Corp as an exclusive worldwide licensing agent for products based on "Thundercats",<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HKk7r9uEgrIC&q=leisure+concepts+inc+thundercats&pg=PA74|title=The Business of Children's Entertainment|publisher=Norma Odom Pecora|page=74|access-date=August 4, 2016|isbn=9781572307742|date=March 6, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=John|last=Lippman|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB934753154504300864|title=Creating the Craze for Pokemon: Licensing Agent Bet on U.S. Kids|publisher=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url-access=subscription|date=August 16, 1999|access-date=August 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Nancy|last=Millman|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3777757.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110113520/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3777757.html |via=HighBeam Research |url-status=dead|archive-date=November 10, 2013|title=Burger King aims at kids' market in new campaign|publisher=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|date=July 29, 1986|access-date=August 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Salas|last=Teresa|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-6571904.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911032354/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-6571904.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 11, 2016|title=Buyers, licensors: partners in profit; strong merchandising support considered vital to property's success. (toy industry) (Licensing Scope)|publisher=[[Playthings (magazine)|Playthings]]|date=August 1, 1988|access-date=August 12, 2016 |via=HighBeam Research }}</ref> an agreement that was signed between the two parties on June 15, 1984.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://biz.yahoo.com/e/120427/kideq8-k.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150307060739/https://biz.yahoo.com/e/120427/kideq8-k.html|title=Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement, Other Events|date=April 27, 2012|archive-date=March 7, 2015|access-date=August 4, 2016}}</ref>
===The CW4Kids===
{{main|The CW4Kids}}
[[Image:The CW 4kids official logo.png|thumb|left|CW4Kids logo]]
On [[October 2]], [[2007]], [[Warner Bros.]] and [[CBS]] announced that the [[Kids' WB]] block on their co-owned network, [[The CW Television Network|The CW]], would be ending in [[September 2008]], and no longer be marketed and produced in-house, due to factors including building children's advertising and marketing restrictions, and cable competition. Rights for the five hour Saturday morning block were bought by 4Kids, and they began to program the time with their own programming (mixed in with three former Kids' WB originals) in September 2008<ref>Schneider, Michael. [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117973235.html CW turns to 4Kids on Saturdays]. ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'': Oct. 2, 2007.</ref>. Because of this additional deal, 4Kids will be programming for both [[The CW]] and [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] in the 2008-09 season giving 4Kids nine hours of combined children's programming on two broadcast networks, as the current 4KidsTV deal runs until [[December 27]], [[2008]]. The new block is entitled '''[[The CW4Kids]]''' and started [[May 24]], [[2008]]. Three former 4Kids TV shows were announced to the lineup as well ([[Sonic X]], [[Dinosaur King]], '', ''[[Kirby: Right Back At Ya!]]'', and ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fast Forward]]''). and New Shows that are in the future so far ([[Rollbots]], [[Biker Mice from Mars (2006 TV series)|Biker Mice from Mars]], HTDT, and [[Winx Club]])''


During the mid-1980s, [[Tobin Wolf|Ted Wolf]] came up with the idea of a race of catlike humanoid superheroes. He shared his vision with his friend Stan Weston, who in turn, through LCI, pitched it to [[Rankin/Bass Productions|Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment]]. Both [[Arthur Rankin Jr.|Arthur Rankin Jr]] and [[Jules Bass]] were impressed with the idea and the potential that it had of becoming an instant success. They approved of it and "ThunderCats" went into production.
===Outside the United States===
In the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Republic of Ireland]], several 4Kids TV-distributed anime (notably the ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' and ''[[Pokémon (anime)|Pokémon]]'' franchises) was carried by subscription entertainment channel [[Sky One]], generally in early morning slots. (Note that [[British Sky Broadcasting|Sky]] is a corporate relative of Fox, via parent company [[News Corporation]].) Other channels which show or have shown 4Kids properties include [[CITV]], [[Jetix (UK)|Jetix]], [[Nickelodeon UK|Nickelodeon]] and [[Cartoon Network (UK)|Cartoon Network]] in the United Kingdom, [[RTÉ Two|RTÉ 2]] in the Republic of Ireland, and [[RTL II|RTL 2]] in [[Germany]]. And also, ''[[Mew Mew Power]]'' and ''[[Winx Club]]'' air on [[Popgirl]].


During the early development stage, Mike Germakian designed much of the ThunderCats' characters, vehicles and locations. He was also responsible for creating the now iconic ThunderCats logo, featuring a stylized black panther head on a red circle. Germakian's designs were then sent to Pacific Animation Corporation in Japan to be adapted into cartoon format. After completing work on ThunderCats, Germakian went on to design characters for [[SilverHawks]] and [[The Comic Strip (TV series)|The Comic Strip]], both Rankin/Bass shows.
==Other notable business proceedings==
===4Sight Licensing Solutions Inc.===
On [[April 18]], [[2006]], 4Kids had announced a new subsidiary entitled 4Sight Licensing Solutions Inc.<ref name="4sight">[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/pressrelease.php?id=1674 4Kids Launches 4Sight Licensing Solutions] ''[[Anime News Network]]''. Accessed [[April 18]], [[2006]].</ref> 4Sight will license and market brands aimed at adults, teenagers and pre-teens. "We have built an impressive roster of captivating and successful children's entertainment properties," said Alfred Kahn.<ref name="4sight"/> "Given the increased number of brands that we are representing that focus on an older audience, we felt it would be beneficial to organize a new subsidiary primarily devoted to the marketing and licensing of these brands. We believe that we can successfully utilize our marketing and licensing expertise to build brand value for properties targeting an older consumer that are not necessarily media or character driven."<ref name="4sight"/>


In July 1987, [[Alfred R. Kahn|Alfred Kahn]], former Executive Vice President of Marketing<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/29/business/advertising-cabbage-patch-honors-for-a-coleco-executive.html|title=ADVERTISING; Cabbage Patch Honors For a Coleco Executive|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 29, 1983|access-date=August 3, 2016}}</ref> at [[Coleco]], who was credited for bringing the [[Cabbage Patch Kids]] to the Mainstream, joined the company as vice chairman and a member of the board of directors.<ref name="Edgar Online"/>
===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.<ref>[http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/docs/news/2006-0117.pdf Microsoft and 4Kids Entertainment Form Alliance] 4Kids Entertainment.com. Accessed [[17 January]] [[2006]].</ref> One of the first titles announced was ''[[Viva Piñata]]'' which would be developed by [[Rare (company)|Rare Ltd.]]


On December 17, 1987,<ref name="Edgar Online"/> LCI signed a licensing deal with [[Nintendo of America]], Inc. to market the software products that went along with its increasingly popular gaming systems. Nintendo had already introduced ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'' for its home video game system, a software product that went on to sell more than one million copies during the year.<ref name="Fundinguniverse.com"/> Some time in 1986, the company also signed a licensing deal to market ''[[Star Wars]]''.<ref>{{cite book|title=D & B Reports, Объемы 34-35-Dun & Bradstreet Credit Services, 1986|page=64}}</ref>
===4Kids Mobile===
On November 9, 2009, on iPhone app is Coming to App Store Watching Videos on the iPhone.


=== 1990–2000: Expansion and name change ===
==Films==
{{expand section|date=August 2016}}
4kids Entertainment licenses 6 theatrical films
{{See also|Bobby Kotick|The Summit Media Group|Pokémon}}
*[[Pokémon: The First Movie]]
In the early 1990s, LCI expanded its operations and began television production in 1992. This would include English-[[Dubbing (filmmaking)|dubbing]] Japanese [[anime]] through its subsidiary [[4K Media|4Kids Productions]], which the company would be mostly known for.
*[[Pokémon 2000]]
*[[Pokémon: The Movie 3]]
*[[Pokémon 4Ever]]
*[[Pokémon Heroes]]
*[[Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie]]
*[[Kirby: Fright To The Finish]]
==Editorial practices==
{{see|Editing of anime in American distribution}}


In 1987, [[Bobby Kotick]] (former President and CEO of [[Activision Blizzard]]) tried to acquire [[Commodore International]]. When Kotick was unsuccessful, he instead purchased a controlling stake in LCI, thus also becoming LCI's CEO and chairman in June 1990.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/bobby-kotick-changes-game-activision|title=Kotick changes the game at Activision Blizzard|newspaper=Marketwatch |date=December 4, 2008|access-date=August 3, 2016 |last1=Marketwatch |first1=Dan Gallagher }}</ref><ref name="Robert Kotick">{{cite web|url=https://investor.activision.com/secfiling.cfm?filingID=718877-95-9&CIK=718877|title=SCHEDULE 14A|publisher=[[Activision Blizzard]]|date=July 31, 1995|access-date=August 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213135248/http://investor.activision.com/secfiling.cfm?filingID=718877-95-9&CIK=718877|archive-date=February 13, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Kotick later traded out of his stake in LCI and bought a 25% stake in [[Mediagenic|Activision]] in December 1990. In March 1991, Kotick became CEO at [[Activision]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Nutall|url=https://www.ft.com/content/6b4cd210-735f-11dc-abf0-0000779fd2ac|title=Game player with a serious goal|publisher=[[Financial Times]]|date=October 8, 2007|access-date=August 12, 2016}}{{closed access}}{{subscription required|s}}</ref>
The management of 4Kids Entertainment has stated that they seek to "localize [[anime]] so that children in [[English language|English-speaking]] countries will understand it...",<ref name="ANN Kahn Interview">Pennington, Steven. [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/columns/sunday.php?id=35 Alfred R. Kahn] Anime News Network. Accessed [[24 April]] [[2005]].</ref> judging that localization is necessary in order for these titles to be marketable.<ref name="ANN Kahn Interview"/> For most titles, the editing 4Kids performs falls into a few broad categories – 4Kids may seek to [[Americanization|"Americanize"]] a program by changing character names, dialog, [[music]], food, or stereotypes which would be unfamiliar or even offensive to an American audience. They also may remove some materially suggestive objects such as [[cigarette]]s or [[guns]] (replacing them with lollipops, water guns or nothing), crosses, or content deemed too [[violent]] or suggestive for American children. For example, in ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! (second series anime)|Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'', the issue of death is sidestepped in the localized version, with dead characters being sent to the "[[Shadow Realm (Yu-Gi-Oh!)|shadow realm]]" (though this could generate plot errors, due to the fact that one can be resurrected from the [[Shadow Realm (Yu-Gi-Oh!)|Shadow Realm]]), as well as the fact that the Shadow Realm is a real place in the series completely independent from death. Other examples include removing many instances of violence from "One Piece", romance from "Sonic X" and the [[Pokémon episodes removed from rotation|elimination of several episodes]] from ''Pokémon.''<ref>{{cite web|title=Pokémon Anime Censorship|url=http://www.psypokes.com/anime/censor.php|work=Psypoke|date=2002|accessdate=2008-05-10}}</ref>


The company did $6 million in sales in 1989 and employed 14 people by 1990.<ref>{{cite web|first=Richard|last=Sherwin|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85006843/|title=He has license to make a killing|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|date=July 23, 1990|access-date=July 25, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
In an interview with [[Alfred R. Kahn|Al Kahn]], CEO of 4Kids, when asked how the company decides what properties or anime to acquire, his reply was, "We look at things such as popularity, but also if it has a merchandising component; can we license it, can we license products for it? That's really the main issue for us... the playing pattern, if it's popular and how it merchandises. If we can't merchandise it, it really doesn't have a lot of interest for us." Kahn claimed in the same interview that this was necessary, because otherwise adapting an anime would not be commercially viable due to the re-dubbing, re-editing, and re-scoring that 4Kids performs. 4Kids Entertainment remains largely unmoved by these claims, stating "...if [anime fans] 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."<ref name="ANN Kahn Interview"/>


On March 12, 1991, LCI appointed [[Alfred R. Kahn|Alfred Kahn]] as its chairman and CEO.<ref name="Edgar Online">{{cite web|url=https://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/displayfilinginfo.aspx?FilingID=1273361-1510-115119&type=sect&TabIndex=2&companyid=2289&ppu=%252fdefault.aspx%253fcompanyid%253d2289|title=10-K|publisher=Edgar Online|date=January 4, 1996|access-date=July 30, 2016}}</ref>
A March 2006 study by the [[Parents Television Council]] on [[violence]] in children's television programs said that the 4Kids dub of ''[[Shaman King]]'' was too violent for children.<ref>[http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/news/release/2006/0302.asp New PTC Study Finds More Violence on Children's TV than on Adult-Oriented TV]. [[Parents Television Council]]. [[March 2]], [[2006]]. Retrieved [[March 15]], [[2007]].</ref> [[L. Brent Bozell III|L. Brent Bozell]] also pointed out the 4Kids-dubbed ''Shaman King'' in one of his weekly column as an example of children's media he perceived as having undue "cultural landmines".<ref>{{cite web|last=Bozell|first= L. Brent III|title=Poisoning Children, Too?|url= http://mrc.org/BozellColumns/entertainmentcolumn/2006/col20060303.asp |publisher=Creators Syndicate|date=2006-03-03|accessdate=2008-02-18}}</ref>


In 1992, two subsidiaries were established by the company: [[The Summit Media Group]], Inc. and [[4K Media|4Kids Productions]].<ref name="Fundinguniverse.com"/>
==References==
<!-- See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref> and </ref> tags and the tag below. -->
{{reflist}}


The company changed its name from Leisure Concepts Inc. to 4Kids Entertainment Inc. on November 16, 1995.<ref name="Edgar Online"/> Although the company changed its name, "Leisure Concepts" still operated as a separate subsidiary of the company,<ref name="Edgar Online"/> meaning the company may have decided to use the "Leisure Concepts" name for branding purposes.
==External links==
* [http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/ 4Kids Corporate]
* [http://www.4kidshomevideo.com/videos/ 4Kids Home Video]
* [http://www.4kids.tv/ 4Kids TV]
* [http://www.cw4kids.com/ The CW4Kids]
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/4KidsTV Official YouTube Account]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/*/www.4kidsent.com/ 4kidsent.com] (Archive)


By 1999, 4Kids Entertainment employed 50 people.<ref>{{cite web|first=John|last=Martin|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98415282/tampa-bay-times/|title=Coming to America|newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|page=125|date=October 24, 1999|access-date=March 26, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
{{DEFAULTSORT:4kids Entertainment}}

=== 2000–2005: The new millennium ===
{{See also|4Kids TV}}
The new century found 4Kids Entertainment Inc., switching from the NASDAQ market and joining the New York Stock Exchange on September 20, 2000.<ref name="Fundinguniverse.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/4Kids+Entertainment+Chairman+and+CEO+Rings+Opening+Bell+At+The+New...-a065320280|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214073413/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/4Kids+Entertainment+Chairman+and+CEO+Rings+Opening+Bell+At+The+New...-a065320280|archive-date=February 14, 2018|title=4Kids Entertainment Chairman and CEO Rings Opening Bell At The New York Stock Exchange; 4Kids Lists On The New York Stock Exchange.|website=[[Business Wire]]|publisher=[[Berkshire Hathaway]]|via=thefreelibrary.com|date=September 20, 2000|access-date=June 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.4kidsentertainment.com/docs/news/2000-0914.pdf|title=4Kids Entertainment Inc To List On The New York Stock Exchange|publisher=4kidsentertainment.com|date=September 14, 2000|access-date=August 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060313092909/http://4kidsentertainment.com/docs/news/2000-0914.pdf|archive-date=March 13, 2006}}</ref> The firm's new ticker symbol was KDE, and the company was riding high during the continuing success of "[[Pokémon|Pokemon]]" when it earned Fortune's top slot on its 100 Fastest Growing Companies for 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2000/09/04/286805/index.htm|title=FORTUNE's 100 Fastest-Growing Companies|publisher=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|date=September 4, 2000|access-date=August 3, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/give-us-your-money-4kids-entertainment-attains-poke-momentum|title=Give Us Your Money: 4Kids Entertainment Attains Poke-Momentum|publisher=awn.com|date=October 1, 2000|access-date=August 3, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Al+Kahn%2c+Chairman+and+CEO+of+4Kids+Entertainment+--+Fortune...-a064343953|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214073254/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Al+Kahn,+Chairman+and+CEO+of+4Kids+Entertainment+--+Fortune...-a064343953|title=Al Kahn, Chairman and CEO of 4Kids Entertainment -- Fortune Magazine's No. 1 Fastest-Growing Company in America -- Featured Tonight on CNBC's 'Business Center'|website=[[Business Wire]]|publisher=[[Berkshire Hathaway]]|via=thefreelibrary.com|archive-date=February 14, 2018|date=August 17, 2000|access-date=August 8, 2016}}</ref> The company was also listed on the Frankfurt Exchange earlier in the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.4kidsentertainmentinc.com/master_frame.asp?section=4kids&page=news&share=true |title=4Kids Entertainment Inc. Announces Frankfurt Listing |website=4kidsentertainmentinc.com |date=March 13, 2000 |access-date=June 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010107133500fw_/http://www.4kidsentertainmentinc.com/master_frame.asp?section=4kids&page=news&share=true |archive-date=7 January 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On April 5, 2000, 4Kids and [[Mattel]] signed a licensing agreement to create [[Hot Wheels]] die-cast cars and racing sets featuring the [[PACE Motor Sports]] line of monster trucks. The license included rights to the monster truck [[Grave Digger (truck)|Grave Digger]], and a new line of [[World Championship Wrestling]] vehicles designed after their star wrestlers such as [[Bill Goldberg|Goldberg]], [[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]] and [[Bret Hart]]. The PACE Motor Sports and World Championship Wrestling line of Hot Wheels vehicles have been available nationally at mass-market retailers beginning in the summer of that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/000405/ca_mattel__1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000520042609/http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/000405/ca_mattel__1.html|title=Mattel Announces PACE Motor Sports and WCW Licensing Agreement With 4Kids Entertainment, Inc.|website=[[PR Newswire]]|publisher=[[Cision]]|via=[[Yahoo! Finance|Yahoo.com]]|archive-date=May 20, 2000|date=April 5, 2000|access-date=July 1, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2001, 4Kids Entertainment obtained the merchandising and television rights to the series ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.4kidsentertainment.com/docs/report2001.pdf|title=2001 Annual Report|publisher=4kidsentertainment.com|date=March 25, 2002|access-date=August 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103192601/http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/docs/report2001.pdf|archive-date=January 3, 2007}}</ref> from Nihon Ad Systems, producing an English-language version which aired in North America on Kids' WB from September 29, 2001, to June 10, 2006.

In October 2001, 4Kids Entertainment acquired a 3% stake in [[The Pokémon Company]], in a move to benefit indirectly from Pokémon's success in Asia, and from worldwide sales of Pokémon electronic cards and video games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/4Kids+Entertainment+Signs+New+Five-Year+Agreement+With+Pokémon...-a079018670|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124105712/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/4Kids+Entertainment+Signs+New+Five-Year+Agreement+With+Pokemon...-a079018670|archive-date=November 24, 2018|title=4Kids Entertainment Signs New Five-Year Agreement With Pokemon USA/Leading Children's Entertainment Company Acquires 3% Interest In The Pokemon Company|website=[[TheFreeDictionary.com]] |date=October 10, 2001 |access-date=June 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.4kidsentertainment.com/docs/news/2001-1010b.pdf |title=4Kids Entertainment Signs New Five-Year Agreement With Pokémon USA|publisher=4kidsentertainment.com|date=October 10, 2001 |access-date=July 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051024051709/http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/docs/news/2001-1010b.pdf|archive-date=October 24, 2005}}</ref>

In late January 2002, after engaging in a bidding war with [[DIC Entertainment]], 4Kids Entertainment signed a four-year, US$100 million deal with the [[Fox Broadcasting Company]] to program its Saturday morning lineup.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222153302/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA193178|archive-date=December 22, 2008|url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA193178|title=4Kids' win-win deal|last=McClellan|first=Steve|author2=Schlosser, Joe|publisher=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|date=January 28, 2002|access-date=September 21, 2015}}</ref> 4Kids Entertainment was wholly responsible for the content of the block and collected all advertising revenues from it.<ref>{{cite web|last=Downey|first=Kevin|title=Signs of life for kids television|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222224931/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2002/feb02/feb25/5_fri/news1friday.html|archive-date=December 22, 2008|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2002/feb02/feb25/5_fri/news1friday.html|work=Media Life Magazine|date=March 1, 2002|access-date=September 21, 2015}}</ref>

In May 2002, 4Kids Entertainment launched a home video division called 4Kids Entertainment Home Video and appointed [[Funimation|FUNimation Productions]] as the exclusive distributor for their ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'', ''Cubix'', ''Cabbage Patch Kids'' and ''Tama and Friends'' properties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/news/4kids-launches-4kids-home-video-business|title=4Kids Launches 4Kids Home Video Business|website=Animation World Network}}</ref>

By 2002, 4Kids got $140 million in [[Pokémon]] revenue.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89564728/santa-cruz-sentinel/|title=4Kids|newspaper=[[Santa Cruz Sentinel]]|page=10|date=October 19, 2002|access-date=November 26, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Joseph|last=Pereira|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1034890241566667828|title=Pow! Ka-Zam! Voom! 4Kids Picks Fight With Nickelodeon|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=October 18, 2002|access-date=November 26, 2021}}{{closed access}}{{subscription required|s}}</ref>

4Kids' new Saturday-Morning cartoon block on Fox premiered on September 14, 2002, as "[[4Kids TV|FoxBox]]".<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222153138/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA218328.html|archive-date=December 22, 2008|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA218328.html|title=The week that was|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=May 20, 2002|access-date=September 21, 2015}}</ref> FoxBox rebranded to "4Kids TV" in January 2005.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Fox Box To Be Rebranded 4KIDS TV|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2005-01-18/fox-box-to-be-rebranded-4kids-tv|publisher=4Kids Entertainment|date=January 18, 2005}}</ref>

=== 2005–2010: Further expansion and financial failings ===
On October 10, 2005, 4Kids Entertainment sold its 3% stake in The Pokémon Company for US$960,000, to the three parties owning the rights to Pokémon ([[Nintendo]], [[Creatures (company)|Creatures]] and [[Game Freak]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/displayfilinginfo.aspx?FilingID=4282342-169060-250211&type=sect&TabIndex=2&companyid=2289&ppu=%252fdefault.aspx%253fcik%253d58592|title= Form 10K|publisher=EdgarOnline.com|date=March 16, 2006 |access-date=July 16, 2016}}</ref>

On December 23, 2005, the company announced that it will not renew the Pokémon representation agreement set to expire on December 31, 2005. And that beginning in 2006, Pokémon USA, Inc.'s in-house licensing group will handle all Pokémon licensing outside of Asia. However, the company will continue to receive commissions for the next several years, on payments made under existing Pokémon license agreements whose term expires after December 31, 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20051223005061/en/Pokemon-USA-Moves-Licensing-In-House-2006-4Kids|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908054329/http://www.businesswire.com:80/news/home/20051223005061/en/Pokemon-USA-Moves-Licensing-In-House-2006-4Kids|title=Pokemon USA Moves Licensing In-House in 2006; 4Kids Entertainment to Transition Its Representation of Pokemon|website=[[Business Wire]]|archivedate=September 8, 2016|date=December 23, 2005|access-date=April 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.4kidsentertainment.com/docs/news/2005-1223.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060212111424/http://www.4kidsentertainment.com:80/docs/news/2005-1223.pdf|title=Pokémon USA Moves Licensing In-House In 2006|website=4Kids Entertainment |archivedate=February 12, 2006|date=December 23, 2005|accessdate=July 26, 2023}}</ref>

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 was at the time dominated by games targeted toward the 12-and-up market.<ref>{{Cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060223035640/http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/docs/news/2006-0117.pdf|archive-date=February 23, 2006|url=https://www.4kidsentertainment.com/docs/news/2006-0117.pdf|title=Microsoft and 4Kids Entertainment Form Alliance|publisher=4Kids Entertainment|date=January 17, 2006|access-date=September 21, 2015}}</ref> One of the first titles announced was ''[[Viva Piñata]]'' which would be developed by [[Rare (company)|Rare]]. On June 10, 2006, 4Kids licensed the sequel series to Yu-Gi-Oh, [[Yu-Gi-Oh GX]], for release in North America.<ref>{{Cite web|title=4Kids Entertainment Announces Yu-Gi-Oh! GX to Air on Cartoon Network; All-New Yu-Gi-Oh! Series Debuts This October|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050810005210/en/4Kids-Entertainment-Announces-Yu-Gi-Oh%21-GX-Air-Cartoon|date=2005-08-10|website=Business Wire |language=en|access-date=2020-05-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915090426/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050810005210/en/4Kids-Entertainment-Announces-Yu-Gi-Oh!-GX-Air-Cartoon |archive-date=Sep 15, 2020 }}</ref>

On April 18, 2006, 4Kids launched a new subsidiary entitled 4Sight Licensing Solutions Inc.,<ref name="4sight">"[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/pressrelease.php?id=1674 4Kids Launches 4Sight Licensing Solutions]". ''[[Anime News Network]]'', Apr 18, 2006. Retrieved April 18, 2006.</ref> which licenses and market brands aimed at adults, teenagers and pre-teens. "We have built an impressive roster of captivating and successful children's entertainment properties," said [[Alfred R. Kahn|Alfred Kahn]].<ref name="4sight"/> "Given the increased number of brands that we are representing that focus on an older audience, we felt it would be beneficial to organize a new subsidiary primarily devoted to the marketing and licensing of these brands. We believe that we can successfully utilize our marketing and licensing expertise to build brand value for properties targeting an older consumer that are not necessarily media or character driven."<ref name="4sight"/>

On December 11, 2006, 4Kids Entertainment announced the formation of two subsidiaries, TC Digital Games, LLC, a trading card company, and TC Websites, LLC, an online multi-platform game company. "The formation of TC Digital Games and TC Websites represent a significant enhancement of our business strategy," said Alfred R. Kahn, chairman and CEO of 4Kids Entertainment.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://tcdent.com/press_releases/12-11-2006a.pdf|title=4Kids Entertainment Forms New Trading Card And Online Game Companies|via=[[TC Digital Games]]|publisher=4Kids Entertainment|date=December 11, 2006|access-date=September 21, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106014958/http://www.tcdent.com/press_releases/12-11-2006a.pdf|archive-date=January 6, 2009}}</ref> TC Digital Games LLC and TC Websites LLC were shut down in 2010, due to continued lack of profitability.

On October 2, 2007, [[Warner Bros.]] and [[CBS]] announced that the [[Kids' WB]] programming block on their co-owned network, [[The CW]], would be ending in 2008, and no longer be marketed and produced in-house, due to factors including cable competition. Rights for the five-hour Saturday morning block were bought by 4Kids, and they began to program the time with their own programming (mixed in with three former Kids' WB originals) in September 2008.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Schneider Michael|url=https://variety.com/2007/digital/markets-festivals/cw-turns-to-4kids-on-saturdays-1117973235/|title=CW turns to 4Kids on Saturdays|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=October 2, 2007}}</ref> Because of this additional deal, 4Kids provided programming for both The CW and [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] in the 2008–09 season giving 4Kids nine hours of combined children's programming on two broadcast networks, as 4KidsTV ran until December 27, 2008. The new block, '''[[The CW4Kids]]''', started May 24, 2008. The CW4Kids was renamed to [[Toonzai]] starting on August 14, 2010, featuring ''[[Ojamajo Doremi|Magical Do-Re-Mi!]]'', ''[[Cubix|Cubix: Robots for Everyone]]'', ''[[Dinosaur King]]'', ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! (2000 TV series)|Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'','' [[Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's]]'', ''[[Sonic X]]'' and ''[[Dragon Ball Z Kai]]''. Even though [[4Kids TV]] was discontinued as it was online only, this programming block continued to use the CW4Kids name, to reflect to the network it airs on. 4Kids also indicated that it retained ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'' and ''[[Sonic X]]'' in its lineup. In addition to that, Toonzai also aired ''[[List of Dragon Ball Z Kai episodes|Dragon Ball Z Kai]]''. The Toonzai block ended on August 18, 2012. A week later, the block was replaced by [[Vortexx]], which ran as a final Saturday morning cartoon block on The CW from August 25, 2012, to September 27, 2014, before being replaced by [[One Magnificent Morning]] on October 4, 2014.

On November 10, 2008, 4Kids Entertainment announced that it would exit its contract with Fox and terminate its Fox programming block by the end of 2008.<ref>{{cite news|title=4Kids to End Its Fox Programming Block in December|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-11-10/4kids-to-terminate-fox-programming-block-in-december|publisher=Anime News Network|date=November 10, 2008|access-date=November 10, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/VR1117996360.html|title=Longform ads replace kid fare on Fox|last=Schneider|first=Michael|date=November 23, 2008|work=Variety|access-date=March 15, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090310033630/http://www.variety.com/VR1117996360.html| archive-date= March 10, 2009 | url-status=live}}</ref> The final broadcast of 4Kids TV on Fox was on December 27, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://app.quotemedia.com/data/newsItem.htm?webmasterId=92403&storyId=14004012&topic=KDE|title=4Kids Entertainment Reports Third Quarter 2008 Results And Settlement of Fox Litigation|date=November 10, 2008|work=QuoteMedia|access-date=March 15, 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20090227133036/http://app.quotemedia.com/data/newsItem.htm?webmasterId=92403&storyId=14004012&topic=KDE|archive-date=February 27, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On December 17, 2008, 4Kids Entertainment announced that it was laying off about 15% of its workforce due to the [[Financial crisis of 2007–08|worsening economic environment]], and financial situation at the company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-12-17/4kids-entertainment-lays-off-about-15-percent-of-workforce|title=4Kids Entertainment Lays Off About 15% of Workforce|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=December 12, 2016|access-date=August 3, 2016}}</ref>

=== 2010–2012: Decline and first bankruptcy ===
On May 28, 2010, the company announced that New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) trading in its common stock would be suspended prior to the opening of trading on Tuesday, June 1, 2010, thus effectively delisting the company from the [[New York Stock Exchange]]. Beginning June 1, 2010, the company began trading under the new stock symbol "KIDE" on the OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB) market.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100528005770/en/4Kids-Entertainment-Common-Stock-Move-York-Stock|title=4Kids common stock to trade under new symbol "KIDE" beginning on Tuesday, June 1, 2010|publisher=[[Business Wire]]|date=May 28, 2010|access-date=August 3, 2016}}</ref>

On January 11, 2011, the company announced that [[Alfred R. Kahn|Alfred Kahn]], the CEO and Chairman of the Company since March 1991, had left the company. Michael Goldstein, a member of the company's Board of Directors since March 2003, was appointed interim chairman, while the company was conducting a search for a new CEO.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110111005818/en/4Kids-Entertainment-Chairman-CEO-Alfred-Kahn-Retires|title=4Kids Entertainment Chairman and CEO, Alfred R Kahn, Retires|publisher=[[Business Wire]]|date=January 11, 2011|access-date=August 3, 2016}}</ref>

On March 29, 2011, [[TV Tokyo]] and [[Nihon Ad Systems]] (NAS) sued 4Kids Entertainment, alleging that the company entered into illegal agreements with other companies, including [[Funimation Entertainment]] and [[Majesco Entertainment]], regarding the ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'' anime franchise. TV Tokyo claimed that those agreements allowed 4Kids to collect royalties without paying a portion of those royalties to TV Tokyo, which violates their original agreement. The companies are seeking almost $5 million in "underpayments, wrongful deductions, and unmet obligations." As part of the suit, the companies terminated the ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' license from 4Kids. Neither Funimation nor Majesco are listed as defendants in the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-03-29/tv-tokyo-nihon-ad-terminate-yu-gi-oh-deal-sue-4kids |title=TV Tokyo, Nihon Ad Terminated Yu-Gi-Oh! Deal, Sue 4Kids|publisher=Anime News Network |date=May 30, 2011 |access-date=June 3, 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110430195058/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-03-29/tv-tokyo-nihon-ad-terminate-yu-gi-oh-deal-sue-4kids| archive-date= April 30, 2011 | url-status=live}}</ref>

4Kids Entertainment informed the licensors on March 27, 2011, that their termination letter was "wrongful and devoid of any factual and legal basis," and that they had not given 4Kids 10 days' notice as required. 4Kids further revealed that they had made a good-faith payment of $1 million and agreed to a March 18 meeting in lieu of a lawsuit, which TV Tokyo and NAS nevertheless decided to go ahead with. The company also stated that even if the termination is found to be valid, the company is prepared to do whatever it takes to stay in business. 4Kids filed for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] protection as of April 6, 2011.<ref>[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-03-31/4kids-files-shareholders-report-on-yu-gi-oh-lawsuit 4Kids Files Shareholders' Report on Yu-Gi-Oh! Lawsuit], [[Anime News Network]], March 31, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-04-06/4kids-files-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy |title=4Kids Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy |publisher=Anime News Network |date=May 30, 2011|access-date=June 3, 2011}}</ref> 4Kids requested that the court suspend co-licensor [[Asatsu DK]]'s attempts to exercise control of the ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' franchise in the United States, particularly in terms of selling the rights to the latest anime series, ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal]]'', which was due to be pitched at the Licensing International Expo on June 14.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-05-17/4kids-files-to-prevent-yu-gi-oh-zexal-licensing |title=4Kids Files to Prevent Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal Licensing |publisher=Anime News Network |date=May 30, 2011 |access-date=June 3, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-05-10/japanese-firms-pitch-new-yu-gi-oh-at-licensing-expo |title=Japanese Firms Pitch New Yu-Gi-Oh! at Licensing Expo |publisher=Anime News Network |date=May 30, 2011 |access-date=June 3, 2011}}</ref> However, on June 2, 2011, bankruptcy judge Shelley Chapman issued a [[court order]] on TV Tokyo and NAS for an automatic stay on the U.S. ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' license and said that the trial will proceed in two phases. The first phase is whether the contractual termination was valid, and the second is how much money 4Kids would owe the companies. The first phase of the trial began on August 29, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-06-02/judge-orders-hold-on-u.s-yu-gi-oh-anime-license |title=Judge Orders Hold on U.S. Yu-Gi-Oh! Anime License |publisher=Anime News Network |date=May 30, 2011 |access-date=June 3, 2011}}</ref>

On October 27, 2011, 4Kids and the executives of former financial company [[Lehman Brothers]] reached a deal, after Lehman had improperly invested most of 4Kids funds in [[auction rate security|auction rate securities]]. 4Kids received $500,000 from the deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law360.com/articles/281278|title=4Kids, Lehman Reach Deal In $36M ARS Dispute |publisher=Law360|date=October 27, 2011|access-date=November 27, 2011}}</ref> Chapman later ruled that the ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' license is still in effect due to TV Tokyo, NAS and ADK not terminating the agreement properly.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-12-31/4kids-yu-gi-oh-license-is-still-in-force-court-rules|title=4Kids' Yu-Gi-Oh! License Is Still in Force, Court Rules|date=December 31, 2011|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=December 31, 2011}}</ref> On February 29, 2012, there was an amicable settlement of the lawsuit between 4Kids Entertainment and Asatsu-DK (ADK) and TV Tokyo over the license of the Yu-Gi-Oh! property.<ref>[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-03-01/adk-tv-tokyo-amicably-settle-yu-gi-oh-suit-with-4kids ADK TV Tokyo amicably settle Yu-Gi-Oh suit with 4kids.] [[Anime News Network]]. March 1, 2012.</ref>

On May 1, 2012, Kidsco Media Ventures LLC, an affiliate of [[Saban Capital Group]], placed a bid to acquire some of 4Kids' assets, including the US rights to the ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'' franchise and [[The CW4Kids|The CW4Kids block]], for $10 million.<ref>{{cite news|title=4Kids to Sell Yu-Gi-Oh! Assets to Kidsco for US$10 Million (Updated)|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-05-01/4kids-sells-yu-gi-oh-assets-to-kidsco-for-us$10-million|access-date=June 12, 2012|newspaper=AnimeNewsNetwork|date=May 1, 2012}}</ref> On June 5, 2012, 4Kids commenced an auction between Kidsco and 4K Acquisition which was then adjourned so 4Kids, Kidsco, and 4K Acquisition could consider an alternative transaction.<ref>{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623071031/http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/press-release/4kids-entertainment-adjourns-section-363-auction/|archive-date=June 23, 2012|url=https://www.4kidsentertainment.com/press-release/4kids-entertainment-adjourns-section-363-auction/|title=4Kids Entertainment Adjourns Section 363 Auction|newspaper=4Kids Entertainment|date=June 8, 2012|access-date=September 21, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615215823/http://www.worldscreen.com/articles/display/2012-06-08-4Kids-Konami-Saban-Kidsco|archive-date=June 15, 2012|url=https://worldscreen.com/articles/display/2012-06-08-4Kids-Konami-Saban-Kidsco|title=Konami, Saban Explore Deal to Divide Up 4Kids' Assets|last=Daswani|first=Mansha|newspaper=WorldScreen|date=June 8, 2012|access-date=September 21, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Whittock|first=Jesse|title=4Kids bidders tussle over assets|url=https://www.c21media.net/archives/82996|access-date=June 12, 2012|newspaper=C21Media|date=June 11, 2012}}</ref> On June 15, 2012, 4Kids filed a notice outlining a proposed deal in which its assets would be divided between Kidsco and 4K Acquisition which was finalized on June 26, 2012. The deal saw 4K Acquisition acquire the US rights to the ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' franchise and KidsCo acquire 4Kids' other assets including the agreements for ''[[Dragon Ball|Dragon Ball Z]]'', ''[[Sonic X]]'', ''[[Cubix]]'' and The CW Network's Toonzai Saturday morning programming block.<ref>[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-06-16/konami-to-get-4kids-yu-gi-oh-assets-under-proposed-deal Konami to get 4Kids Yu-Gi-Oh assets under proposed deal]. [[Anime News Network]]. June 16, 2012.</ref><ref>[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-06-26/4kids-sells-yu-gi-oh-cw-network-related-assets-jointly-to-konami-kidsco 4Kids sells Yu-Gi-Oh CW Network related assets jointly to konami kidsco]. [[Anime News Network]]. June 26, 2012. Accessed June 2012.</ref>

On August 14, 2012, it was announced through a quarterly report that 4Kids Entertainment had discontinued operations of four operating divisions: 4Kids Ad Sales Inc., [[4K Media|4Kids Productions]] Inc., 4Kids Entertainment Music Inc., and 4Kids Entertainment Home Video, Inc. due to their continued lack of profitability. On September 13, 2012, it was revealed through a quarterly report that on August 16, 2012, the Board of Directors of 4Kids Entertainment determined to discontinue the operations of its UK subsidiary, 4Kids Entertainment International Ltd., which became effective on September 30, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053354/http://filings.issuerdirect.com/data/58592/000005859212000032/form8k09122012.htm|archive-date=September 21, 2013|url=http://filings.issuerdirect.com/data/58592/000005859212000032/form8k09122012.htm |title=UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |publisher=Filings.issuerdirect.com |access-date=September 21, 2015}}</ref> On December 5, 2012, 4Kids Entertainment announced that it had ended a dispute (over the so-called ''Pokémon'' agreement) with The Pokémon Company International under which TPCi will get a $1 million general unsecured claim against the debtor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law360.com/articles/399061 |title=4Kids, 'Pokemon' Co. Get OK For $1M Contract Row Settlement |publisher=Law360 |access-date=July 10, 2013}}</ref>

=== 2012–2016: Rebrand as 4Licensing Corporation ===
[[File:4Licensing Corporation Logo.svg|thumb|200px|right|upright|4Licensing Corporation logo]]
A meeting was scheduled on December 13, 2012, to confirm 4Kids' plan to exit bankruptcy.<ref name="EDGAR Pro">{{Cite web|title=EDGAR Pro|url=https://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/displayfilinginfo.aspx?FilingID=8990367-1208-18945&type=sect&dcn=0001140361-12-052927|access-date=2021-04-02|website=yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com}}</ref> The same day, the New York bankruptcy judge sent 4Kids Entertainment Inc. on its way out of Chapter 11 protection Thursday, overruling an objection by the American Kennel Club Inc. over a licensing agreement and approving its reorganization plan, which calls for the full payment of claims.

On December 21, 2012, 4Kids Entertainment was renamed 4Licensing Corporation.<ref name="EDGAR Pro"/>

=== 2016–2017: Second bankruptcy and closure ===
On September 21, 2016, 4Licensing Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy;<ref name="businesswire.com"/> the bankruptcy plan became effective on February 7, 2017, and the company immediately ceased operations thereafter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=284410|title=4Licensing Corporation: Private Company Information |website=Bloomberg |access-date=August 23, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://bankruptcompanynews.com/4licensing-bankruptcy-news-2-7-17/ |title=4Licensing Bankruptcy Plan Effective, Summarized |date=February 7, 2017 |work=Bankrupt Company News |access-date=September 4, 2017 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905053237/http://bankruptcompanynews.com/4licensing-bankruptcy-news-2-7-17/ |archive-date=September 5, 2017 |url-status=dead |first=Brandy |last=Chetsas }}</ref>

== Licenses and productions ==
{{Main|List of 4Kids Entertainment licenses and productions}}
4Kids Entertainment licensed a wide variety of media products, ranging from [[video game]]s and television programs to toy lines featuring the [[Royal Air Force]]. 4Kids focused on licensing content for the children's market.<ref name="ANN Kahn Interview">{{cite web |last=Pennington |first=Steven |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/columns/sunday.php?id=35 |title=Alfred R. Kahn |website=Anime News Network |access-date=April 24, 2005 |date=Apr 24, 2005 }}</ref> including content for both boys and girls.<ref>{{Cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810034201/http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/docs/report2004.pdf|archive-date=August 10, 2007|url=http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/docs/report2004.pdf|title=2004 Annual Report|publisher=4Kids Entertainment|access-date=September 21, 2015}}</ref> Many of its licenses came from [[dubbing (filmmaking)|dubs]] of Japanese anime, including ''[[Fighting Foodons]]'', and ''[[Shaman King]]'', while others are [[Traditional animation|Western]] animations or properties like ''[[Chaotic (TV series)|Chaotic]]'' or ''[[Back to the Future (TV series)|Back to the Future: The Animated Series]]''.

Most programs were either licensed out to local stations, or broadcast on their dedicated programming block [[4Kids TV]]. Typically, 4Kids would retain several properties on hiatus (such as ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX]]''), or in production to allow for turnover of their existing products. 4Kids also licensed, and merchandised, a number of non-animation based products, such as calendars like ''The Dog'', and toys like ''[[Cabbage Patch Kids]]''.

=== Back catalogues ===
* [[FilmRise]]
* [[Shout! Studios]]
* [[RLJE Films]]
* [[The Pokémon Company]]
* [[Konami]] ([[Konami Cross Media NY]])
* [[Discotek Media]]
* [[Hasbro]] ([[Hasbro Entertainment]])
* [[Viz Media]]
* [[Media Blasters]]
* [[Crunchyroll LLC|Crunchyroll]] (formerly Funimation)

== Executive management ==
This is a list of [[Chief Executive Officer]]s that ran 4Kids Entertainment.

=== Chief executive officers ===
* June 1990 – December 1990: [[Bobby Kotick]]<ref name="Robert Kotick"/>
* March 12, 1991 – January 11, 2011: [[Alfred R. Kahn]]<ref>{{Cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114024226/http://www.4kidsentertainment.com/press-release/january-11-2011-4kids-entertainment-chairman-and-ceo-alfred-r-kahn-retires/|archive-date=January 14, 2012|url=https://www.4kidsentertainment.com/press-release/january-11-2011-4kids-entertainment-chairman-and-ceo-alfred-r-kahn-retires/|title=4Kids Entertainment Chairman and CEO, Alfred R Kahn, Retires|publisher=4Kids Entertainment|date=January 11, 2011|access-date=September 21, 2015}}</ref>
* January 11, 2011 – September 30, 2012: Michael Goldstein<ref>{{cite web|author=Michael Goldstein CPA |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=593555&privcapId=119882&previousCapId=61206100&previousTitle=GENERAL%20MOTORS%20CO |title=Michael Goldstein: Executive Profile & Biography - Businessweek |publisher=Investing.businessweek.com |access-date=July 10, 2013}}{{dead link|date=April 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
* October 16, 2012 – February 29, 2016: Bruce R. Foster<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/displayfilinginfo.aspx?FilingID=11215413-1204-5610&type=sect&TabIndex=2&companyid=2289&ppu=%252fdefault.aspx%253fcompanyid%253d2289|title=FORM 8-K|publisher=Endgar Online|date=February 29, 2016|access-date=August 8, 2016}}</ref>

== Criticism and controversy ==
<!-- Please reference *reliable* secondary sources (Anime News Network articles, newspaper articles) that specifically discuss 4Kids editing. -->
{{Further|Editing of anime in distribution}}
[[File:OnePieceedit.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Comparison of the same scene in ''[[One Piece (1999 TV series)|One Piece]]''. Original Japanese version (top) and 4Kids edit of what could be perceived as [[blackface]] (below).]]
During its operation as 4Kids Entertainment, the company faced intense criticism from viewers over the company's extensive editing and localization of the [[anime]] and other non-American series they licensed. Practices like censorship, story editing, music editing, and their "Americanization" of Japanese culture references, were changed to be more American. One example included characters eating [[Onigiri|rice balls]] commenting that they were eating [[Jelly doughnut|jelly doughnuts]] in their dub of the original ''Pokémon'' anime.<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=4Kids Hates Riceballs | date=April 4, 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjphanrGEKQ |language=en |access-date=2022-03-13|via=[[YouTube]] }}</ref>

At the 2019 Fan Expo Canada, [[Eric Stuart]], who was the voice of Brock and James in the 4Kids dub of ''Pokémon'', the voice of Seto Kaiba in the English dub of ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'', and who was also part of the production side, mentioned why 4Kids' dubs had this censorship. He explained that American culture has a different sensitivity to certain content compared to Japanese culture, and networks on Saturday mornings had standards that would forbid certain inappropriate content like firearms, sexual references, religious references, display or mention of death, alcohol, cigarettes, and other content that is considered offensive to American audiences. As the censorship is dictated by the networks and not the production company itself, 4Kids would submit the scripts and footage of their dubs to the networks their dubs air on, and then the executives of those networks would review them. Then after they reviewed it, they would tell 4Kids to cut out certain scenes and edit inappropriate content to something particular like changing Sanji's cigarette to a [[lollipop]] in ''One Piece'', or changing a stone that looks like a [[Millennium Cross|cross]] to something non-religious for their dubs to pass the network's standards. He also pointed out that ''Pokémon'', and anime as a whole, wouldn't be as wildly popular as it is today if companies like 4Kids didn't air it on network television instead of being in the back of a video store.<ref>{{cite AV media | last = Stuart | first = Eric | author-link= Eric Stuart | date = 2019 | title = Pokémon Voice Acting Stars Rachael Lillis & Eric Stuart - Fan Expo Canada 2019 Q&A Panel | time = 43:36 | url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8RBoZX08SA&t=43m36s | access-date = October 6, 2019}}</ref>

At the 2016 Metrocon, Eric Stuart also explained the "Americanization" in 4Kids' dubs. He stated that those edits were international edits. When companies like 4Kids purchase the licensing to Japanese anime, the anime not only was redubbed into English but also redubbed into multiple languages because companies like 4Kids were used to distribute the anime to other countries by using their dubs and licensing them to other countries to have their dubs be used to distribute the anime. The Japanese food products being changed, and Japanese references being removed were requested by those Japanese anime companies because they wanted their anime to be distributed worldwide and wanted international audiences to relate to their products much easier. So, while the Japanese anime companies remove the Japanese text on signs, 4Kids removed the scenes involving Japanese references and changed the names of the Japanese food products like rice balls to something more international like donuts while only occasionally changing the animation to the foods since making animation changes causes a rise in production costs and they already have to make plenty of animation changes in their dubs.<ref>{{cite AV media | last = Stuart | first = Eric | author-link= Eric Stuart | date = 2016 | title = No Guidelines (Eric Stuart Q and A #2 [Metrocon 2016] | url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8L5N32GmkE | access-date = January 4, 2020}}</ref>

A March 2006 study by the [[Parents Television Council]], a conservative advocacy group, on violence in children's television programs claimed that the 4Kids dub of ''[[Shaman King (2001 TV series)|Shaman King]]'' was still too violent for children.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parentstv.org/ptc/news/release/2006/0302.asp|title=New PTC Study Finds More Violence on Children's TV than on Adult-Oriented TV|website=[[Parents Television Council]]|date=March 2, 2006|access-date=January 19, 2022|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209222223/http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/news/release/2006/0302.asp|archive-date=December 9, 2019}}</ref>
{{clear}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* [[File:CC BY-SA icon.svg|50px|class=noviewer]] This article contains quotations from [https://thundercats-ho.fandom.com/wiki/Leisure_Concepts_Inc. Leisure Concepts] and from [https://thundercats-ho.fandom.com/wiki/Mike_Germakian Mike Germakian] at the ThunderCats wiki, which is available under a [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) license].

== External links ==
{{Portal|New York City|Companies|Anime and manga|Television|United States}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/*/www.4licensingcorp.com/ 4Licensing Corporation] (archive)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/*/www.4kidsentertaimentinc.com 4Kids Entertainment] (archive) [https://web.archive.org/web/20120808033604/http://www.4kidsentertainmentinc.com original]
* {{anime News Network|company|303}}

{{Animation industry in the United States}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:4Kids Entertainment}}
[[Category:4Kids Entertainment|4Kids Entertainment]]
[[Category:American animation studios]]
[[Category:Anime companies]]
[[Category:Anime companies]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Anime and manga controversies]]
[[Category:Animation controversies in television]]
[[Category:Brokered programming]]
[[Category:Children's television in the United States]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1970]]
[[Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 2017]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2011]]
[[Category:Dubbing (filmmaking)]]
[[Category:Mass media companies based in New York City]]
[[Category:Television censorship in the United States]]
[[Category:Television production companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Television production companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1970]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2016]]
[[Category:Children's television]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 1970]]
[[Category:American animation studios]]
[[Category:1970 establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:4Kids Entertainment| ]]
[[Category:2017 disestablishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Companies based in New York City]]
[[Category:American companies disestablished in 2017]]

[[es:4Kids Entertainment]]
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Latest revision as of 06:18, 1 December 2024

"4Kids" redirects here. For the programming block, see 4Kids TV.

4Kids Entertainment, Inc.
FormerlyLeisure Concepts
(1970–1995)
4Kids Entertainment
(1995–2012)
4Licensing Corporation (2012–2017)
Company typePublic
NYSE: KDE
OTCBB: KIDE
OTCQB: FOUR
IndustryMedia
Licensing
GenreAnime
FoundedApril 28, 1970; 54 years ago (1970-04-28) (as Leisure Concepts, Inc.)
FoundersMike Germakian
Stan Weston
DefunctFebruary 7, 2017; 7 years ago (2017-02-07)
FateBankruptcy
SuccessorKonami Cross Media NY
Headquarters
New York, New York
,
U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsFox Box/4Kids TV
The CW4Kids/Toonzai
Number of employees
16 (2013)
Subsidiaries4Kids Entertainment International Limited
4Kids Entertainment Licensing, Inc.
4Kids Entertainment Home Video, Inc.
4Kids Productions, Inc.
4Kids Ad Sales, Inc.
The Summit Media Group, Inc.
4Kids Technology, Inc.
Websites 4 Kids, Inc.
4Kids Entertainment Music, Inc.
Footnotes / references
[1][2]

4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (formerly known as Leisure Concepts, Inc. and later known as 4Licensing Corporation; stylized as 4K!DS ENTERTAINMENT) was an American licensing company. The company was previously also a film and television production company that produced English-dubbed Japanese anime through its subsidiary 4Kids Productions between 1992 and 2012; it specialized in the acquisition, production and licensing of children's entertainment around the United States. The first anime that 4Kids Productions dubbed was the first eight seasons of Pokémon that originally began airing in first run syndication, and then it later moved to exclusively air on Kids' WB! in the United States. The company is most well-known for its range of television licenses, which has included the multibillion-dollar Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! Japanese anime franchises. They also ran two program blocks: Toonzai (originally The CW4Kids) on The CW, and 4Kids TV (originally FoxBox) on Fox, both aimed at children.[3] The 4KidsTV block ended on December 27, 2008, while its Toonzai block ended on August 18, 2012, which was replaced by Saban's Vortexx, which in itself was succeeded by the One Magnificent Morning block by Litton Entertainment (now known as Hearst Media Production Group) in 2014.

4Licensing Corporation had its world headquarters on Third Avenue in New York City, its former subsidiary, 4Kids Productions, had its headquarters in a separate building in Manhattan. The New York Stock Exchange delisted 4Kids (NYSE: KDE) on June 1, 2010. On April 6, 2011, it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection following a lawsuit concerning the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise. On December 13, 2012, the company announced that it had emerged from bankruptcy.[4] On September 21, 2016, it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection once again and shut down operations one year later.[5] 4Kids' former CEO, Alfred R. Kahn, founded a successor company called Kidtagious Entertainment in 2019.[6]

History

[edit]

Company origins

[edit]

Leisure Concepts was co-founded on April 28, 1970,[7][8] by Mike Germakian (later who would be known as one of the creators of ThunderCats) and Stan Weston (the creator of G.I. Joe and Captain Action),[9][10] as an independent licensing agency in New York City. Mike Germakian was the secretary of LCI, while Stan Weston was initially the President and later the Chairman of Leisure Concepts.[8][11][12] Weston was also the Treasurer of the company.[13]

1970–1990: Early beginnings

[edit]
See also: ThunderCats

In the beginning, the company pitched toy and cartoon ideas to various companies, as well as formed partnerships with companies such as Rankin/Bass, among others.[11]

LCI began making news in the 1980s through licensing actual people, a variety of products, and even concepts. The company also had a growing number of deals with television producers and toy manufacturers. Among the company's licenses at the time were Farrah Fawcett of Charlie's Angels fame, Charlie Chan, James Bond 007, a wide array of Nintendo characters and products, the Hulk, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century TV Series[14] and many others.[15]

LCI is credited in its assistance in the initial development of the "ThunderCats" concept and acted on behalf of Lorimar-Telepictures Corp as an exclusive worldwide licensing agent for products based on "Thundercats",[16][17][18][19] an agreement that was signed between the two parties on June 15, 1984.[20]

During the mid-1980s, Ted Wolf came up with the idea of a race of catlike humanoid superheroes. He shared his vision with his friend Stan Weston, who in turn, through LCI, pitched it to Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment. Both Arthur Rankin Jr and Jules Bass were impressed with the idea and the potential that it had of becoming an instant success. They approved of it and "ThunderCats" went into production.

During the early development stage, Mike Germakian designed much of the ThunderCats' characters, vehicles and locations. He was also responsible for creating the now iconic ThunderCats logo, featuring a stylized black panther head on a red circle. Germakian's designs were then sent to Pacific Animation Corporation in Japan to be adapted into cartoon format. After completing work on ThunderCats, Germakian went on to design characters for SilverHawks and The Comic Strip, both Rankin/Bass shows.

In July 1987, Alfred Kahn, former Executive Vice President of Marketing[21] at Coleco, who was credited for bringing the Cabbage Patch Kids to the Mainstream, joined the company as vice chairman and a member of the board of directors.[22]

On December 17, 1987,[22] LCI signed a licensing deal with Nintendo of America, Inc. to market the software products that went along with its increasingly popular gaming systems. Nintendo had already introduced The Legend of Zelda for its home video game system, a software product that went on to sell more than one million copies during the year.[15] Some time in 1986, the company also signed a licensing deal to market Star Wars.[23]

1990–2000: Expansion and name change

[edit]
See also: Bobby Kotick, The Summit Media Group, and Pokémon

In the early 1990s, LCI expanded its operations and began television production in 1992. This would include English-dubbing Japanese anime through its subsidiary 4Kids Productions, which the company would be mostly known for.

In 1987, Bobby Kotick (former President and CEO of Activision Blizzard) tried to acquire Commodore International. When Kotick was unsuccessful, he instead purchased a controlling stake in LCI, thus also becoming LCI's CEO and chairman in June 1990.[24][25] Kotick later traded out of his stake in LCI and bought a 25% stake in Activision in December 1990. In March 1991, Kotick became CEO at Activision.[26]

The company did $6 million in sales in 1989 and employed 14 people by 1990.[27]

On March 12, 1991, LCI appointed Alfred Kahn as its chairman and CEO.[22]

In 1992, two subsidiaries were established by the company: The Summit Media Group, Inc. and 4Kids Productions.[15]

The company changed its name from Leisure Concepts Inc. to 4Kids Entertainment Inc. on November 16, 1995.[22] Although the company changed its name, "Leisure Concepts" still operated as a separate subsidiary of the company,[22] meaning the company may have decided to use the "Leisure Concepts" name for branding purposes.

By 1999, 4Kids Entertainment employed 50 people.[28]

2000–2005: The new millennium

[edit]
See also: 4Kids TV

The new century found 4Kids Entertainment Inc., switching from the NASDAQ market and joining the New York Stock Exchange on September 20, 2000.[15][29][30] The firm's new ticker symbol was KDE, and the company was riding high during the continuing success of "Pokemon" when it earned Fortune's top slot on its 100 Fastest Growing Companies for 2000.[31][32][33] The company was also listed on the Frankfurt Exchange earlier in the year.[34]

On April 5, 2000, 4Kids and Mattel signed a licensing agreement to create Hot Wheels die-cast cars and racing sets featuring the PACE Motor Sports line of monster trucks. The license included rights to the monster truck Grave Digger, and a new line of World Championship Wrestling vehicles designed after their star wrestlers such as Goldberg, Sting and Bret Hart. The PACE Motor Sports and World Championship Wrestling line of Hot Wheels vehicles have been available nationally at mass-market retailers beginning in the summer of that year.[35]

In 2001, 4Kids Entertainment obtained the merchandising and television rights to the series Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters[36] from Nihon Ad Systems, producing an English-language version which aired in North America on Kids' WB from September 29, 2001, to June 10, 2006.

In October 2001, 4Kids Entertainment acquired a 3% stake in The Pokémon Company, in a move to benefit indirectly from Pokémon's success in Asia, and from worldwide sales of Pokémon electronic cards and video games.[37][38]

In late January 2002, after engaging in a bidding war with DIC Entertainment, 4Kids Entertainment signed a four-year, US$100 million deal with the Fox Broadcasting Company to program its Saturday morning lineup.[39] 4Kids Entertainment was wholly responsible for the content of the block and collected all advertising revenues from it.[40]

In May 2002, 4Kids Entertainment launched a home video division called 4Kids Entertainment Home Video and appointed FUNimation Productions as the exclusive distributor for their Yu-Gi-Oh!, Cubix, Cabbage Patch Kids and Tama and Friends properties.[41]

By 2002, 4Kids got $140 million in Pokémon revenue.[42][43]

4Kids' new Saturday-Morning cartoon block on Fox premiered on September 14, 2002, as "FoxBox".[44] FoxBox rebranded to "4Kids TV" in January 2005.[45]

2005–2010: Further expansion and financial failings

[edit]

On October 10, 2005, 4Kids Entertainment sold its 3% stake in The Pokémon Company for US$960,000, to the three parties owning the rights to Pokémon (Nintendo, Creatures and Game Freak).[46]

On December 23, 2005, the company announced that it will not renew the Pokémon representation agreement set to expire on December 31, 2005. And that beginning in 2006, Pokémon USA, Inc.'s in-house licensing group will handle all Pokémon licensing outside of Asia. However, the company will continue to receive commissions for the next several years, on payments made under existing Pokémon license agreements whose term expires after December 31, 2005.[47][48]

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 was at the time dominated by games targeted toward the 12-and-up market.[49] One of the first titles announced was Viva Piñata which would be developed by Rare. On June 10, 2006, 4Kids licensed the sequel series to Yu-Gi-Oh, Yu-Gi-Oh GX, for release in North America.[50]

On April 18, 2006, 4Kids launched a new subsidiary entitled 4Sight Licensing Solutions Inc.,[51] which licenses and market brands aimed at adults, teenagers and pre-teens. "We have built an impressive roster of captivating and successful children's entertainment properties," said Alfred Kahn.[51] "Given the increased number of brands that we are representing that focus on an older audience, we felt it would be beneficial to organize a new subsidiary primarily devoted to the marketing and licensing of these brands. We believe that we can successfully utilize our marketing and licensing expertise to build brand value for properties targeting an older consumer that are not necessarily media or character driven."[51]

On December 11, 2006, 4Kids Entertainment announced the formation of two subsidiaries, TC Digital Games, LLC, a trading card company, and TC Websites, LLC, an online multi-platform game company. "The formation of TC Digital Games and TC Websites represent a significant enhancement of our business strategy," said Alfred R. Kahn, chairman and CEO of 4Kids Entertainment.[52] TC Digital Games LLC and TC Websites LLC were shut down in 2010, due to continued lack of profitability.

On October 2, 2007, Warner Bros. and CBS announced that the Kids' WB programming block on their co-owned network, The CW, would be ending in 2008, and no longer be marketed and produced in-house, due to factors including cable competition. Rights for the five-hour Saturday morning block were bought by 4Kids, and they began to program the time with their own programming (mixed in with three former Kids' WB originals) in September 2008.[53] Because of this additional deal, 4Kids provided programming for both The CW and Fox in the 2008–09 season giving 4Kids nine hours of combined children's programming on two broadcast networks, as 4KidsTV ran until December 27, 2008. The new block, The CW4Kids, started May 24, 2008. The CW4Kids was renamed to Toonzai starting on August 14, 2010, featuring Magical Do-Re-Mi!, Cubix: Robots for Everyone, Dinosaur King, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, Sonic X and Dragon Ball Z Kai. Even though 4Kids TV was discontinued as it was online only, this programming block continued to use the CW4Kids name, to reflect to the network it airs on. 4Kids also indicated that it retained Yu-Gi-Oh! and Sonic X in its lineup. In addition to that, Toonzai also aired Dragon Ball Z Kai. The Toonzai block ended on August 18, 2012. A week later, the block was replaced by Vortexx, which ran as a final Saturday morning cartoon block on The CW from August 25, 2012, to September 27, 2014, before being replaced by One Magnificent Morning on October 4, 2014.

On November 10, 2008, 4Kids Entertainment announced that it would exit its contract with Fox and terminate its Fox programming block by the end of 2008.[54][55] The final broadcast of 4Kids TV on Fox was on December 27, 2008.[56]

On December 17, 2008, 4Kids Entertainment announced that it was laying off about 15% of its workforce due to the worsening economic environment, and financial situation at the company.[57]

2010–2012: Decline and first bankruptcy

[edit]

On May 28, 2010, the company announced that New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) trading in its common stock would be suspended prior to the opening of trading on Tuesday, June 1, 2010, thus effectively delisting the company from the New York Stock Exchange. Beginning June 1, 2010, the company began trading under the new stock symbol "KIDE" on the OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB) market.[58]

On January 11, 2011, the company announced that Alfred Kahn, the CEO and Chairman of the Company since March 1991, had left the company. Michael Goldstein, a member of the company's Board of Directors since March 2003, was appointed interim chairman, while the company was conducting a search for a new CEO.[59]

On March 29, 2011, TV Tokyo and Nihon Ad Systems (NAS) sued 4Kids Entertainment, alleging that the company entered into illegal agreements with other companies, including Funimation Entertainment and Majesco Entertainment, regarding the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime franchise. TV Tokyo claimed that those agreements allowed 4Kids to collect royalties without paying a portion of those royalties to TV Tokyo, which violates their original agreement. The companies are seeking almost $5 million in "underpayments, wrongful deductions, and unmet obligations." As part of the suit, the companies terminated the Yu-Gi-Oh! license from 4Kids. Neither Funimation nor Majesco are listed as defendants in the case.[60]

4Kids Entertainment informed the licensors on March 27, 2011, that their termination letter was "wrongful and devoid of any factual and legal basis," and that they had not given 4Kids 10 days' notice as required. 4Kids further revealed that they had made a good-faith payment of $1 million and agreed to a March 18 meeting in lieu of a lawsuit, which TV Tokyo and NAS nevertheless decided to go ahead with. The company also stated that even if the termination is found to be valid, the company is prepared to do whatever it takes to stay in business. 4Kids filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as of April 6, 2011.[61][62] 4Kids requested that the court suspend co-licensor Asatsu DK's attempts to exercise control of the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise in the United States, particularly in terms of selling the rights to the latest anime series, Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal, which was due to be pitched at the Licensing International Expo on June 14.[63][64] However, on June 2, 2011, bankruptcy judge Shelley Chapman issued a court order on TV Tokyo and NAS for an automatic stay on the U.S. Yu-Gi-Oh! license and said that the trial will proceed in two phases. The first phase is whether the contractual termination was valid, and the second is how much money 4Kids would owe the companies. The first phase of the trial began on August 29, 2011.[65]

On October 27, 2011, 4Kids and the executives of former financial company Lehman Brothers reached a deal, after Lehman had improperly invested most of 4Kids funds in auction rate securities. 4Kids received $500,000 from the deal.[66] Chapman later ruled that the Yu-Gi-Oh! license is still in effect due to TV Tokyo, NAS and ADK not terminating the agreement properly.[67] On February 29, 2012, there was an amicable settlement of the lawsuit between 4Kids Entertainment and Asatsu-DK (ADK) and TV Tokyo over the license of the Yu-Gi-Oh! property.[68]

On May 1, 2012, Kidsco Media Ventures LLC, an affiliate of Saban Capital Group, placed a bid to acquire some of 4Kids' assets, including the US rights to the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise and The CW4Kids block, for $10 million.[69] On June 5, 2012, 4Kids commenced an auction between Kidsco and 4K Acquisition which was then adjourned so 4Kids, Kidsco, and 4K Acquisition could consider an alternative transaction.[70][71][72] On June 15, 2012, 4Kids filed a notice outlining a proposed deal in which its assets would be divided between Kidsco and 4K Acquisition which was finalized on June 26, 2012. The deal saw 4K Acquisition acquire the US rights to the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise and KidsCo acquire 4Kids' other assets including the agreements for Dragon Ball Z, Sonic X, Cubix and The CW Network's Toonzai Saturday morning programming block.[73][74]

On August 14, 2012, it was announced through a quarterly report that 4Kids Entertainment had discontinued operations of four operating divisions: 4Kids Ad Sales Inc., 4Kids Productions Inc., 4Kids Entertainment Music Inc., and 4Kids Entertainment Home Video, Inc. due to their continued lack of profitability. On September 13, 2012, it was revealed through a quarterly report that on August 16, 2012, the Board of Directors of 4Kids Entertainment determined to discontinue the operations of its UK subsidiary, 4Kids Entertainment International Ltd., which became effective on September 30, 2012.[75] On December 5, 2012, 4Kids Entertainment announced that it had ended a dispute (over the so-called Pokémon agreement) with The Pokémon Company International under which TPCi will get a $1 million general unsecured claim against the debtor.[76]

2012–2016: Rebrand as 4Licensing Corporation

[edit]
4Licensing Corporation logo

A meeting was scheduled on December 13, 2012, to confirm 4Kids' plan to exit bankruptcy.[77] The same day, the New York bankruptcy judge sent 4Kids Entertainment Inc. on its way out of Chapter 11 protection Thursday, overruling an objection by the American Kennel Club Inc. over a licensing agreement and approving its reorganization plan, which calls for the full payment of claims.

On December 21, 2012, 4Kids Entertainment was renamed 4Licensing Corporation.[77]

2016–2017: Second bankruptcy and closure

[edit]

On September 21, 2016, 4Licensing Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy;[5] the bankruptcy plan became effective on February 7, 2017, and the company immediately ceased operations thereafter.[78][79]

Licenses and productions

[edit]
Main article: List of 4Kids Entertainment licenses and productions

4Kids Entertainment licensed a wide variety of media products, ranging from video games and television programs to toy lines featuring the Royal Air Force. 4Kids focused on licensing content for the children's market.[80] including content for both boys and girls.[81] Many of its licenses came from dubs of Japanese anime, including Fighting Foodons, and Shaman King, while others are Western animations or properties like Chaotic or Back to the Future: The Animated Series.

Most programs were either licensed out to local stations, or broadcast on their dedicated programming block 4Kids TV. Typically, 4Kids would retain several properties on hiatus (such as Yu-Gi-Oh! GX), or in production to allow for turnover of their existing products. 4Kids also licensed, and merchandised, a number of non-animation based products, such as calendars like The Dog, and toys like Cabbage Patch Kids.

Back catalogues

[edit]

Executive management

[edit]

This is a list of Chief Executive Officers that ran 4Kids Entertainment.

Chief executive officers

[edit]
  • June 1990 – December 1990: Bobby Kotick[25]
  • March 12, 1991 – January 11, 2011: Alfred R. Kahn[82]
  • January 11, 2011 – September 30, 2012: Michael Goldstein[83]
  • October 16, 2012 – February 29, 2016: Bruce R. Foster[84]

Criticism and controversy

[edit]
Further information: Editing of anime in distribution
Comparison of the same scene in One Piece. Original Japanese version (top) and 4Kids edit of what could be perceived as blackface (below).

During its operation as 4Kids Entertainment, the company faced intense criticism from viewers over the company's extensive editing and localization of the anime and other non-American series they licensed. Practices like censorship, story editing, music editing, and their "Americanization" of Japanese culture references, were changed to be more American. One example included characters eating rice balls commenting that they were eating jelly doughnuts in their dub of the original Pokémon anime.[85]

At the 2019 Fan Expo Canada, Eric Stuart, who was the voice of Brock and James in the 4Kids dub of Pokémon, the voice of Seto Kaiba in the English dub of Yu-Gi-Oh!, and who was also part of the production side, mentioned why 4Kids' dubs had this censorship. He explained that American culture has a different sensitivity to certain content compared to Japanese culture, and networks on Saturday mornings had standards that would forbid certain inappropriate content like firearms, sexual references, religious references, display or mention of death, alcohol, cigarettes, and other content that is considered offensive to American audiences. As the censorship is dictated by the networks and not the production company itself, 4Kids would submit the scripts and footage of their dubs to the networks their dubs air on, and then the executives of those networks would review them. Then after they reviewed it, they would tell 4Kids to cut out certain scenes and edit inappropriate content to something particular like changing Sanji's cigarette to a lollipop in One Piece, or changing a stone that looks like a cross to something non-religious for their dubs to pass the network's standards. He also pointed out that Pokémon, and anime as a whole, wouldn't be as wildly popular as it is today if companies like 4Kids didn't air it on network television instead of being in the back of a video store.[86]

At the 2016 Metrocon, Eric Stuart also explained the "Americanization" in 4Kids' dubs. He stated that those edits were international edits. When companies like 4Kids purchase the licensing to Japanese anime, the anime not only was redubbed into English but also redubbed into multiple languages because companies like 4Kids were used to distribute the anime to other countries by using their dubs and licensing them to other countries to have their dubs be used to distribute the anime. The Japanese food products being changed, and Japanese references being removed were requested by those Japanese anime companies because they wanted their anime to be distributed worldwide and wanted international audiences to relate to their products much easier. So, while the Japanese anime companies remove the Japanese text on signs, 4Kids removed the scenes involving Japanese references and changed the names of the Japanese food products like rice balls to something more international like donuts while only occasionally changing the animation to the foods since making animation changes causes a rise in production costs and they already have to make plenty of animation changes in their dubs.[87]

A March 2006 study by the Parents Television Council, a conservative advocacy group, on violence in children's television programs claimed that the 4Kids dub of Shaman King was still too violent for children.[88]

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[edit]
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