News
Beyblade Anime to Return after 4 Years This Summer
posted on by Egan Loo
The April 8 issue of the Nihon Keizai (Nikkei) Shimbun paper reports that Takaratomy is reviving the Beyblade spinning-top game franchise after a four-year hiatus this August, and will sponsor a new accompanying Beyblade anime this summer. Takaratomy is aiming for 20 billion yen (about US$200 million) in yearly revenue by next year, and will improve the new tops by making them out of metal instead of plastic.
Takaratomy launched the game franchise in 1999, and sponsored three anime series between 2001 and 2003: Bakuten Shoot Beyblade, Bakuten Shoot Beyblade 2002 (Beyblade: V-Force), and Bakuten Shoot Beyblade G-Revolution. Nelvana (Bakugan, Medabots) released all three in the United States, with the last new episode airing in 2005. Viz Media released Takao Aoki's manga spinoff, although a new manga series has yet to be announced.
Source: animeanime.jp