Nelvana and Vivendi join forces for Beyblade series

August 27, 2010 by Wendy Goldman Getzler

Nelvana Enterprises has forged a North American licensing agreement with Vivendi Entertainment, a division of Universal Music Canada, for home entertainment and VOD distribution of new animated series Beyblade: Metal Fusion.

Content will include an initial 51 episodes in seven DVD releases with Volume 1 available on November 9 in English, French and Spanish at retail outlets across North America.

The new 2-D and CGI-animated series from Nelvana and d-rights offers a fresh take on the original Beyblade series and features new characters competing for dominance with their spinning Beyblade tops, battling against an evil organization, The Dark Nebula.

It currently airs on YTV in Canada and Cartoon Network US and is set to launch in the UK and Europe in the coming year. The series’ accompanying toy line is one of the most popular toys in Japan, selling more than 24 million tops and accessories since the 2008 re-launch by Tomy Company. Hasbro has been appointed the master toy licensee for most international markets outside of Asia and the toy line is already on shelves in Canada and the US.