Pacific Animation Partners, the joint venture formed by JAKKS Pacific, Dentsu Entertainment USA and FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) to produce and distribute original new animated entertainment, is bringing The Topps Company on board the new boys-oriented Monsuno project. Topps, which creates and markets sports and entertainment cards, related collectibles and confectionery brands, will be an investor in the production of the Monsuno animated TV series as well as a licensee and partner on trading card games, confectioneries and related products.

FME will be responsible for the exclusive worldwide distribution of Monsuno programming and will act as the Master Licensing Agent for the brand worldwide, with the exception of Asia. JAKKS Pacific, meanwhile, is the primary owner of the IP and will be the master toymaker for the Monsuno toy line, which is expected to hit retail shelves to coincide with the TV show launch slated for late fall 2011 or spring 2012, pending finalization of a US network broadcast deal.

The 52 x 30-minutes series, to be co-produced by Dentsu Entertainment USA, JAKKS Pacific and FME, in conjunction with Dentsu’s Tokyo-based subsidiary animation production arm Dentsu Tec, is a boys action adventure where kids are imbued with the power to command and battle creatures with amazing destructive potential and use them to protect the Earth against those who would tear it apart. Targeted at boys ages six to 11, the TV series will be supported by a JAKKS Pacific toy line of action figures, gadgets, collectibles and integrated role play.