Paris-headquartered distributor Viz Media Europe has appointed UK agency Bulldog Licensing and German brand management company m4e to rep Japanese anime sensation Yo-kai Watch in the UK and German-speaking territories, respectively.

New broadcast deals are also imminent in the UK and Germany with two yet-to-be named networks.

Since debuting in Japan in 2014, the Dentsu, Level-5 and TV Tokyo co-production has been a hit across TV, gaming and consumer products markets with more than US$2 billion in retail sales to date.

Based on Level-5′s Nintendo 3DS videogame franchise of the same name, adventure/comedy series Yo-kai Watch follows an average boy, Nate, who discovers he has the ability to communicate and solve everyday problems with mysterious and mischievous creatures called Yo-kai after receiving a special watch.

The latest deals follow news that the series will debut in North America on Disney XD later this year accompanied by a North American version of the bestselling Nintendo 3DS video game.

The North American rollout will continue next spring with a toy line by master toy partner Hasbro and the brand is also set to enter the LatAm market after MarVista Entertainment recently acquired media, licensing and merchandising rights.