Thailand top Asian market outside Japan for Ultraman
Thailand has been recognised by Japan's Tsuburaya Productions as the largest market in Asia, outside of Japan, for Ultraman superhero merchandising and live-show businesses.
Krit Sakulpanich, managing director of Dream Express, yesterday said the company had for 13 years been importing Japanese superhero and animation films and television series under local broadcasting and distribution rights.
Dream Express currently has 12 Japanese cartoon and superhero characters in its portfolio, including Ultraman, Gundam, Masked Rider and Bakugan.
The company has had the local broadcasting and distribution rights for media and merchandising of Ultraman characters for more than three years.
“Our revenues gained from Ultraman characters in Thailand have increased by between 200 and 300 per cent from the first year we got the right for the superheroes,” Krit said. “This makes Tsuburaya Productions, which owns the Ultraman characters, quite happy with us. They have been supporting us in many marketing initiatives, such as the bringing of actors from the ‘Ultraman’ TV series to Thailand to join live-show events.”
Dream Express expects its overall sales to increase by 25 per cent to Bt277 million this year. Merchandising business will contribute the highest growth at 40 per cent, followed by live shows with targeted expansion of 10 per cent.
However, the company expects sales from home-entertainment products, consisting of video compact discs and DVDs, to be stagnant this year.
Merchandising accounts for the largest proportion of Dream Express’s business, at 40 per cent, while 30 per cent comes from VCDs and DVDs, and 10 per cent from live shows.
The company will host the year’s largest live show, “Ultraman Live 2012: 8 Ultra Brothers”, from tomorrow through Saturday at CentralPlaza Chaengwattana, featuring Ultraman Gaia and his Ultraman brothers, who will fight a 4-metre-tall monster.
Ultraman fans will be able to meet Takeshi Yoshioka, who plays Gamu Takayama, the human host of Ultraman Gaia from the “Ultraman” TV series. He will feature in this week’s show in Bangkok.
“We have been hosting the live shows for Ultraman in Thailand at a loss because of the high production costs. However, we benefit from the shows in that we can use this kind of active media to promote Ultraman characters in Thailand, especially among kids,” Krit said.
Vichien Vangveravongsa, general manager of Dream Express, said about 10,000 people were expected to watch “Ultraman Live 2012” over the three days of the show.
Moreover, the company will take the show on the road to major provinces: from May 4 to 7 at CentralPlaza Khonkaen; from October 11 to 14 at CentralPlaza Udonthani; from October 20 to 23 at CentralPlaza Suratthani; and from November 2 to 4 at CentralPlaza Chiang Mai Airport.
The shows are expected to attract between 50,000 and 60,000 people in total.
The company also plans to host the “Masked Rider Show” in Bangkok in August to celebrate the local launch of the Masked Rider Double character in the Kingdom.
