ITV buys Digimon anime series

ITV has picked up the latest series of kids anime show Digimon.

The UK free-to-air broadcaster has acquired Saban show Digimon Fusion from its distributor MarVista in a deal that also covers related licensing and merchandising.

ITV will represent the brand for consumer products and licensing in the UK with the first products slated to roll out next spring. The TV series will launch at the same time on ITV and its kids channel CiTV.

Over 250 episodes of Digimon have been produced since 1999 and Saban acquired the property in 2012. The ITV deal marks the debut of Digimon Fusion in the UK. It airs on Nicktoons in the US.

“This brand new season of Digimon Fusion appeals to today’s tech-savvy kids, bringing them inside the digital world they interact with on a daily basis to indulge in the imaginative, adventure-packed fantasy within the Digimon Fusion storylines,” said Fernando Szew, CEO, MarVista Entertainment. “We anticipate the series receiving a very enthusiastic response with ITV’s viewers.”