Fans 'Heart' Mameshiba!

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Fans are thrilled to learn that debuting this week, the first-ever official Mameshiba product has been released at retail in the United States!

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/mameshiba/47557/

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110125/MM34170 )

Available via Hot Topic online just in time for Valentine's Day and Easter gift-giving, these brand new Mameshiba plush clips are the perfect tokens of affection, and a must-have for Mameshiba collectors.

The Mameshiba - an appealing collection of 'bean-dogs' spouting oddball bits of trivia in animation shorts - are a bona fide pop culture sensation.  Taking Japan by storm since they first popped up in 30 second spots on TV and the Internet in 2008, they have sparked interest with fans and collectors stateside, too.  In the U.S., Mameshiba have attracted over 7 million total views on YouTube, heavy traffic to the official fan site, a burgeoning Facebook page, and a robust viral presence on the Internet.

The 4" plush clips, at $8.99 each, are adorable dangling from cell phones, backpacks, purses, computer cases, bicycle baskets and car interiors.  The initial collection features the iconic Edamame, Chickpea, Black Bean and Mocha Coffee Bean characters.

Come spring, fans can also outfit themselves in apparel and accessories from Bioworld, to be sold at retail stores nationwide.

About Dentsu Entertainment USA, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, CA, Dentsu Entertainment USA, Inc. (www.dentsuentertainment.com), previously known as DCI Los Angeles, was formed in April 2010 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Dentsu Inc. (Tokyo Stock Exchange, Code 4324), the world's largest advertising agency brand and a leading producer of Japanese animation, with over 18,000 full-time employees and close to 100 offices worldwide.  Dentsu Entertainment USA develops original animation programming and media content for markets worldwide, and manages licensing programs for existing and new properties.  Current projects include Chub City, a toy based property featuring street-savvy characters and vehicles, currently in development as an animated series, Deltora Quest, a 52-episode animated series based on the international top-selling fantasy-adventure book series of the same name already airing in multiple markets worldwide, Mameshiba, a collection of animation shorts, and character licensing program with over $100 million in product sales since 2008, and Monsuno, an animated children's series co-produced with JAKKS Pacific, slated to debut in 2011.

SOURCE Dentsu Entertainment USA, Inc.