SpongeBob Goes Trendy to Win Japan Fans

By The Associated Press


Spongebob wasn't supposed to have much success in Japan, a country known to love more cuddly characters like Hello Kitty and Pikachu. However the buck-toothed sponge is proving everyone wrong. Spongebob is attracting an audience of 1.9 million Japanese viewers and as much as $25 million in merchandise sales for Nikelodeon. The international campaign is doing so well by targeting young, trendy women through licensed products.

I think this is a great opportunity for international expansion for Nickelodeon. By targeting a slightly older audience this helps to create more of a buzz rather then a short lived fad. I think it will be very interesting to see the progress of Spongebob in Japan. If it is successful there could more room for more Nickolodeon to expand their products and other characters over there as well.

To read the full length article check out the New York Times.


By Alexandra Verni.