4Kids Entertainment Inc. - In the Beginning: 1970s–80s

In the Beginning: 1970s–80s

The sum of 4Kids Entertainment, Inc.'s parts is far less known than its components. Leisure Concepts, Inc. (LCI) was founded as an independent licensing agency in 1970 in New York City. The firm began making news in the 1980s through licensing actual people, a variety of products, and even concepts. LCI had numerous licensees, including "real" person Farrah Fawcett of Charlie's Angels fame, cartoon characters, and a growing number of deals with television producers and toy manufacturers. In 1987 LCI took a chance on a futuristic movie project called Star Wars, from director George Lucas and with unheard of special effects by Industrial Light & Magic. When Star Wars became an enormous success, LCI reaped the rewards—orchestrating the kind of merchandising invasion considered commonplace today. Star Wars games, action figures, clothing, and trading cards were everywhere.

During 1987 LCI signed another licensing deal, this one with Nintendo of America, Inc. to market the software products that went along with its increasingly popular gaming systems. Nintendo had already introduced the Legend of Zelda for its home video game system, a software product that went on to sell more than one million copies during the year. In 1988 LCI hired Alfred Kahn, formerly of Coleco Industries, as its new chief executive. Kahn had already earned a reputation for marketing savvy, having acquired the licensing rights to an oddlynamed bunch of dolls known as the Cabbage Patch Kids—which went on to conquer the United States and the world.