On Monday, August 25, 2008 Marvel announced that they will be partnering with Japanese anime studio Madhouse to create a line of characters for the Japanese market inspired by those in the Marvel Universe. This plan will help promote Marvel characters to the global market, increasing exposure and connecting with other artistic styles of the world. 

Madhouse is working on four new series, the first of which is currently in production. Images of the Marvel characters will be changed by Madhouse to the anime style. Back stories and origins of the characters will be merged with Japanese culture and history to better connect with the country’s readers.

The first line of characters will include Iron Man, fresh out of movie theaters and Wolverine, among others. The Marvel anime series will appear on Animax, the largest network dedicated to anime, scheduled to launch in the spring of 2010. Marvel and Madhouse will also discuss merchandising options for the two companies.