‘MY HERO ACADEMIA’ HEADS TO THE NBA WITH EPIC FASHION COLLABORATION

In an exciting collaboration,  My Hero Academia, TOHO animation, Crunchyroll, the National Basketball Association (NBA), NBALAB, and HYPERFLY have joined forces to create a unique fashion collaboration that merges fans’ widespread devotion for anime and My Hero Academia with their passion for the NBA, resulting in a one-of-a-kind, must-have line of streetwear for fans.  Exclusive items from the collaboration will debut at NBA Con, held in Las Vegas from July 7-9, with the full range of merchandise launching later this fall.

Through the collaboration, fans will see characters from My Hero Academia prominently featured on newly designed merchandise for nine NBA teams: The Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers.

A selection of items from the collaboration will be exclusively available to purchase at NBA Con, a first-of-its-kind event held at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas from July 7-9 that blends the interests of NBA players and fans into a celebration of the best of hoops culture. HYPERFLY’s initial collection will feature All Might, the iconic hero from My Hero Academia on heavy weight t-shirts celebrating four teams – the Warriors, Lakers, Knicks and Bulls.

In addition to purchasing exclusive merchandise, fans who visit the Crunchyroll activation space at NBA Con will be able to watch their favorite scenes from My Hero Academia. Tickets to NBA Con are available at NBACon.com.

HYPERFLY’s retail launch featuring All Might on t-shirts, hoodies, and satin jackets will be available for purchase this fall in the U.S. and Canada at the Crunchyroll Store, NBAStore.com, LIDS.com, and HYPERFLY.com, and other approved vendors. Merchandise will also be available in Japan on the NBAStore.jp.

“There’s an incredible and authentic synergy between anime and sports, and we couldn’t be more excited to join forces with the NBALAB, HYPERFLY and TOHO animation to bring the beloved characters from My Hero Academia to the world of basketball,” said Rahul Purini, President of Crunchyroll. “This one-of-a-kind collection will truly amp up basketball enthusiasts and anime fans alike.”

“As two iconic brands with global reach and passionate fan bases, this partnership signifies an exciting moment that merges the worlds of basketball and anime, creating an exciting fusion of sports and storytelling,” said Pascal Pakter, President and co-founder of HYPERFLY. “The NBALAB has always embraced innovation, diversity, and cultural crossovers, and joining forces with the NBALAB  and My Hero Academia aligns with our commitment to honoring Asian culture and engaging fans through unique and captivating experiences. ‘My Hero Academia’s inspiring narrative of heroism, teamwork, and perseverance resonates with the core values of the NBA, making this collaboration a natural fit.”

The collaboration was conceived and designed by HYPERFLY, whose past NBA collections celebrating Asian culture were well received by fans and players alike.  The collaboration is driven by the NBALAB. The NBALAB aligns itself with companies who are pushing boundaries, making noise and building positive community in their field. The NBALAB bridges the gap between the brand and the NBA to create new products and experiences that are authentic for NBA fans.

My Hero Academia is a Japanese anime series based on the popular comics by Kohei Horikoshi. It is set in a world where about eighty percent of the population has a superpowered Quirk. Heroes protect people and society from accidents, disasters, and villains—criminals who use their Quirks for evil. The story of Izuku Midoriya and his classmates at U.A. High School and their growth, fights, and friendship unfolds as they aim to become such heroes.

About HYPERFLY

Founded in 2011, HYPERFLY is a leading manufacturer of handcrafted Jiu-Jitsu kimonos and professional athletic training gear. With a global network of distributors, the brand has established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the Jiu-Jitsu industry. Guided by their powerful mantra, “You Can’t Teach Heart,” HYPERFLY infuses their passion and dedication into every product they create, setting a new standard of excellence for the next  generation of athletes. learn more, visit www.hyperfly.com.

About the NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.  Built around five professional sports leagues:  the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2022-23 season featured 120 international players from 41 countries.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 2.1 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team and player platforms.  Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.

About NBALAB

The NBALAB is a disruptive research and development incubator focused on innovative design, imaginative concepts and strategic partnerships. Founded in 2016 to facilitate product expansion for the NBA’s Global Licensing Group, the NBALAB experiments with a variety of consumer goods as well as new product categories in collaboration with hand-picked companies and individuals who are making noise in their respective fields. Successful NBALAB partners are awarded further product development and potential long-term licensing opportunities within the league. To learn more, visit NBALAB.com.

About Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll connects anime and manga fans across 200+ countries and territories with the content and experiences they love. In addition to free ad-supported and membership Premium content, Crunchyroll serves the anime community across events, theatrical, games, consumer products, collectibles, and manga publishing.

Anime fans have access to one of the largest collections of licensed anime through Crunchyroll and translated in multiple languages for viewers worldwide. Viewers can also access simulcasts—top series available immediately after Japanese broadcast.

The Crunchyroll app is available on over 15 platforms, including all gaming consoles.

Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.