Editing King Features Syndicate (section)

== Animation, comic books, and licensing ==
Many King characters were adapted to animation, both theatrical and television cartoons.<ref>[http://www.davemackey.com/animation/kingfeatures.html Mackey, Dave. King Features Syndicate TV Cartoons: A Complete Filmographic Guide]</ref> Strips from King Features were often reprinted by comic book publishers. In 1967, King Features made an effort to publish comic books of its own by establishing [[King Comics]]. This short-lived comic-book line showcased King's best-known characters in seven titles:

* [[Beetle Bailey]]
* [[Blondie (comic strip)|Blondie]]
* [[Flash Gordon]]
* [[Jungle Jim]]
* [[Mandrake the Magician]]
* [[The Phantom|The Phantom]]
* [[Popeye]]

The comics imprint existed for a year-and-a-half, with titles cover-dated from August 1966 to December 1967. When it ended, the books were picked up and continued by [[Gold Key Comics]], [[Harvey Comics]], and [[Charlton Comics]].

In 1967, Al Brodax, then the president of King Features, pitched [[The Beatles]] manager [[Brian Epstein]] on turning their hit song "[[Yellow Submarine (song)|Yellow Submarine]]" into an animated movie. The [[Yellow Submarine (film)|film]] was widely considered to be the first animated film for adult audiences, despite its G-rating in United States.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Miller|first=Matt|date=July 17, 2018|title='The Simpsons' Wouldn't Exist Without 'Yellow Submarine'|url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a22166363/the-beatles-yellow-submarine-influence-cartoons-the-simpsons-adventure-time/|access-date=January 7, 2022|website=Esquire|language=en-US}}</ref>

In addition to extensive merchandising and licensing of such iconic characters as [[Betty Boop]], [[Felix the Cat]], and [[Popeye]], King Features has diversified to handle popular animation and TV characters (from "[[Kukla, Fran and Ollie]]" and "[[Howdy Doody]]" to "[[Mr. Bill]]" and "[[Mr. Magoo]]"), plus publicly displayed, life-sized art sculptures — "[[CowParade]]", "Guitarmania" and "The Trail of the Painted Ponies." King Features also represents David and Goliath, an apparel and accessories line popular with teenagers.

King Features additionally licenses outdoor apparel brand PURENorway,<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 10, 2019|title=King Features to Rep PURENorway in N.A.|url=https://www.licenseglobal.com/apparel/king-features-rep-purenorway-na|access-date=January 9, 2022|website=licenseglobal.com|language=en}}</ref> [[Moomins]], [[Iceland]]ic lifestyle brand [[Tulipop]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hilgenberg|first=Josh|date=June 5, 2019|title=Syndicated Comics|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/king-features-repping-moomin-tulipop/|access-date=January 9, 2022|website=The Beat|language=en-US}}</ref> [[ringtone]] character [[Crazy Frog]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=King Features welcomes Crazy Frog to its portfolio|url=https://www.licensingsource.net/king-features-welcomes-crazy-frog-to-its-portfolio/|access-date=January 9, 2022|language=en-US}}</ref> and [[South Korea]]n animated character [[Pucca|PUCCA]].

As a sales tool, the King Features design team created colorful strip sample folders resembling movie press kits. With rising paper costs and the downsizing of newspapers, the comic-strip arena became increasingly competitive, and by 2002, King salespeople were making in-person pitches to 1,550 daily newspapers across America. King was then receiving more than 6,000 strip submissions each year, yet it accepted only two or three annually. Interviewed in 2002 by Catherine Donaldson-Evans of [[Fox News]], Kennedy commented:
: It is difficult for cartoonists to break into syndication, but contrary to popular understanding, there's more new product being pitched now than 30 years ago. In that regard, there are more opportunities for new cartoonists. There's a finite amount of space to run comic strips—less now than 50 years ago. There are fewer two-paper cities and a lot of papers have shrunk their page size. New strips can succeed. The new cartoonists just have to be that much better.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,52095,00.html Donaldson-Evans, Catherine. "Taking Comics Back to the Drawing Board", Fox News, May 7, 2002.]</ref>

One of the first original animation projects of King Features Animation is ''[[The Cuphead Show!]]'' for [[Netflix]], an animated series based on the video game ''[[Cuphead]]'' by Studio MDHR, known for its use of fully hand-drawn characters and animations in the style of [[Fleischer Studios]]. The series had started development since July 2019,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/cuphead-animated-comedy-series-works-at-netflix-1223052|title=Netflix to Adapt 'Cuphead' Into Animated Comedy Series|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|first=Patrick|last=Shanley|date=July 9, 2019|access-date=July 9, 2019}}</ref> and was released on February 18, 2022.

In June 2019, [[20th Century Studios]] and [[The Walt Disney Company]] announced the production of an animated film based on the comic strip [[Flash Gordon]]. [[Taika Waititi|Taiki Waititi]] was attached to [[Film director|direct]] and [[John Davis (producer)|John Davis]] was announced as the producer.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=June 24, 2019|title=Taika Waititi To "Crack" 'Flash Gordon' As Fox/Disney Animated Film|url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/taika-waititi-flash-gordon-animated-movie-thor-ragnarok-jojo-rabbit-fox-disney-1202637059/|access-date=January 7, 2022|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref>

On May 11, 2020, it was announced that a Popeye movie is in development at King Features Syndicate with [[Genndy Tartakovsky]] coming back to the project.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/features/genndy-tartakovskys-popeye-movie-afloat-with-king-features/|title=Genndy Tartakovsky's 'Popeye' Movie Afloat with King Features|first=Mercedes|last=Milligan|date=May 11, 2020|work=Animation Magazine}}</ref>

In November 2020, a [[Hägar the Horrible|Hagar the Horrible]] animated series was announced, written by Eric Zibroski, who wrote and produced the ABC [[Sitcom|comedy]] ''[[Fresh Off the Boat]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=White|first=Peter|date=November 10, 2020|title='Hägar the Horrible': King Features & The Jim Henson Company Developing Animated TV Series Based On Comic Strip, Eric Ziobrowski To Write|url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/hagar-the-horrible-king-features-the-jim-henson-company-animated-series-1234611870/|access-date=January 7, 2022|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref>