Is "character goods" real English?

[Richard Thieme]

If not does someone have a good suggestion?

Regards,

Richard Thieme

[Mari Hodges]

I don't think so. I think we'd say 'action figures' or collectibles or
something like that.

Mari Hodges

[Stephen A. Carter]

On 10/03/31 11:47, Richard Thieme wrote:
> If not does someone have a good suggestion?

I've used "(character-)themed products."

--
Stephen A. Carter
sca...@hticn.com
Nagoya, Japan

[Frode Aleksandersen]

At least in the anime/manga industry I see "character goods" used all
the time. If you don't want to use it, I suggest using "merchandising"
in some way instead.

/frode

[Carl Freire]

Richard,

My sense is that it is wasei eigo that, thanks to the influence of
anime, manga, etc., is gaining some traction to describe are
otherwise termed "character-themed merchandise or products,"
"character-based merchandise/products," or "character
merchandise/products." When used at websites based outside of Japan,
"character goods" still seems to be used *mainly but not entirely*
with reference to Japan-related contexts, at least based on Google
search results.

Impressionistically,
Carl
--

**********

Carl Freire
carlpfreire /[@]* ybb.ne.jp
cfreire /[@]* ix.netcom.com
Tokyo, Japan

[Mark Spahn]

Subject: Is "character goods" real English?

> If not does someone have a good suggestion?

This may be a bum steer, but possibly an idea or
two will be touched off by a search on phrases like
"licensed merchandise", "trademarked character images"
"cartoon-character merchandising", "like Hello Kitty", "like
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashimaro ". Just an idea.
-- Mark Spahn (West Seneca, NY)

[William Sakovich]

>If not does someone have a good suggestion?

The Wall Street Journal of August 25, 1992 used the terms "licensed
character merchandise" and "character-licensed merchandise".

- Bill Sakovich

[Sarah Alys]

I agree with Frode that it depends on audience; anime/manga fans and
gamers will understand "character goods," as this wasei-eigo has
gained widespread traction in the US in those fandoms and is
considered perfectly acceptable. For other audiences or audiences that
may ride the line (for example, if you were talking about Dragon Ball
Z, which someone may recognize without being an "anime fan"),
"character merchandise" should be fine.

"Licensed character merchandise[or goods]" is also a term we use in
the industry for character-based merchandise to make it clear that the
merchandise is official and legal, as opposed to a knockoff/bootleg/
unauthorized product. We would not use "character-licensed
merchandise," because that sounds like the license is granted by the
character, not the Japanese rights-holder.

"Character-themed merchandise" is just fine as well and should carry
across the meaning nicely.

Character goods are a form of collectible, but action figures are only
one variety of character good (there's also key chains, cell phone
straps, dakimakura, pins, etc.), so that's not a safe bet even though
it is much more evocative English.

My two cents as someone working at an anime company that has a
merchandising division.

Hope this helps,

Alys

[Mark Stevenson]

> If not does someone have a good suggestion?
>

> Regards,
>
> Richard Thieme

Moichandizing! Moichandizing! Where the real money from the movie is made.

Mark Stevenson @ with apologies to Mel Brooks (and thanks for all the laughs)