TOKYO, Oct. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — LINE Corporation, owner and operator of LINE, a free call and messaging app, today announced that it has formed a strategic partnership with Skybound, Robert Kirkman’s imprint at Image Comics and Kirkman’s groundbreaking comic and best-selling graphic novels,The Walking Dead, which inspired the popular television show of the same name.
In celebration of The Walking Dead‘s 10th anniversary, LINE will have a special photo activation inside a three day gallery execution featuring “The Walking Dead: A Decade of Dead” which is being presented by Hyundai in association with Skybound and Future US, and curated by former editorial director Sina Grace. His display can be viewed at local gallery space Pillars 37 October 10-12. This event will showcase The Walking Dead artwork, famed illustrations and an autograph signing by artist Charlie Adlard.
Guests at the event will be prompted to download LINE and add the official account of The Walking Dead to their list of friends. The Walking Dead will post messages via LINE about how event attendees can win prizes.
“This is an exciting promotion because it’s one of the first LINE events in North America,” says LINE US CEO Jeanie Han. “LINE is all about making communications fun and this event at New York Comic Con complements what we’re doing with the platform. It’s the first of many offerings and happenings that we will be doing in the US in the coming year.”
For those not at New York Comic Con, The Walking Dead official account will also will be holding ongoing contests for fans to win an exclusive 10th anniversary prize pack that includes The Walking Dead Vol. 1 softcover signed by author Robert Kirkman, and Walking Dead-branded hats, t-shirts, PVC figure sets, and plush tombstones.
LINE will also host a photo contest via the official Walking Dead account from which 10 winners will be selected and their winning photos uploaded for all to see. All photo contest participants will also be entered for a chance to win The Walking Dead prizes from Skybound.
Since its launch in June 2011, LINE has grown to become a service enjoyed by users all over the world, reaching out from Japan to as far as Taiwan, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries, the Middle East, Spain, India, and South America. The platform currently has 334 official accounts and 260 million users worldwide.
About LINE
LINE is a smartphone app which allows users to enjoy free calls and messages to one another, both nationally and internationally, regardless of which mobile network provider they are using. Launched inJune 2011 by NHN, LINE has more than 260 million users worldwide. It has also been ranked no. 1 in 55 countries in the free app category including Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia,Macau, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Israel, Switzerland, Turkey,Ukraine, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus and Latvia. LINE carries various unique features such as ‘instant translation service,’ 334 ‘Official Accounts’ that enable users to interact with famous public figures, ‘Timeline and Home’ to share recent updates with friends, ‘Shake it,’ a fun way of exchanging ids and many ‘Emoji/Stickers/Emoticons.’ For more information visit: http://line.naver.jp/en/.
ROBERT KIRKMAN
Robert Kirkman’s success and passionate advocacy for creator-owned comics led him to become the first person invited to become a partner at Image Comics since the company’s inception twenty-one years ago. Kirkman is the creator/writer of the Eisner Award-winning The Walking Dead, long-running Invincible, all-ages Super Dinosaur and Thief of Thieves. In 2010, Kirkman formed his own Image imprint, Skybound, which publishes his own work and Witch Doctor, Invincible Universe and Clone. Kirkman has earned the respect of the comic, writing and television communities and topped the New York Times bestseller list for graphic novels in 2011 and 2012. In April 2012, he took the top five spots on both the hardcover and paperback lists. He’s the creator/executive producer and writer of the hit Emmy ® -winning television show, AMC’s The Walking Dead, the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time in the U.S, also an international success in 122 countries and 37 languages. Your destinations for all news and merchandise from Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead and all Skybound titles are www.Skybound.com and www.TheWalkingDead.com.
SKYBOUND
Skybound is the home of Robert Kirkman’s creator-owned work including his Eisner Award-winning comic book series, The Walking Dead, long-running Invincible, all-ages Super Dinosaur, Thief of Thieves and Clone as well as Witch Doctor and Invincible Universe. Since its inception, Skybound has created television shows, merchandise and a wide spectrum of platforms, games ( The Walking Dead : Assault iOS app), and entertainment events (The Walking Dead Escape). Skybound’s successes include the comic behind the hit Emmy ® -winning television show, The Walking Dead.
