AVI ARAD is a long established expert in youth entertainment. He is one of the world’s premiere toy designers and producers of children’s programming and has an uncanny instinct for what kids want most. Arad is the primary creative force responsible for bringing Marvel Comics’ characters to life in toys, film and television.
Arad’s knowledge of the kids business is unparalleled. His involvement in the creation and development of dozens of hit youth entertainment products, including action figures and playsets, dolls, vehicles, electronic products, educational software and video games, gives Arad an insight into this market that few executives can claim. Virtually every major toy and youth product manufacturer has been selling his items for more than twenty years. Arad also has developed TV animation properties designed to combine entertainment and toys with companies such as Toy Biz, Hasbro, Mattel, Tyco Galoob Ideal, Nintendo, Tiger and Sega.
When Marvel Entertainment Group acquired an interest in Toy Biz in April 1993, Arad entered into an arrangement with the New York City-based entertainment conglomerate to devote his time exclusively to Toy Biz and Marvel Studios. As a Director and principal of Toy Biz, and President of Marvel Studios, Arad has been the creative visionary behind the company’s rapid growth. He continues to oversee the design, development and approval of Toy Biz products from initial concepts through final packaging, advertising and merchandising strategies. He has also been instrumental in the company’s expanding presence as a major player in the licensing arena, acquiring the master toy rights to brand names and properties outside the Marvel Universe. As President of Marvel Studios, Arad has started to aggressively develop Marvel’s characters in animation and film. As of October 1, 1998, Toy Biz acquired Marvel Entertainment and united the companies under the name Marvel Enterprises.
As President and CEO of Marvel Studios, Arad works with many of Hollywood’s most prestigious directors, writers, producers and studio executives, carefully supervising the transition of Marvel characters to live-action and animated feature films. In addition to his work on X-MEN, Arad was executive producer on Blade (1998). Arad and Marvel have lined up a live action feature slate, including Fantastic Four and Silver Surfer at Twentieth Century Fox; The Incredible Hulk and Prime for Universal Pictures; the sequel to Blade for New Line Cinema; and Spider-Man at Sony. Also in development is Damage Control with Village Roadshow and Warner Bros.
Additionally, Arad executive produced Marvel’s full slate of animated television series, including Spider-Man and X-Men, two of the highest rated kids shows appearing on Fox Kids Network, as well as Incredible Hulk, Fantastic Four, Iron Man and Silver Surfer. Arad currently oversees the newly introduced animated series The Avengers and Spider-Man Unlimited, which are broadcast on Fox Kids Network. Before joining Marvel, his credits in animation included Conan the Adventurer, King Arthur & The Knights of Justice, Double Dragon and Bots Master.
In the realm of live-action television, Arad executive produced the movie-of-the-week Generation X and Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., starring David Hasselhoff.
