A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM CARTOON NETWORK

BEN 10: ALIEN SWARM is an explosive hit for Cartoon Network!

More than 16 Million Viewers over Thanksgiving weekend.*

Click here for the powerful details!

*Source: Cartoon Network Research.Nielsen Media Research. NPower  Live +SD. Period 11/25/09-11/29/09. Cume for 4 total airings (Premiere plus 3 replays): 11/25/09 (7p-8:30p/8:30p-9:46p); 11/27/09 & 11/29/09 (8p-9:29p). Based on 1 min qualifier.

Cynopsis: Kids!

12/14/09

Good morning. It’s Monday, December 14, 2009, and this is your first early morning Kids briefing. 

Improving toy industry news around the world.  There are signs of growth in toy sales according to new research from The NPD Group.  The research examines a cross-section of year-to-date (January-October 2009) toys sales across 11 global toy markets.  Aside from the US and UK, which experienced moderate revenue declines, and Spain, where sales were flat, all countries that were analyzed saw growth when compared to the same time period last year.  Poland, Australia, Italy, Austria, Belgium, and Portugal reported respective revenue growth from 5%-10%, while Germany and France both experienced growth of close to 5%.  Across specific toy categories, action figures, accessories and role-play, arts & crafts, and building sets, sales grew in almost every country measured, while youth electronics and plush showed the greatest declines, the latter groups down in 10 countries.  Overall performance of dolls, games/puzzles, infant/preschool, and outdoor & sports toys was positive, with these categories experiencing more growth than declines in the countries measured.  While November and December, where most of the toy buying of the year takes place, will be the telling months in terms of determining how things are really going, this is all a good start.

NEW PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Fox inks a deal with Shane Salerno (Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem) to pen a script for a new 3D adaptation of Fox’s 1966 sci-fi movie Fantastic Voyage, which will be produced by James Cameron, per Variety.  The movie is likely to employ the same 3D digital technology that Cameron used in his new movie Avatar.

MORE KIDS STUFF

The syndicated series Teen Kids News brings on another station with the signing of Fox O&O Washington, DC channel WDCA-TV20.  The series will telecast on the channel Sundays at 12:30p from January 1, 2010.  Teen Kids News is cleared in 94% of US on 220 stations, including all 28 Hearst Broadcasting Company Stations.  Additionally, and educational version of Teen Kids News, delivered by national Educational Television Association (NETA), has been picked up by the Washington DC Public School System for use in classrooms.

Among the new episodes of Out of the Blue‘s preschool series Super Why! set to premiere in 2010 on PBS Kids (US), there is a comic book themed episode, Super Why! and The Comic Book: Attack of the Eraser, which is set to premiere January 15.  Other new episodes feature the tooth fairy, cooking and sports and will bow on January 22, January 29 and February 5 respectively.

SweetyHigh .com, a tween girl-targeted arts/entertainment online social network currently in beta, has produced several Pubic Service Announcements (PSA) about online safety for tween/teen girls.  Users that view the PSAs on SweetyHigh.com will be awarded online points.  SweetyHigh.com officially launches next month.

Bar/None Records signs award-winning kid/family music performer Ralph Covert and his Ralph’s World to an exclusive worldwide multi-album recording contract.  Bar/None will release Ralph’s World’s new album, All Around Ralph’s World, on February 9, 2010.

MARKETING/LICENSING

Phase 4 Films and Nelvana Enterprises ink two long-term deals under which Phase 4 Films will market, manufacture and distribute many of Nelvana’s new and exiting kid’s properties on DVD in the US and Canada. Brands included under the agreements Toopy and Binoo, Franklin, The Berenstain Bears, Max & Ruby, and 6Teen among others, some of which air in Canada on Treehouse, YTV, Teletoon and Nickelodeon, and in the US on PBS, Cartoon Network, CBS, qubo, Nick Jr. and Nicktoons Network.  The DVDs will be released under Phase 4’s kid/family label, kaBOOM! Entertainment.  Previously Phase 4 Films and Nelvana partnered in a Canadian deal.

adidas and Disney are partnering for a new line of adidas footwear, apparel and accessories for infants and kids, featuring Disney characters.  In addition to the classic adidas 3-stripes design, the collection will showcase Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck as badges on t-shirts and pants, character shaped zipper pulls and images on t-shirts, caps, socks and luggage, shoe sole Disney-themed adidas footprint, among other products.  The new collection will be available in adidas Sport Performance Stores and sports retailers worldwide.  The next Disney-based collection by adidas will feature characters from Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story, timed to coincide with the release of Toy Story 3 in movie theatres worldwide.

Buffalo Games partners with artist William Wegman to create jigsaw puzzles based on the famous photographer’s photos of his Weimaraners, including Man Ray and Fay Ray.  Buffalo Games is set to launch four jigsaw puzzles (500 pieces each) featuring versions of four of Wegman’s photos this January 2010.

Lisa Marks Associates (LMA) is named to represent USA Sevens Rugby to create a domestic rugby licensing program, which will include apparel, accessories, sporting goods, publishing, home furnishings, video games among other product categories.  USA Sevens Rugby conducts the major rugby tournament in the US.  This February 2010, Las Vegas will host the USA Sevens for the first time, which will air on ABC.  The International Olympic Committee recently selected the 7 on 7 version of rugby to be played at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.  Rugby Sevens will also be showcased at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

STONE SOUP

Weekend Box Office Estimates for kids/tweens/teens rated G, PG or PG-13; December 1113, 2009:
The Princess and the Frog (Buena Vista) G                             $25.0m-3 wk total $27.9m
The Blind Side (Warner Bros.) PG-13                                     $15.4m-4 wk total $150.2m
Invictus (Warner Bros.) PG-13                                              Opening Weekend $9.1m
The Twilight Saga: New Moon (Summit Entertainment) PG-13 $8.0m-4 wk total $267.4m
A Christmas Carol (2009) (Buena Vista) PG                            $6.9m-6 wk total $124.5m
2012 (Sony / Columbia) PG-13                                              $4.4m-5 wk total $155.3m
Old Dogs (Buena Vista) PG                                                    $4.4m-3 wk total $40.0m
Armored (Sony/Screen Gems) PG-13                                     $3.5m-2 wk total $11.7m
Planet 51 (Sony/Columbia) PG                                              $2.3m-4 wk total $37.2m
Everybody’s Fine (Miramax) PG-13                                        $2.2m-2 wk total $7.4m
Source: Rentrak ( www.rentrak.com )

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Cynthia Modders hangs out a shingle for her new Firefly Brand Management, which focuses on creating worldwide consumer products programs.  Firefly clients currently includes, NBC Universal’s Monster franchise, DHX Licensing’s Disney XD series Kid vs. Kat, VIZ Media and anime/manga brands Shippuden, Vampire Knight, Bleach, and Inuyasha, Hormel’s Spam brand, and IP and toy creator Volcano, among others.  Most recently Modders served as CEO/Kids Block, and previously also toiled for Creata, DIC Entertainment, Universal Studios, VIZ, and Sega.

Kid Brands, Inc. (F/K/A Russ Berrie and Company) names David Sabin as President/Kids Line, a subsidiary of Kid Brands.  A 30-year industry veteran, Sabin most recently was President, Greystone Brands.  From 1988-2006, he founded and served as Chairman of Salton, Inc, a designer/marketer/distributor of branded appliances, home decor and personal care products under well-known brands.  Sabin takes over for Michael Levin, who has been President/Kids Line since 2001, and is stepping down from that position but will remain as a consultant to the company.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:   Originally created in a Denmark workshop by a company called Ole Kirk, Christiansen in 1932, these popular plastic toys created with an injection molding machine, were sold widely beginning in 1949. The ultimate designed was perfected in 1958 and patented that January.  If you had the a set of this toy system from 1958, they could easily interact with a set you bought today. In fact the moldings for today’s toys are still made in Denmark.  What is this popular toy?   LEGOS  Kudos to: Brenda Bowen-Sanford J. Greenburger Assoc/NY; Fred Petrosino-JBG/NY; Howard Rosenstein-Meredith Video Solutions/NY; Stephen McDermott-Comcast Networks/NY; Kevin Schmidt-NCC/Chicago; Hank Bordowitz-The Bordowitz Media Werx/Macomb; Jim Czulewica/Knowledge Adv/PST; Steve Zuckerman-CreativeCombustion.tv/LA; Patrick Rieger/Burbank; Randy Barrios-CBS/LA; Claire Wilmut-Boomstone Ent/Ottawa

Today’s Trivia Question:   Designed by Marvin Glass & Associates, this game is designed for two players.  The game was bought by Marx toys in 1964, and then by Tyco, which was ultimately acquired by Mattel.  Sold in the US and in the UK, the version abroad is called Raving Bonkers.  The game has also become an electronic game, available on a few different platforms.  What classic game is this?    (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: Only the second four correct answers from each time zone will be mentioned; and once you’ve been mentioned in any of the Cynopsis editions, you can’t be mentioned again that calendar week.)

Later — Gwen
 Gwen Billings for Cynopsis Kids!
12.14.09

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