Cynopsis: Kids!
10/08/12

Good morning. It’s Monday, October 8, 2012, and this is your first early morning briefing.

Toys”R”Us launches Toys”R”Us Movies (www.toysrusmovies.com), a new digital entertainment services that offers families instant access to video content, streaming and download, to 4,000+ movies and TV titles for kids. The service also features simple, customizable controls for parents to select what is appropriate for their kids. Powered by Rovi Corporation, Toys”R”Us Movies features new movie releases the same day they are available at retail  for purchase ($15.95) including unlimited viewing and download to up to five activated devices, or rental ($3.99) for a 30 day rental viewing period and 48-hour watch period that is downloadable to 1 device and stream to any compatible device. TV shows are available the day after they air. Other movie titles can be purchased for $2.99-$5.99 and TV shows for $0.99-$1.99 for download or streaming. Toys”R”Us Movies also offers select new releases before they go on sale, beginning at launch with DreamWorks Animation’s Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, which has been made available for digital download about two weeks before the DVD is available in stores. For offline viewing, the Toys”R”Us Movies download player is offered for PC users at this time. The new service is available for PCs, Macs, and other Flash devices, with an app to debut soon for tabeo, the retailer’s new Wi-Fi tablet, as well as expanding soon for Blu-ray players, televisions and later this fall for mobile devices  both iOS and Android.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

LICENSING

Nerd Corps Entertainment completes deals with licensees and licensing agents for its new boy-targeted, animated, action/comedy property Slugterra. Disney XD will debut the series this fall 2012, followed by a consumer products launch from spring 2013 that includes a toy line from Jakks Pacific. Nerd Corps Entertainment is attending Mipcom in Cannes this week, followed by Brand Licensing Europe in London, where it will continue to ink additional licensing agents and licensees for territories and categories around the world, as well as further terrestrial broadcast partners for the property.

– New licensing agents that have signed on to represent Slugterra include: Compania Panamericana de Licencias (CPL) (Latin America, the Caribbean); Megalicense (Russia); Elastic Rights (Spain, Portugal, France, Greece and Turkey); Copyright Promotions Licensing Group (CPLG) (UK, Ireland, Benelux); Haven (Australia, New Zealand).
– New Slugterra licensees across North America include: Hybrid Apparel (t-shirts, twofers, fleece tops, tank tops, beanies and thermal tops) for the US and Canada; Mad Dog Concepts (boys sleepwear – pajama sets, sleep pants, long shorts, boxers and sleeved blankets) for the US; Shout! Factory (home video) for the US and its territories

MIPJunior/MIPCOM 2012

DreamWorks Animation SKG‘s DreamWorks Classics, formed from DreamWorks Animation’s acquisition earlier this year of Classic Media, makes its debuts at Mipcom 2012 this week in Cannes. DreamWorks Classics will showcase two CG animated TV series, DreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk, a new series based on DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon film franchise, and an its upcoming new TV series based on the studio’s upcoming 3D animated feature film Turbo. DreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk launched last month on Cartoon Network in the US. DreamWorks Classics will represent Classic Media’s movies, series and specials. DreamWorks Animation is set to release the second and third How to Train Your Dragon feature films on June 20, 2014 and June 18, 2016, respectively. The studio will release Turbo in theaters on July 19, 2013  the movie stars Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Michael Pena, Luis Guzman, Bill Hader, Richard Jenkins, Ken Jeong, Michelle Rodriguez, Maya Rudolph, Ben Schwartz, Kurtwood Smith, Snoop Lion and Samuel L. Jackson.

SeaWorld Kids, a kid-aimed brand recently launched by SeaWorld parks & Entertainment, has teamed with Eric Rollman’s Rollman Entertainment to develop the CGI animated action/comedy series The Octo Force (26×22). Targeted to K6-11, The Octo Force is set in a secret underwater civilization where all its young citizens must attend the prestigious Deep Sea Academy, with its most talented graduates moving on to become the Octo Force – a team that works to balance the power between land and sea. But this time around the new members are a quirky group – who are unprepared when one of their own turns against them. Scott Helmstedter CCO, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, and SeaWorld Consultant Rollman, will showcase the property at Mipcom this week.

Mattel and FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) unveil the first international TV sales for the CGI animated action/adventure series Max Steel (26×30), including a US broadcast deal with Disney XD. Based on Mattel’s boy-targeted Max Steel franchise, the new animated series will launch worldwide in spring 2013. FME, which controls international distribution rights outside of the US for the series, has confirmed sales of the series to Cartoon Network and Boing in Italy and Spain, Lagardere in France, Canal Panda in Portugal, as well as two multi-territory deals with Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific and Disney XD also for Central and Eastern Europe, South and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Turkey. Turner’s kids’ channels will also bring Max Steel to viewers in Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, India, Taiwan and the Philippines. Previously, Cartoon Network Latin America also acquired Max Steel for air in 50+ territories.

JimJam, an international preschool aimed channel, acquires the exclusive broadcast rights to several Hello Kitty related titles in Italy from distributors Medianetwork Communications and DYNIT. Under the deals, Chello Media’s JimJam takes the rights to La Fiabe di Hello Kitty, Kitty & Mimi and the New Umbrella, Lesson & Numbers with Usahana and Parenting with Cinnamon from Medianetwork Communication. Meanwhile, the channel takes further titles including Hello Kitty Stump Village, Hello Kitty Fantasy Apple Forest, Hello Kitty Mystery Apple Forest, Keroppi, Usahana, Chi’s Sweet Home and Cuties in its deal with DYNIT.

Atlantyca Entertainment and Turner Broadcasting Spain complete a new deal for the second season of the animated series Geronimo Stilton (26×30) to air on Turner’s Boing channel in Spain. Additionally, Boing inks a renewal for the first season of Geronimo Stilton, which launched on the network in April 2012. Based on the Geronimo Stilton book series, the animated series is co-produced by Atlantyca and Moonscoop.

Breakthrough Entertainment introduces its new kid/family-aimed original animated series Rocket Monkeys (26×30) at Mipcom this week. Produced by Breakthrough Entertainment in association with Teletoon Canada and animation studio Atomic Cartoons, Rocket Monkeys follows the misadventures of monkeynaut brothers, Gus and Wally, as they battle evildoers throughout the universe causing intergalactic calamities along the way. Helping the bumbling duo is YAY-OK, their dashing and devoted, and yes slightly outdated, robot.

BBC Worldwide inks deals for several of its kid-aimed title, while it will also launch the new kid-targeted animated series Sarah & Duck from Karrot at Mipcom. BBC Worldwide will offer the second season of its series Leonard  about the adventures of a teenage Leonardo Da Vinci. The preschool series Baby Jake, produced Darrel McQueen, has been acquired by NRK (Norway), Kazakhstan TV, RTP2 (Portugal), RAI (Italy) and TVB (Hong Kong). ABC4Kids (Australia) takes The Adventures of Abney & Teal, a Ragdoll production based on stories created by author/illustrator Joel Stewart, and as previously announced Starz Kids & Family (US) picks up the teen-targeted comedies Wingin’ It and Sadie J.

MORE KIDS STUFF

Disney XD premieres its new series Crash & Bernstein today, Monday, October 8, 2012, at 8:30p. The comedy revolves around Wyatt Bernstein (played by newcomer Cole Jensen), the only son of four kids, whose puppet pal, Crash, springs to life and becomes his loud-mouthed surrogate brother who knows no limits. Crash & Bernstein was created by Eric Friedman (Austin & Ally, I’m In The Band) and is executive-produced by Friedman and Mike Larsen (Real Time with Bill Maher, Rodney). The puppet of Crash was designed and built by Chiodo Brothers Productions. The series is a production of It’s A Laugh Productions, Inc. Then, immediately following the network premiere; the series debut episode will be available on Watch Disney XD and DisneyXD.com. Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 9, the debut episode will be available on Disney XD on Demand via affiliates including AT&T, Charter, Cox, Time Warner, Verizon, Comcast and DirecTV, Disney XD Mobile VOD via AT&T U-Verse, MetroPCS, Sprint and Verizon, as well as Xbox Live and Sony PlayStation.

Turner Broadcasting picks up a third season of The Amazing World of Gumball, the popular debut series from its London-based Cartoon Network Studio Europe, which will include 40×11 episodes. As with the earlier seasons of the series, the third season of The Amazing World of Gumball will be produced as a mixed 2D and 3D animated and live-action series. The primary creative team behind the series, creator Ben Bocquelet, director Mic Graves and executive producer Daniel Lennard are also onboard for the new season.

Hallmark Channel will host the world premiere its original animated special Jingle and Bell’s Christmas Star on Friday, November 23 at 7p. In this new Jingle the Husky Pup special, Jingle and his pal Andrew make new friends with a little girl named Sofia and her Husky Pup Bell who move to town just before Christmas. What seems like the worst holiday ever to Sofia and Bell in an unfamiliar place gets turned around by Jingle and Andrew who help them realize it is about who you are with and not where you are.

France Televisions Distribution acquires the rights to season four Charley and Mimmo First Day at School in 3D (52×7). France Televisions Distribution is working with France-based production company Les Armateurs to produce the fourth season of the preschool animated series. France Television takes the TV distribution and consumer products rights. Financed by France Televisions and directed by Lionel Kerjean, the fourth season of Charley and Mimmo in School will debut in September 2013 on France 5‘s preschool block Les Zouzous. The TV series is based on the book by Thierry Courtin. Charley and Mimmo is known in France as T’choupi.

American Greetings Properties (AGP) finalizes new international TV deals for its new CGI animated series Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot. Broadcasters picking up the series include Treehouse and Tele Quebec (both in Canada), Disney Latin America, MTV3 (Finland), Tiny Pop and Blinkbox (both in the UK) and TV3 (New Zealand). The first season of the Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot is currently airing on The Hub TV Network in the US.

Kidobi, a preschool-targeted SVoD platform, and Italy’s Mondo TV enter into a North America distribution partnership. Under the deal a number of Mondo TV’s titles will be available on Kidobi, including Bug’s Adventures (13×13), Jurassic Cubs (26×13), Toy Toons (26×13) and Turtle Hero (26×26). The Mondo TV series will be available in the coming weeks on Kidobi.com, as well as Kidobi’s mobile apps for iPad and Android devices. Mondo TV recently inked a co-production and distribution pact with Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE) for the animated series based on the popular cartoon character ‘Modhesh.

Entertainment One (eOne) acquires the North American home entertainment and digital rights to the animated series Puppy in My Pocket  Adventures in Pocketville (52×13) from Mondo TV, which co-produces the series with MEG and Giochi Preziosi. eOne is planning a mid-2013 DVD launch for the property. Based on the popular Puppy in My Pocket toy line from MEG, the animated series is currently airing twice weekdays on Cartoon Network’s Boomerang channel, and has been acquired by 130+ countries. Beginning this fall 2012, US-based Jakks Pacific will distribute a new toy line featuring collectible figures, accessories, play sets and plush. Scholastic is also on board as the official US publishing partner.

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment and Litton Entertainment debuted the second season of Sea Rescue with Sam Champion on Saturday, October 6, as part of Litton’s Weekend Adventure block. The block is available on 95+% of ABC affiliates.

The internet star, Gummibar, a popular YouTube character in his first animated feature length family-aimed film, Gummibar: The Yummy Gummy Search For Santa, becomes available on DVD, digital download and on demand on Tuesday, November 6, from Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

The kid-centric media industry is comprised of a range of very talented individuals – why not nominate one of them for the Cynopsis Kids People Awards  check out the details here.

STONE SOUP

Weekend Box Office Estimates for kids/tweens/teens rated G, PG or PG-13; October 5-7, 2012:
Hotel Transylvania (Sony) PG                                          $26.3m-2 wk total $76.0m
Pitch Perfect (Universal) PG-13                                       $14.7m-2 wk total $21.6m
Frankenweenie (Disney) PG                                            Opening Weekend $11.5m
Trouble with the Curve (Warner Bros.) PG-13                     $3.9m-3 wk total $29.7m
House at the End of the Street (Relativity) PG-13               $3.7m-3 wk total $27.5m
Finding Nemo 3D (Disney) G                                           $1.6m-4 wk total $39.0m
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (Lionsgate) PG-13             $1.5m-3 wk total $3.3m
Won’t Back Down (Fox) PG                                             $1.0m-2 wk total $4.5m
The Possession (Lionsgate) PG-13                                   $635,000-6 wk total $48.4m
The Bourne Legacy (Universal) PG-13                              $351,860-9 wk total $112.3m
Source: Rentrak (www.rentrak.com)

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Lionsgate names Brain Goldsmith as its Co-COO, to oversee channels, digital initiatives, joint ventures and corporate development activities. Goldsmith, who had served as EVP/Corporate Development and Strategy since 2008, joins co-COO Steve Beeks in reporting to Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer on corporate management issues and will also continue to work closely with Vice Chairman Michael Burns and General Counsel Wayne Levin on M&A activities and initiatives related to the Lionsgate’s capital structure, including corporate and project financings. Goldsmith is credited with playing a key role in a number of Lionsgate’s financial deals, including arranging its recently closed $800 million revolving credit facility. Additionally, he was instrumental in the company’s 2012 acquisition of Summit Entertainment, among other major sales and acquisitions. He has also played a significant role in overseeing Lionsgate’s partnerships with Viacom and MGM in the Epix channel, Sony and Comcast in the FEARnet Channel and the launch of Celestial Tiger Entertainment in Asia with partners Saban Capital Group and Astro’s Celestial Pictures. Prior to joining Lionsgate in 2007, Goldsmith was as COO and CFO of Mandate Pictures and its predecessor company Senator International. He previously toiled as a financial analyst and strategic planner at Sony Pictures, beginning his career as a financial analyst at Merrill Lynch.

RATINGS

Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Thursday, October 4, 2012, 6am-6am, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON° :            K2-11 719; K6-11 327; TWEENS 9-14 233
DISNEY CHANNEL:          K2-11 713; K6-11 410; TWEENS 9-14 347
CARTOON NETWORK** : K2-11 391; K6-11 242; TWEENS 9-14 217
DISNEY XD:                  K2-11 159; K6-11 126; TWEENS 9-14 104
NICKTOONS:                 K2-11   87; K6-11   64; TWEENS 9-14   52
°Nickelodeon Total Day: Mon-Wed 7a-8p; Thurs-Fri 7a-9p; Sat 6a-10p; Sun 6a-8p
**Cartoon Network & Adult Swim share channel space ADSM airs Sat.-Thurs. 9p-6a
Source: Disney from Nielsen Media Research Data.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

Answer to Our Last Trivia Question: Name the animated group that consisted of Country on guitar, Kitty Jo singer/dancer, Scoots on Bass and Groove on drums? The Cattanooga Cats. Kudos to: Shad & Cecilia Johnson-Health Net/LA.

Today’s Trivia Question: Who is the young son of Eternia’s rulers, King Randor and Queen Marlena? (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!
10.08.12

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