A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM DIC ENTERTAINMENT

CYNTHIA TURNER’S
Cynopsis: Kids!

07/27/06

Good morning. It’s Thursday, July 27, 2006 and this is your first early morning Kids! briefing.

PBS has launched some of its programming content on Google Video.  Among the PBS Kids and PBS Kids Go shows available for downloading are Arthur, Cyberchase and Fetch!  Other PBS programming available at Google Video, includes Nova, Antiques Roadshow, NOW and Scientific American Frontiers.  In an effort to support PBS viewership, and more specifically the support of local PBS member stations, each PBS program downloaded via Google Video will carry a messaging that encourages folks to become members of their local PBS station.

NEW PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

PorchLight Entertainment has acquired the international distribution rights to Gofrette (52 x 12 min), a new animated preschool series based on the book series of the same name by Doris Brasset and Fabienne Michot.  Co-produced by Canada’s Zoe Mae Productions and Subsequence Entertainment, Gofrette is currently in production and slated to premiere in Canada on CBC and Societe Radio-Canada in fall 2007.  The series revolves around the adventures of Gofrette, an enthusiastic, inquisitive and all around happy cat and his friends Fudge, Ellie Copter (a bird) and Red (a talking refrigerator).

Sir Ben Kingsley will serve as the narrator of The Magician of Samarkand for the popular BBC kid’s story telling series Jackanory that is set to return as a series of CBBC specials beginning later this year.  The story will air as three 15-minute programs on CBBC and as a 45-minute special on BBC ONE.  Written by Alan Temperly, The Magician of Samarkand book is about the classic battle of good versus evil, with adventures including a shoemaker, his beautiful daughter and a dastardly magician.  Jackanory’s The Magician of Samarkand will be produced and directed by Nick Willing, with animation provide by a new CBBC animation group.

A new TV adaptation of Peter Pan, the musical version, is currently in the works for ABC under the capable creative minds of producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the guys who brought Bob Fosse’s Chicago to the big screen and are doing the same for Hairspray, per Variety.  Based on James M. Barrie’s story of Peter Pan, the boy who wouldn’t grow up, the most well known version of the musical first aired in March 1955 on NBC, as part of its Producers Showcase, and starred Mary Martin and Cyril Ritchard.  This version of Peter Pan aired on and off on TV over the years and spawned a roadshow of the musical starring Sandy Duncan and later Cathy Rigby.  Peter Pan features music by Mark Charlan and Jule Styne with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh and additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and was choreographed by Jerome Robbins.

MORE KIDS STUFF

The N has given the go ahead for a second season (10 x 30 min) of its live action series Beyond The Break, which are slated to premiere in early 2007.  Meanwhile, leading up to the close of the first season, The N will air a Beyond The Break marathon including nine back-to-back episodes of the show tonight, July 27, 8p-12:30a, which of course sets the stage for the season finale, tomorrow night at 8:30p.  Beyond the Break is produced by MarVista Entertainment and Brookwell McNamara Entertainment (BME) in association with The N.

TBS will air Worlds Funniest Commercials, a 1-hr special on Wednesday, August 23 at 9p.  Hosted by Kevin Nealon and his wife Susan Yeagley, the special will feature some of the most clever and humorous commercials from around the world.  Worlds Funniest Commercials being produced by Robert Dalrymple Productions in conjunction with TWI, the same production companies that produce TBS’s annual Funniest Commercials of the Year special, which is also hosted by Nealon.

MARKETING/LICENSING

Making another firm step into the world of electronic games and toys industry Mattel, Inc. announced plans yesterday to acquire Radica Games Ltd, for about $230 million.  Radica is the company that makes Play TV, the Girl Tech Brand and my one of my favorites – 20Q.  Has anyone stumped 20Q with something that you can say in front of my Grandmother? Well, perhaps you’d better make that your Grandmother.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products has inked a multi-year licensing pact that names NECA, Inc. as the master toy, gift and specialty product licensee for the Harry Potter series throughout North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific.  NECA will develop a range of products based on Harry Potter, including collectible action figures, plush, mugs, wall decor and the like, which will roll out in conjunction with Warner Bros. release of its new movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in July 2007.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles master toy licensee, Playmates Toys Inc, will launch a new toy line based on the property this January 2007.  The toys will reflect the newly designed TMNT CG animated look, which will be featured in the upcoming TMNT movie slated to open March 30, 2007.  The line will include TMNT articulated action figures, vehicles, playsets and role play toy.  The TMNT exclusive worldwide merchandising rights are handled by 4Kids Entertainment, while The Mirage Group, which owns the TMNT property, has licensed the film’s animation rights to Imagi Animation Studios.  By the way, Playmates Toys Inc celebrates its 40the anniversary this year.

STONE SOUP

Asian American youth are increasingly seeing themselves as trendsetters in mainstream American youth culture, according to a new study on the cultural influence of Asian American youth released by New American Dimensions and interTrend Communications.  Based on a fifteen-minute survey conducted with 538 Asian American teens and young adults 14-28, the research was conducted online nationwide and through in-person survey intercepts administered in LA, San Francisco and NY. The Made in America: Asian American Teens and Echo Boomers study found the following:

• Asian American young people see themselves as trendsetters in three cultural categories: technology/gadgetry, anime/manga and video-gaming.  Nearly 80% of respondents believed the first two are areas where Asian Americans are influencing trends, while 72% of respondents cite video gaming as the third major area.  Other areas included food/culinary arts and the visual arts.
• Asian American youth are more likely to identify and seek out trends through word-of-mouth messaging, in particular with second-generation Asian Americans. Among the first-generation, TV holds the greatest influence in helping them learn about new trends.
• While first-generation respondents preferred Pop/Top 40 music, second-generation Asian Americans strongly preferred Hip Hop and Alternative music. Among the latter, 62% liked Hip Hop/Rap the most, followed by 51% favoring Alternative/Indie music.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Animation and visual effects studio GigaPix Studio has appointed David Pritchard as its new President.  Pritchard fills the post left vacant last week when his predecessor, John Savage, announced his resignation.  Pritchard served as President/CEO, Film Roman (1997-99) and Executive Producer (The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Family Guy, Garfield, Bobby’s World etc), and over the last six years has been a board member, advisor, and interim CEO of several publicly traded media/entertainment companies.  Pritchard in partnership with King Abdullah of Jordan and other US and Arab investors, recently began production on Ben & Izzy, a CG series, which he created, helped finance and is being produced in Amman, Jordan and Manila.

RATINGS

Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Tuesday, July 25, 2006, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON:            K2-11 1413; K6-11 850; TWEENS 9-14 622
DISNEY CHANNEL:       K2-11  1081; K6-11 725; TWEENS 9-14 577
CARTOON NETWORK:  K2-11   804; K6-11 592; TWEENS 9-14 402
TOON DISNEY:           K2-11   167; K6-11 101; TWEENS 9-14  78
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data

Answer to Yesterday’s trivia question: On what show did kids write, “Dear Alex and Annie?”  KIDS ARE PEOPLE TOO    Kudos to:  Tamara Measamer-UPROAR!/NY; Wendi Fredman Tush-The Lexicomm Group/NY; David Stern-BARD Entertainment/NY; Michael Edelstein-RC2/Learning Curve/Oak Brook, IL
 
Today’s Trivia Question: The Beast, Cyclops, Gambit, Jean Grey, Jubilee, Rogue, Storm, and Wolverine can all be seen on what cartoon? ( click here 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 Cynthia Turner’s Cynopsis Kids!
07.27.06

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