Cynopsis: Kids!

05/08/08

Good morning. It’s Thursday, May 8, 2008, and this is your first early morning briefing.

Marvel Animation, a division of Marvel Entertainment, will produce a new animated TV series, Marvel Super Hero Squad (26×30) aimed at K6-8. Slated to be available in 2009, Super Hero squad features a new stylized look and stars a collection of Marvel’s most famous super heroes (e.g. Iron Man, Hulk, Wolverine, Captain America, etc.) as they take off on humorous adventures and go up against their villainous counter parts (e.g. Doctor Doom, Magneto and Loki). Film Roman (The Simpsons) will provide production services for the Marvel Super Hero Squad series.  In addition to Marvel Super Hero Squad, 2009 will see the launch of two other new Marvel animated series, Wolverine and the X-Men and Iron Man: Armored Adventures, both of which will bow on Nicktoons.

MORE KIDS STUFF

The movie trailer for the 3D animated movie Star Wars: The Clone Wars bows tonight in a Turner Networks roadblock of sorts at 7:58p across Cartoon Network, Boomerang, TNT, TBS and CNN.  The movie trailer heads to movie theaters on Friday, where fans can see the movie poster as well.  Star Wars: The Clone Wars opens in theaters on August 15.  The movie, which tells an all new Star Wars story, leads directly in the new animated TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which will premiere as a weekly series on Cartoon Network this fall, and then air on TNT.

It’s a carriage deal for BabyFirstTV and Time Warner Cable.  The 24/7 commercial-free channel for babies and toddlers already has US carriage deals with AT&T, Charter, Comcast, Dish Network and DirecTV.

Canada’s Kids’ CBC is teaming with the Canadian band Barenaked Ladies to promote the group’s first kid-targeted album, Snacktime.  Kids’ CBC will celebrate Barenaked Ladies Day on Victoria Day, Monday, May 19, when the band will perform two songs form the new album on the set of Mamma’s Kensington Market Kitchen.  Kids’ CBC airs weekday mornings (7-11a) on CBC Television.

MARKETING/LICENSING

In other Marvel Super Hero Squad news, Marvel is developing a multi-media and merchandising effort for the brand:

• As master toy partner, Hasbro will oversee the toy line
• Marvel Comics is already featuring Marvel Super Hero Squad comic strips in some of its all age books, with plans to launch a book series based on the new brand in fall 2008.
• A direct-to-video animated feature is currently in development for a 2010 release.
• Other deals include those with: Disguise/Cesar (dress-up); Meg Bloks (construction toys)

Toei Animation taps Spain’s Biplano to handle merchandising for Toei’s anime series Dragon Ball and Saint Saiya across Spain and Portugal.  Under the deal Biplano will oversee merchandising rights for both brands with the exception of toy, video game and publishing categories.

K’nex Brands expands its international distribution pact with Tomy to include the UK, Belgium and Holland.   The expanded deal goes into effect January 2009 and includes K’nex and Kid K’nex branded building sets.  Under the initial agreement, Tomy was named to distribute K’nex products in France and Germany.

Steve & Barry’s, the apparel retailer, has partnered with FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) to feature direct-to-retail program based on FME’s game show brands.  The game show apparel line will feature noted phrases and visuals from FME’s game shows including The Price is Right, Press Your Luck, Password, Match Game and Card Sharks.  Set to launch for fall 2008, the line includes t-shirts for men/women/juniors, with the potential to expand into sweatpants/athletic pants, jerseys, jackets, hats, underwear, onesies and accessories and so on.

STONE SOUP

Microsoft Corp.‘s Xbox 360 is teaming up with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) to celebrate the first National Family Fitness Day on May 12.  Designed to promote healthy and active lifestyles for kids and families, National Family Fitness Day, which will feature activities including playing DanceDanceRevolution Universe 2 on Xbox 360, as well as offering a range of tips for healthy living, at select BGCA chapters in 10+ US cities.  National Family Fitness Day is a free event.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Brian Offutt is named SVP/Creative Operations, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group.  He will be responsible for all of the operational, financial, technology and human resources processes for Nick’s Creative Resources and On-Air departments.  He will also manage key vendor relationships and outside partnerships, as well as the delivery of creative services to key departments.  Offut will dually report to Russell Hicks, EVP and executive Creative Director and Sarah Kirshbaum Levy, COO.  Most recently Offutt was SVP/Entertainment Products, Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products.  Previously, Offutt served in senior executive roles at a number of places including, COO/Broadway Video Entertainment, President and COO/Interdimensions, Director, Spencer Stuart and SVP/Golden Books Entertainment Group among others.

Helen Round is named International marketing and Communications Manager, 4Kids Entertainment International.  Reporting to Charlotte Hill, Sr. International marketing and Communications Manager, Round will manage 4Kids’ brands and agents across a number of EMEA territories including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Benelux, Portugal, Turkey, Israel, the Middle East, and Africa.  Prior to this Round toiled as a marketing executive for MTV Networks International’s Emerging Markets division.  Previously, she was Promotions Manager at Sony Music in Switzerland, and Head of Acquisitions for a privately owned Swiss national TV company.

Toy Industry Association (TIA) elects new appointees to its board of directors at ToyCon, its Annual Membership Meeting:

• Hasbro’s President and CEO, Al Verrecchia has been elected Chairman of TIA, Bryan Stockton, President/International, Mattel, was elected Vice Chairman, and Soren Torp Laursen, President, Lego Americas was elected Secretary/Treasurer.
• Additionally, newly elected members of the Board, each for a 2-year term, include Jay Foreman, President, Play Along, George Irwin, Chairman and CEO, Itoys and Etienne Veber, President and Chief Operating Officer, Learning Resources.
• And those re-elected for a second 2-year term include: Jim Engle, President, Little Kids, Inc.; Brian Goldner, Chief Operating Officer, Hasbro; Robert Pasin, CEO, Radio Flyer; James Pressman, President, Pressman Toy and Anton Rabie, President and Co-CEO, Spin Master Ltd.

RATINGS

Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Saturday, February 11, 2008, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON:         K2-11 965; K6-11 442; TWEENS 9-14 338
DISNEY CHANNEL:     K2-11 587; K6-11 364; TWEENS 9-14 307
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11 504; K6-11 294; TWEENS 9-14 193
TOON DISNEY:           K2-11 132; K6-11   57; TWEENS 9-14   38
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data

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Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:  On the animated series Charlie & Lola, Charlie’s best pal is Marv. What is the name of Lola’s best friend? LOTTA    Kudos to: 
Heather R. Tilert-Little Airplane Productions/NY; David Stern-BARD Entertainment/NY; Kerry Hughes-qubo/NY; Jaymie Presberg-Grand Communications/NY; Katrina Cicala-
Prairie Home Productions/Saint Paul, MN

Today’s Trivia Question: On the cartoon series Josie and the Pussycats, what was the name of conniving Alexandra’s cat?  (Email Joanne@cynopsis.com 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!
05.08.08

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JOB OPENING: STRATEGIC PLANNING ANALYST/CNN Digital/NY: Dvlp rev reports 4 mgmt,review & approve ad sales deals. 1-2 yrs exp in ad sales indstry,proficient in Excel&media math. Web exp a+. Apply: melanie.hill@turner.com . EOE (5/15)

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SITUATION WANTED:  MKTG CONSULTANT: Accomplished 23 yr Advrtsng Mktg Veteran exp’d in writing Mrktg Prgrms, with Sales Promotion, Direct Mktg, Strategy Dvlpmnt.
Will consider agency & freelance assignments: Contact rdassa@nyc.rr.com (5/15)

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