Cynopsis: Kids!

02/16/10

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, February 16, 2010, and this is your first early morning Kids briefing.

Electus, Ben Silverman‘s newly formed multimedia company that is a business of IAC, inks a development deal with kid-centric build-a-robot entertainment brand Robotgalaxy for TV and movie projects.  Under the deal, Electus will package, develop, distribute and produce original content based on the brand’s likeness across a variety of platforms including TV and film worldwide.  Additionally, Electus has teamed with Charlie Walk’s CWE Media to serve as producer on all Robotgalaxy projects.  Robotgalaxy is a concept based on the RobotGalaxy comic book series that includes a build-a-robot retail experience, a web-enabled toy, as well as a virtual world, which allows kids to create and program their own robots.

NEW PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

The voice cast for the upcoming animated movie A Monster in Paris will star Adam Goldberg (The Unusuals and a host of movies and TV appearances), Jay Harrington (Better off Ted) and Danny Huston (Clash of the Titans), along with the great Bob Balaban and Catherine O’Hara, and the previously announced Vanessa Paradis, per THR.  Described as a cross between King Kong and Les Triplettes de Belleville, the movie is co-directed by Bibo Bergeron (Shark Tale) and features a screenplay by Stephane Kazandjian and Bergeron.  Set in Paris 1910, the move revolves around an unlikely group of characters, including a movie projectionist, inventor, cabaret star and an eccentric scientist and his monkey that team to save Paris from a monster.  The movie is a co-production between Europacorp, Bibi Films and France 3 Cinema.

Unique Features‘ Michael Lynne and Bob Shaye have tapped writer Nick Pustay (Ramona and Beezus) to pen the screen adaptation of the young adult other worldly romance book series Shiver, per Variety.  Scholastic Press published Shiver, the first book in the supernatural love story from author Maggie Stiefvater in August 2009 with the second book, Linger, set to be published this August.  Unique Features has a first-look deal with Warner Bros.  The banner is also developing movie versions of Paul McCartney’s High in the Clouds, author Cassandra Clare’s young adult fantasy adventure series, The Mortal Instruments, as well as Broadway musical adaptations of Elf and Secondhand Lions.

Distributor Artfest International has begun production on 13 episodes of a new kid-targeted animated series Rhupert.  The series and book, Little Red Rhupert, follow the adventures of a lovable and loyal ostrich named Rhupert.

MORE KIDS STUFF

Movie producer Roy Conli (Treasure Planet, The Hunchback of Notre Dame) announced on Walt Disney Animations Studios’ Facebook page that Disney’s upcoming 3D animated movie Rapunzel has been officially re-titled Tangled.  Featuring the voices of Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi and Donna Murphy, and others, Tangled is set for an initial release on November 12, 2010, and then wide on November 24.  The movie features original music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater.  Conli describes the movie as, “a really fresh, smart take on the Rapunzel story.  In our film, the infamous bandit Flynn Rider meets his match in the girl with the 70 feet of magical golden hair.  We’re having a lot of fun pairing Flynn, who’s seen it all, with Rapunzel, who’s been locked away in a tower for 18 years.”

JimJam, the global preschool channel, expands further throughout Asia, which coincides with the channel’s new look.  The JimJam channel has its first launch in Thailand as a 24/7 service on Cable Thai Holding, a consortium of TV operators, and also signs a carriage deal with Indovision (Indonesia).  The channel’s new look begins with the jungle theme and later this year will feature other themes such as outer space, circus and the sea.  The JimJam on-air refresh, which was created by Chello Zone’s in-house production team, also simultaneously rolls out on all its feeds, including 50+ countries across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Welsh broadcaster S4C acquires preschool series Big and Small (52 episodes), as well as the series website, from Kindle Entertainment.  S4C will debut the series as part of its preschool service Cyw from April 2010, weekdays at 12:30p.  The broadcaster will feature the Big and Small microsite as part of the Cyw website.  Big and Small is a co-production of Kindle Entertainment the 3J’s Productions for BBC, produced in association with Treehouse TV and studio 100.

DQ Entertainment (DQE) enters into an exclusive 5-year broadcast deal for 3D CGI animated series and TV movie The Jungle Book (52×11, 1×60) with Al Jazeera Children’s Channel.  Under the deal The Jungle Book will series will air across 22 Arabic countries via the channel’s feeds on Arabsat, Nilesat, Hotbird and Eurobird.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM AMERICAN WOMEN IN RADIO & TELEVISION

MARKETING/LICENSING

Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) extends its partnership with The LEGO Group for Harry Potter.  Under the deal, The LEGO Group will develop Potter and wizard-themed construction sets and a board game based on the property ahead of Warner Bros.’ November 19 theatrical release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I, and of course the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in 2011.  The new line includes six construction sets derived based on scenes and locations from Harry Potter, including the Hogwarts Castle, Hagrid’s Hut, Hogwarts Express and Quidditch Match, which include new minifigures including Bellatrix Lestrange and Luna Lovegood, will debut in October 2010.  The first Potter/LEGO constructible board game, called Hogwarts, will be available from August.  Additionally, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and TT Games will release the video game LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 this May.

Products based on Dentsu‘s Mameshiba, the Japanese ‘bean-dog’ characters, from Toynami, VIZ Media, Heroic Prints and are and will be available in the US via the new online store, www.mameshibastore.com , as well as retail stores including boutique retailer Happy Six.  Additionally, a new Mameshiba fan site has just launched at www.mameshibaworld.com , which features games, videos and product news and promotions.  All English speaking territories, including US, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand are being handled by DCI-LA, a division of Dentsu America.  Products available include those from Heroic Prints (T-shirts, wall decor, and electronic device skins) in the US, Canada and UK, and Southern California’s Happy Six boutique stores (women’s apparel).  Upcoming products will include those from Toynami (plush, beanies, vinyl figures) for the US in spring 2010 and VIZ Media (children’s book) in the US and Canada in spring 2011.

CPLG, the licensing arm of Cookie Jar Group, inks a deal with Shocker Toys to feature the animated Johnny Test property in its new Mallows toy line, which will be available later this year.  A Mallow is a 5-inch marshmallow-themed figure, which features up to 10 points of movement and up to 7 interchangeable parts.

Cartoon Network Enterprise (CNE) extends its global Master Toy license pack with Bandai America Inc for its boy-targeted Ben 10 property.  The two have been partners on Ben 10 since 2005, and the renewed deal extends the partnership through 2010 and includes rights for action figures, playsets, role-play items, etc. in all territories.

Chapman Entertainment and HIT Entertainment, the North American rep for Chapman’s Roary the Racing Car, enter into a new master toy partnership with Bandai America for a full line of toys.  Under the deal, Bandai America will first introduce a line of Roary the Racing Car toys (e.g. die-cast, push-along, friction cars, remote control vehicles, playsets etc.) in the US exclusively at Toys ‘R’ Us beginning fall 2010.  Three items will be packaged with a special episode of the animated Roary the Racing Car on DVD.

Discovery Communications signs a North American deal with Ravensburger USA for Animal Planet branded jigsaw puzzles for kids, tweens and adults.  A portion of the proceeds from the puzzles will benefit the principal partners of R.O.A.R (Reach Out. Act. Respond), Animal Planet’s national campaign.  The new line of puzzles is set to debut in September 2010.  The new deal was brokered for Animal Planet but its licensing agent, the Joester Loria Group (JLG).

Italy’s Atlantyca Entertainment signs a one-year Geronimo Stilton licensing deal with Aqua Minerale S. Benedetto.  Under the new pact, San Benedetto takes the Italian rights to use Geronimo Stilton, and other characters from the animated series, in its launch of a new kid-targeted drink line debuting March 2010.  The Geronimo Stilton characters will be featured on packaging, in-store displays, and on promotional items, as well as on the San Benedetto Kids website.  The new kid drink line includes flavored ice tea and chamomile-based drinks.  The animated Geronimo Stilton series is co-produced by Atlantyca Entertainment and Moonscoop.

United Agents appoints RDF Media Group is appointed as the UK licensing agent for Simon’s Cat, which became popular via online series (51 million views YouTube) and virally.  Created by animator Simon Tofield, Simon’s Cat follows the humorous adventures of Simon’s cat and Simon’s animated alter ego.  A Simon’s Cat book followed and has also been a big seller.  The property is not specifically aimed at kids.  RDFR, which will be on the search for licensees in a wide range of gift categories, expects the first products to launch at retail in Q4 2010 to tie in with the launch of the second Simon’s Cat book.

Neutrogena signs teen actress/singer Miranda Cosgrove (iCarly, Drake & Josh) as its newest “Brand Ambassador.”  The first Neutrogena ad featuring Cosgrove will debut this spring.  Other Neutrogena spokespeople include Gabrielle Union, Hayden Panettiere, Susie Castillo, Vanessa Hudgens, Jennifer Garner, Diane Lane and Emma Roberts.

STONE SOUP

Weekend Box Office Estimates for kids/tweens/teens rated G, PG or PG-13; 4-Day President’s Day Weekend February 12-15, 2010:
Valentine’s Day (Warner Bros.) PG-13                                   Opening Weekend $66.9m
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (Fox) PG Opening Weekend $38.8m
Avatar (Fox) PG-13                                                              $30.0m-9 wk total $667.6m
Dear John (Sony/Screen Gems) PG-13                                   $18.8m-2 wk total $56.7m
Tooth Fairy (Fox) PG                                                            $7.7m-4 wk total $43.6m
When in Rome (Buena Vista) PG-13                                       $4.2m-3 wk total $26.8m
The Blind Side (Warner Bros.) PG-13                                     $2.7m-13 wk total $245.1m
Sherlock Holmes (Warner Bros.) PG-13                                  $1.9m-8 wk total $204.4m
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (Fox) PG                $1.7m-8 wk total $214.3m
The Lovely Bones (Paramount (DreamWorks)) PG-13              $800,000-10 wk total $43.0m
Source: Rentrak ( www.rentrak.com )

RATINGS

Disney Channel‘s premiere of its new original TV movie StarStruck on Sunday, February 14, became the network’s most watched February original movie premiere in Total Viewers (6.0 million), K6-11 (2.4 million) and Tweens 9-14 (2.3 million).  The original movie, which was first to bow on a Sunday night, also led the way in its time period among K6-11 and Tweens 9-14, and taking the network’s top spot in the time period ever for the latter.  StarStruck was up over same time period last year with Total Viewers +88%, K6-11 by +60% and Tweens 9-14 by +64%.

Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Thursday, February 11, 2010, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON:         K2-11 1263; K6-11 542; TWEENS 9-14 366
DISNEY CHANNEL:     K2-11   879; K6-11 525; TWEENS 9-14 419
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11   662; K6-11 366; TWEENS 9-14 237
DISNEY XD:               K2-11   129; K6-11   76; TWEENS 9-14   57
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia: What is Tony Stark’s other name? IRON MAN  Kudos to: Dave Welch-Bender Helper Impact/NY; Tom Potter-Radio Disney/NY; Jennifer Treuting-Nickelodeon Preschool/NY; Meredith Rusu-HarperCollins/NY; Michael Hawkins-PromoDoctors/Irving; Richard Quan-Imaginary Time/San Francisco; Art Spigel-7ate9 Entertainment/LA; Rita Illig-RBI Assoc/Granada Hills; Dianne Vernon-Canadian Broadcasting Corp/Toronto; Andrew Makarewicz-CineGroupe/Montreal; Elize Morgan-Slainte Development/Toronto

Today’s Trivia Question:  On what futuristic primetime series and from whom is this quote:  “I’m never gonna get used to the 31st century. Caffineated bacon? Baconated grapefruit? ADMIRAL Crunch?!”     (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!
gwen @cynopsis.com
02.16.10

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