A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM DISNEY XD

Cynopsis: Kids!

02/17/09

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, February 17, 2009, and this is your first early morning Kids briefing.

Online ad outfit Betawave (f/k/a GoFish) is launching a new online video syndication platform to deliver original video content to its youth-targeted publishing partners. The Betawave TV network will consist of several regularly-refreshed ad supported channels of content produced exclusively for the platform including lifestyle segments narrative by That’s So Raven star Raven Symone; shorts and full-length movies from Cookie Jar Entertainment; and Live From The Red Carpet  consisting of interviews shot and uploaded live from movie premiers and launch parties; as well as Teek/Kid News; Young Hollywood offering celebrity programming. Competition to attract kids traffic online is fierce and word on Madison Avenue is that media buyers are looking to spread the wealth to allocate at least half of their kids’ budgets outside of the large media portals such as Disney.com and Nick.com. Betawave aggregates smaller publishers like digital doll site Cartoon Doll Emporium www.cartoondollemporium.com with a total audience of 25 million or so to give advertisers the reach they need. “A lot of smaller publishers have built compelling sites with audiences of 1-2 million but they have trouble getting face time with ad agencies,” said Jim Moloshok, Executive Chairman of Betawave.

NEW PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Animation and visual effects studio Keyframe Digital Productions has added two preschool-targeted animated series to its development slate of original kid’s animated series.  The studio recently announced that it was developing Sock Monsters with Dublin-based partner Kavaleer Productions.

• Peggy’s Little Harbour (52×11) is a CGI animated series that revolves around Peggy, an adventurous 6-years-old Canadian girl who lives in a lighthouse with her grandmother and sidekick Droolie (a Newfoundland dog).  The series focuses on how to investigate by observing and asking questions and problem solving and feature Celtic music.  Discussions are underway with a Canadian broadcaster.
• Cuddly Wuggleys (52×11) featuring a combination of 2D and 3D animation, the series follows the adventures of The Cuddly Wuggleys, a group of five plush pals who live at together at a daycare center and come to life after all the kids go home for the night.  Each adventure features storytelling and underlines preschool lessons including care and understanding, teamwork, manners and friendship.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM NICKTOONS

• the BIGGEST series premiere on Nicktoons Network ever.
• Slashing the competition – Fri. 8p premieres have outperformed Toon Disney by +31% with B6-11.
• Wolverine was extra sharp on Nickelodeon – #1 in its timeslot on cable with B9-14 and P2+!

Source: The Nielsen Company 1.NKTNS, K6-11, 9/24/04-2/12/09, LSD CVG AA%, Ori. Prem. 2.NKTNS Prog Avg vs TDSNY TP, 1/23-2/8, F 8-830P, LSD CVG AA% 3. Nick vs Ad Supp Cable, 1/24/09, Su 2-3P, LSD AA (000)

MARKETING/LICENSING

Coolabi appoints licensing and marketing agency Lisa Marks & Associates, Inc. to rep the tween/teen-girl targeted Scarlett & Crimson property in North America.  Scarlett & Crimson is co-owned by Coolabi and designer Ged Backland.  Coolabi’s appointment of LMA comes on the heels of a several licensing agreements for Scarlett & Crimson, including a series of books from Simon and Schuster for the US, Canada and the UK, as well as a line of gift cosmetics and toiletries for the UK market developed by Ruby & Millie, and a collection of limited edition women’s vests from fashion designer Robert Cary-Williams.

Al Ovadia & Associates inks three new licensee deals for Cartoon Network‘s series Thumb Wrestling Federation: TWF: Jay Franco & Sons (bedding, pillows, bath/beach towels and accessories and slumber bags); Aquarius Entertainment Merchandising (posters, calendars, puzzles and playing cards); and Scholastic Books, which will publish an official TWF Thumbbook.  Think Wow Toys US continues as master toy licensee, along with previously announced US licensees, Mad Engine, Berkshire Fashions and Dream Apparel.  Thumb Wrestling Federation: TWF is created by Larry Schwarz and produced by studio Animation Collective.

TOY FAIR 2009

Toy Island and EA Sports are partnering to develop a new line of real life sports equipment for kids.  Under the new multi-year deal, the first sporting goods products are slated for release in fall 2009.  The new EA Sports-branded products will use infrared, motion and equilibrium sensors to provide kids with a virtual coach offering instruction on form and technique etc. for sports including baseball, football, basketball, soccer and hockey.  EA Sports is best known of its best selling video games, including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL hockey, NBA Live basketball and so forth.  This is the first for EA Sports as part of its year-old relationship with IMG Licensing, which is the exclusive worldwide consumer products and brand licensing agent for EA Sports.

The Jim Henson Company appoints RC2 Corporation as the global master toy licensee for the upcoming preschool-aimed animated series Dinosaur Train.  Under the multi-year agreement, RC2 Corporation’s Learning Curve Brands will feature a line of preschool products that will debut in the last half of 2010.  The series is currently in production for PBS Kids.  Dinosaur Train is produced by The Jim Henson Company, and is co-produced with Singapore animation company Big Communications, with the participation and assistance of the Singapore Media Development Authority.  UK production and financial support is provided by Ingenious Media

Disney Consumer Products (DCP) with Mattel and CDI, a division of JAKKS Pacific, unveiled a toy line based on Disney’s upcoming animated feature The Princess And The Frog, which opens December 2009, at Toy Fair.  Expanding on the Disney Princess franchise, the line of The Princess And The Frog products includes dolls, play sets and role-play dresses.  Additionally, this fall DCP’s plans also include a line of The Princess and The Frog apparel, accessories, home decor, electronics, school supplies and personal care items.  DCP also featured a new collection of Snow White toys that will debut in conjunction with, re-release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on Blu-ray hi-def and DVD this fall.

Microsoft and Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising (Fox L&M) are set to unveil a new toy line based on the soon to be released new video game Halo Wars (ESRB T for Teens) at Toy Fair this week: USAopoly  brings the Halo Wars story to Hasbro’s board game Risk, which will be available from spring/summer 2009; Mega Brands  is developing construction sets based on Halo Wars, bowing fall 2009; and McFarlane Toys  extends its partnership with the Halo franchise with the release of new Halo Wars specific action figures (2.5 inch) and vehicle collections, available in March 2009.

Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) inks three new hardlines partners for Ben 10 Alien Force.  CNE signs licensing deals with Basic Fun (figure keychains), The Canadian Group (ColorUps, Magnetic Creations and temporary tattoos) and Dynatech (2D and 3D projectors, flashlights and snow sleds), each of which will create a range of products for the hit Cartoon Network original series for release this year.  Additionally, master toy partner Bandai America will release new Ben 10 Alien Force products this fall.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Brenda Bisner joins Cookie Jar Entertainment as Sr. Manager, Domestic Consumer Products.  Bisner will be responsible for developing licensing programs for Cookie Jar’s consumer brands and entertainment properties.  Reporting to Lisa Streff, SVP/Domestic Consumer Products, Bisner will be based in Cookie Jar’s Burbank office.  Prior to this, Bisner was VP/Acquisitions, Children’s Programming, Porchlight Entertainment.  She previously served as Director/Acquisitions, GRB Entertainment, and developed and produced programming for Tom Lynch Co.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:  What was the name of the musically-inclined, sailor-hat-wearing animated character that was featured in his own cartoon segment on The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show?  SQUIDDLY DIDDLY Kudos to just one: Sherrie Brooks-TBS, Inc/Atlanta

Today’s Trivia Question:  In Disney’s fifth animated feature film, Bambi, who was Bambi’s childhood friend who later became his mate? (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!
02.17.09

Cynopsis Kids Ad Sales:
Chuck Bolkcom – 646-468-6180 / [email protected]
Mark Bohn- 203-583-1224 / [email protected]
Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 203-926-9878 / [email protected]

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