Cynopsis: Kids!

05/27/08

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, May 27, 2008, and this is your first early morning briefing.

Almost 20 years later Indiana Jones still got it.  Paramount released Steven Spielberg’s feature Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull this holiday weekend around the world, earning estimated domestic box receipts of $151.1 million (including the late night Thursday showings) and a worldwide take of $311.1 million.  Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, becomes the second largest opening movie for a 4-day Memorial Day weekend in the US, with $126 million behind Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (Buena Vista/2007), still holding the top spot domestically with $139.8 million.

NEW PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Production has begun on Disney’s feature film Hannah Montana: The Movie, in and around Nashville and LA. Starring, who else, Miley Cyrus, the movie is directed by Peter Chelsom (Serendipity, Shall We Dance?) from a script by Dan Berendsen (Twitches, The Initiation of Sarah). Hannah Montana: The Movie is slated for release in spring 2009.

MORE KIDS STUFF

Cartoon Network takes to the high seas with the launch of its new animated adventure series The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack on Thursday, June 5 at 8:30p.  At its upfront presentation this April, Cartoon Network explained that Thursday night would be devoted to comedy, featuring new and existing programming such as Chowder, Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends, George of the Jungle and other series.  Created by Thurop Van Orman, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack is produced at Cartoon Network Studios in California.

Adult Swim, which airs overnight on Cartoon Network, premieres season three of the animated adventure/comedy series The Venture Bros. on Sunday, June 1 at 11:30p.  The series is targeted to teens and up.  Created by Jackson Publick III, The Venture Bros. is produced by NY-based World Leaders Entertainment.  Adult Swim airs Monday-Saturday 11p-6a and Sundays 10p-6a.

Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine will publish a special anniversary edition of J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter books, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, in the US on September 23, 2008. The anniversary edition will include exclusive bonus material from Rowling and feature new cover art and frontispiece (an illustration facing the title page) by illustrator of the US Potter books, Mary GrendPre, featuring 11-year-old Harry looking into the Mirror of Erised.  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was first published in the US in September 1998.

Egmont USA has completed a book deal with Walter Dean Myers, the author of numerous kids and young adult books, with two books to be published fall 2009 as part of its launch list.  The first title is an historical novel targeted to K10+, and the second will be a picture book illustrated by Myers son, Christopher Myers.  This marks the fourth book from the father and son team.  Egmont USA’s new Executive Editor, Regina Griffin, has edited a number of Walter Dean Myers books.  Sales and distribution of Egmont USA, which is part of the Egmont Group, will be through Random House.

MARKETING/LICENSING

THQ is set to release Wall-E The Video Game for Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and 2, Wii, PSP, and for Windows, Mac and wireless formats on June 24.  The game bows in conjunction with the June 27 release of the Disney/Pixar movie, Wall-E, on which the game is based.  Wall-E The Video Game is an action/adventure game featuring nine different worlds and a range of multi-player games (e.g. flying, racing, shooting and puzzles and cooperative play etc.).  The video game by Heavy Iron (360, PS3, Wii), Asoso (PS2, PC/Mac), Helixe (DS), and Savage (PSP).  The ESRB rating for the game is pending, but given that the MPAA has handed the movie a G rating, the game will likely get a kid friendly rating.

Nelvana Enterprises inks new international licensees for the tween/teen targeted property Ruby Gloom, including:

• In Australia, Designworks will release an exclusive line of Ruby Gloom T-shirts this July at Jay Jays youth apparel stores, followed in September with a line of bedding exclusively at Spotlight Stores;
• In Mexico an apparel line launches exclusively in Palacio de Hierro department stores in October 2008, new licensees in the region include Carlton Cards (social expressions), Rhinox (bags) and Scribe (stationery);
• In Spain and Portugal, Sportandem launches back-to-school merchandise and bags at the end of 2008/early 2009;
• Italy  Dream Colours’ apparel, apparel accessories, ceramic mugs and plush products in fall 2008, with Edibas’ posters, stickers and calendars releasing now and fall 2008; German/Austria/Switzerland  The Cookie Company bows a line of apparel and accessories in September 2008;
• Additionally, this last March in Japan, Sony Music Entertainment releases a CD single featuring J-pop star Nana Kitade as Ruby Gloom, which included two songs and a DVD featuring animated music video and behind the scenes footage.

STONE SOUP

Weekend Box Office Estimates for kids/tweens/teens rated G, PG or PG-13; Memorial Day 4-Day Weekend, May 23  26, 2008:
Indiana Jones/Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Paramount) PG-13 Opening Weekend $151.1m
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (Buena Vista) PG        $28.6m-2 wk total $96.7m
Iron Man (Paramount) PG-13                                                  $25.7m- 4 wk total $257.8m
What Happens in Vegas (Fox) PG-13                                        $11.2m-3 wk total $56.4m
Speed Racer (Warner Bros.) PG                                               $5.2m-3 wk total $37.4m
Baby Mama (Universal) PG-13                                                 $4.2m-5 wk total $53.0m
Made of Honor (Sony / Columbia) PG-13                                  $4.2m-4 wk total $39.9m
The Visitor (Overture Films) PG-13                                          $917,000-7 wk total $4.6m
The Forbidden Kingdom (Lionsgate) PG-13                               $489,000-6 wk total $51.3m
Young@Heart (Fox Searchlight) PG                                          $415,000-7 wk total $2.5m
Source: Box Office Mojo

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Kristin Moss is upped to VP/Marketing, Lionsgate Home Entertainment.  Moss will oversee the Hit Entertainment brands (e.g. Barney, Bob the Builder), while continuing to manage brands within the division.  Previously, Moss toiled in the marketing group of MGM Home Entertainment.

Nelvana Enterprises appoints two in its merchandise/licensing department:  Lily Yan moves up to Director/Licensing International, based in the Toronto office; and Sarah Sakr is upped to Marketing and Licensing Coordinator, Europe, based in Paris.

RATINGS

Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Thursday, May 22, 2008, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON:          K2-11 1064; K6-11 422; TWEENS 9-14 306
DISNEY CHANNEL:       K2-11   787; K6-11 532; TWEENS 9-14 441
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11   632; K6-11 347; TWEENS 9-14 244
TOON DISNEY:           K2-11   136; K6-11   80; TWEENS 9-14   33
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data

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Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:  Murky Dismal, Count Blogg and the Glitterbots are some of the villains that were found on what ’80s animated TV series?  RAINBOW BRITE   Kudos to:  Aaron Weiler-Cartoon Network/Atlanta; EJ Offurum-Tru TV/NY

Today’s Trivia Question: On the animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, what was He-Man’s planet of origin?   (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!
05.27.08

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