Mattel has enlisted Mainframe Entertainment to create the first direct-to-video feature starring Barbie. The story will be based on THE NUTCRACKER with Barbie playing Clara. Mattel is investing US$15 million into the 84-minute CGI flick, which should hit store shelves in October. Currently, Mattel is looking for a buyer for an hour-long TV version of the film. New York City ballet-master Peter Martins will choreograph the dance sequences with the London Symphony Orchestra supplying the music. Motion-capture will be used to animate five separate dancers for the flick.

Disney is releasing for the first time PETE'S DRAGON in its original theatrical 135-minute cut. Hitting stores on January 16, 2001, the VHS and DVD will have a restored and remastered video and audio track. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Original Song Score and Best Song for "Candle On The Water." The story follows lighthouse keeper Lampie (Mickey Rooney) and Nora (Helen Reddy) as they try to save Pete (Sean Marshall) and his pet dragon Elliot from his cruel foster mother Mrs. Gogan (Shelley Winters) and the scheming quack, Dr. Terminus (Jim Dale).

NIGHTWALKER "Midnight Detective" descends into video stores on January 9, 2001. The series follows Shido, a midnight detective who is half-human half-vampire, who must hunt down supernatural murderers. Other volumes will arrive in stores later this year; "Prescription for Death" on April 10 and "Eternal Darkness" on June 12. The "Midnight Detective" DVD will be released on April 10, with the "Eternal Darkness" DVD arriving on June 12. The dubbed VHS version will retail for US$19.99 with the DVDs priced at $29.99.

The erotic anime feature DEMON WARRIOR KOJI will heat up video stores on January 9, 2001. Man-demon Koji, with the aide of a morbid psychic, hunts down a monster hungry for blood. The film is from Toshio Maeda, creator of LA BLUE GIRL, UROTSUKIDOJI: LEGEND OF THE OVERFIEND, DEMON BEAST INVASION and NIGHTMARE CAMPUS. The dubbed VHS tape will retail for US$29.99. A dual-language DVD will be available on March 13, 2001.

Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece, PRINCESS MONONOKE, is arriving on DVD from Miramax Home Entertainment. Hitting stores December 19, 2000, the film follows young warrior Ashitaka's quest to cure a disease that plagues his body and create peace between humans and the forest gods. The DVD features a special production featurette, English-language theatrical trailer and three language tracks in English, Japanese and French. The film will retail for US$34.99.

Dimension Home Video is proud to present Miramax's highest grossing film of all time SCARY MOVIE on DVD. Hitting stores December 12, 2000, the sidesplitting teen horror movie spoof was directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans and features visual effects by Centropolis Effects. The DVD will feature a behind-the-scenes featurette; six additional scenes; theatrical trailer; French language track; Spanish subtitles; and DVD-Rom bonuses. The film will retail for US$ $29.99.

Anime 18, a top distributor of erotic anime, is releasing MAGIC WOMAN M on video December 12, 2000. Nineteen-year-old Meru is a sorceress who battles unsavory beasts with her explosive power unleashed during the state of pure ecstasy. The 60-minute adventure will sell for US$29.99.

DreamWorks is releasing its animated feature THE ROAD TO EL DORADO on VHS and DVD December 12, 2000. In conjunction with the release, DreamWorks is running a national "Instant Win" campaign for the opportunity to win the grand prize of US$1 million. The film follows friends Tulio and Miguel and their search for the mysterious city of gold. EL DORADO stars the voices of Kevin Kline (Tulio), Kenneth Branagh (Miguel), Edward James Olmos (The Chief), Armand Assante (Tzekel-Kan) and Rosie Perez (Chel).

Based on the graphic novel and TV series, CITY HUNTER: SECRET SERVICE is coming to VHS on December 5, 2000. This new 90-minute adventure has the savvy agent Joe Saeba hunting more assassins and chasing more women. The dubbed version of the film will retail for US$19.98.

MARTIAN SUCCESSOR NADESICO Volume 7 "Contact!" is coming to video on December 5, 2000. The adventures continue with a Jovian spy infiltrating the spaceship Nadesico while Earth's network of alliances begins to crumble. Like the other volumes in the series, ADV Films will release an English-dubbed edition for US$19.98 and English-subtitled version for $29.95.