Home Video
Anastasia comes to video on April 28.
© Twentieth Century Fox
Home Entertainment.
Fox Putting $100 Mil. Into Anastasia Video
Release. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
will mount its largest promotional campaign ever for the North American
home video release of the animated feature, Anastasia on April 28,
1998. The company proclaims that it will invest $100 million on advertising
and promotion for the video, the same amount of money that it cost to build
the Phoenix, Arizona animation facility that produced the film. "Our
independent research shows that purchase intent for Anastasia is
among the highest we've ever seen," said Pat Wyatt, who is heading
up the campaign for Fox, "In fact, among the core VCR households with
children under 11, the positive purchase intent...is higher than The
Little Mermaid and Flubber," she added. Promotional partners
which are already in place for the video release include Alamo Rent A Car,
Continental Airlines, Denny's restaurants, Ramada Hotels and Smuckers [jam],
in addition to the 45 + licensees which already have Anastasia-themed
merchandise on the market. Each purchased videocassette will also come
with a mail-in rebate for a free Anastasia toy. Fox broadcasting
companies such as The Fox Family Channel, Fox Kids Network and FX will
be enlisted to air television advertisements. Priced at U.S. $26.98, the
G-rated, 94-minute video will be available in widescreen and pan-and-scan
formats, in English and Spanish. Soon to begin international release, Anastasia
has grossed over $56 million in its U.S. theatrical release so far, and,
24 weeks since its release, is still playing in more than 500 U.S. theaters.
The Brave Toaster Returns. Buena Vista Home entertainment will release
a new feature, The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars on video, May
19, 1998. Inspired by the 1987 film, The Brave Little Toaster, the
direct-to-video sequel features voices by Farah Fawcett, Wayne Knight and
Carol Channing.
What's Up, Doc-Umentary. On April 7, 1998 Warner Home Video will
release Bugs Bunny's Elephant Parade, Bugs Bunny's Funky Monkeys
and Bugs Bunny's Silly Seals. All three home videos combine
live-action footage of animals introduced by Looney Tunes characters. Each
30 minute tape will be priced at U.S. $9.95.
Disney Sets Dates For Miyazaki And DTV Titles. Buena Vista Home
Entertainment (BVHE) will release Hayao Miyazaki's animated feature film
Kiki's Delivery Service on home video, on June 22, 1998. Disney
acquired U.S. distribution rights to eight animated films by the Japanese
director, but Kiki will be the first release. The film, about a
young witch seeking her place in the world, will be dubbed in English with
voices by Kirsten Dunst, Phil Hartman, Debbie Reynolds, Janeane Garofalo
and Mathew Lawrence. BVHE also announced 1998 dates for the second video
release of The Little Mermaid on March 31, and new direct-to-video
titles, Pocahontas: Journey to a New World on August 4, and The
Lion King: Simba's Pride on October 27.
Send your newsworthy items, press releases, and reels to:
Email: wendyj@awn.com
Fax: (213) 464-5914
Mail: Animation World Magazine
6525 Sunset Blvd. Garden Suite 10, Hollywood, CA 90028 USA
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