Alliance Atlantis International Content Distribution announced that agreements have been reached in Canada with Adorable Kids Inc. to develop sleepwear and underwear and Calego Intl to develop a line of bags, backpacks and other accessories, for its preschool stop-motion animated property, LUNAR JIM.
"We are thrilled to be partnering with such creative and experienced partners as Adorable Kids Inc. and Calego Intl to take preschoolers' experience of LUNAR JIM to the next level," says Jennifer Bennett, vp of merchandising and licensing, Alliance Atlantis. "These new products will allow young children to connect and interact more intimately with the exciting space fantasy of Jim and his friends."
"All of us at Adorable Kids are extremely excited to take off with this amazing and innovative preschool property! I can think of no better character than Lunar Jim for kids to cuddle up with and go wherever their imagination takes them," says Allison Jurow, vp of operations, Adorable Kids Inc.
"At Calego Intl we are extremely proud of this partnership and our part in the LUNAR JIM experience. We can't wait to give preschool fans the opportunity to broaden their Moona Luna experience by collecting and using LUNAR JIM accessories," says Eddy Abecassis, vp, new business, Calego Intl.
Alliance Atlantis previously announced a worldwide master toy license agreement for LUNAR JIM with Fisher-Price. Distribution of the toys, including figures, vehicles and roleplay, will commence, beginning in Canada, in fall 2006. Meanwhile, the company is continuing to finalize agreements with both other key merchandising partners and international broadcasters.
Broadcast launches for previously announced presales began rolling out early in the year with Discovery Kids (Latin America) and CBC (Canada) on Jan. 2, 2006, and on ABC Kids (Australia) on March 14. The series recently launched on BBC and CBeebies (U.K.) on April 3, on Kika (Germany) on April 13 (with ZDF launching the series at a later date) and SRC (Canada) on April 15. France 5 is set to debut the series in fall 2006.
Co-produced by The Halifax Film Co. and Alliance Atlantis, LUNAR JIM (26x30 or 52x11) transports preschoolers into a world of discovery, fun and adventure promoting problem-solving skills through persistence, creativity and cooperation. Jim and his friends, including Rover the Robot Dog, Ripple the Super Space Mechanic, Eco the Farmer and T.E.D., the Technical Equipment Device, live in Moona Luna. Their village is much like any other, except it's on the moon.
Alliance Atlantis (www.allianceatlantis.com) offers Canadians 13 well-branded specialty channels boasting targeted, programming. The company also co-produces and distributes the hit CSI franchise and indirectly holds a 51% limited partnership interest in Motion Picture Distribution LP, a leading distributor of motion pictures in Canada, with a growing presence in motion picture distribution in the U.K. and Spain. The company's common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
