Burger King, the US-headquartered fast
food chain, began offering Pokemon toys on November 8, 1999. The eight-week
promotion includes 57 different toys in 56 days -- one with each kid's
meal. The toys, each of which are packed in a Poke Ball and include one of
151 trading cards, is said to be the largest licensing effort ever for
Burger King. The toys are part of the licensing for the feature film
POKEMON: THE FIRST MOVIE which opens November 10, 1999. Consumers can also
purchase one of six 23K gold plated trading cards for $1.99 with the
purchase of any value meal beginning November 15. Each of the six cards
comes packaged in a mechanized Poke Ball and includes a certificate of
authenticity. The six characters are Pikachu, Mewtwo, Jigglypuff,
Poliwhirl, Charizard, and Togepi. The promotion is scheduled to run through
December 31, 1999 at participating restaurants, or while supplies last. To
help kids collect all of the toys, Burger Kings around the country will
offer "trading nights" for four consecutive Tuesdays, beginning November
23, allowing collectors to trade their Burger King toys. Additional items
will also be available on Burger King's website, beginning the week of
November 8, at www.burgerking.com. The Pokemon phenomenon in America began
just one year ago in September 1998 with the release of the original Blue
and Red Nintendo Game Boy games and the debut of the television series.