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MIP-TV News: Fox Kids Europe to Launch Korean Property PUCCA

Fox Kids Europe (FKE), will launch PUCCA at MIP-TV, an animated TV series based on the funky, cult Korean property created by VOOZ Co., Ltd. FKE has acquired all television and home video rights for the whole of Europe and the Middle East, for the 24x2.5 animated short PUCCA series.

FKE and VOOZ are developing a 78x7 animated series for co-production, based on the characters and world of the PUCCA short series, which follows feisty PUCCAs comical and determined pursuit of her Ninja boyfriend GARU. The energetic and mischievous daughter of a Chinese restaurant owner, PUCCAs sole mission is to win the heart of her intended -- GARU -- either by her girlish charms or martial arts.

The PUCCA animated character originated as the cheeky, eponymous star of an online e-card service created by VOOZ in 2000. PUCCA has already enjoyed cult success in Korea and throughout Asia, through its mixture of fashion, technology, romance, humor and drama. It has won the prestigious Korean Character Award for three consecutive years. At launch, the PUCCA website, www.puccaclub.com, received more than 80,000 hits within two months, testament to PUCCAs rapidly growing popularity.

PUCCA licensing success continues to build for key fashion and lifestyle-led merchandise categories across Europe and the Middle East. Some 40 official licensing agreements are in place for a range of product categories including Apparel, Stationary, Accessories, Bags, Toiletries, Greeting Cards, Gift Products and Plush with several more currently being finalized.

Benoit Runel, svp, programming & acquisitions, FKE said, PUCCA has proved enormously successful in Asia, where the property and the character have already achieved iconic status. PUCCAs fresh, dynamic design and cheeky, action-led cast of characters and stories fit perfectly into Fox Kids programming portfolio and we are very excited to be working together with VOOZ to expand PUCCAs world and popularity further still with the development of a new, longer-format series.

Fox Kids Europe (www.foxkidseurope.com) recently announced that Fox Kids Europe, Fox Kids Latin America and ABC Cable Networks Group will launch Jetix as the name for their joint kids programming alliance around the world, featuring original, acquired and library action-adventure series. Jetix programming will reach a combined 137 million television households in 77 countries and 18 languages. Fox Kids channels in Europe and the Middle East will begin airing Jetix programming blocks in April 2004, and will begin transitioning to Jetix-named channels beginning in Autumn 2004.

VOOZ does character development and design, content (online, animation, mobile and game) planning and development, and character licensing. The main strength of VOOZ Co., Ltd., whose representative director is a copyright holder for all the characters, includes its own ability for character design, content planning and development, continuous research about the design quality and unique promotion activities related to the business.

For further information please contact, Hoiyoung Hur via phone +82 2 568 5093 or e-mail licensing@vooz.co.kr

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