DIC Entertainment (DIC) will be bringing four new STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE specials, two SABRINA, THE TEENAGE WITCH series and a sneak peek at the new TV series STAN LEE'S SUPER 7 to NATPE at booth 1246.
The new SHORTCAKE specials are scheduled for release in 2004 and 2005. A collaboration between DIC, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (TCFHE) and American Greetings, 2003's relaunch of STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE exceeded company expectations, with retail sales in the U.S. generating more than $200 million dollars across all categories, including toys, apparel, home video and publishing. The first four specials aired on HBO and HBO Family, which reaches approximately 39 million subscribers across the U.S. Additionally, GMTV in the UK will begin airing the specials in spring 2004 to coincide with the consumer products launch. DIC recently signed a pan-European deal with Fox Kids Europe to release and distribute the first four specials throughout that territory. In addition, DIC Consumer Products has lined up agents in 40 territories across Europe, Latin America, Australia, Asia, South Africa and Middle East to develop a comprehensive campaign to canvass the international marketplace.
For the SABRINA franchise, DIC will be presenting the "Totally Sabrina" package, which contains more than 90 episodes of the hit SABRINA, THE ANIMATED SERIES together with the brand new series, SABRINAS SECRET LIFE, a co-production with French broadcaster TF1 and French production house LST. "Totally Sabrina" is comprised of 65 half-hour episodes of the original series and 26 half-hour episodes of the new animated series.
SABRINAS SECRET LIFE follows the young witch as she attends secret witchcraft training classes and goes toe-to-toe with Portia, a fully-fledged witch from the other realm who sets out to make Sabrinas life miserable.
The "Totally Sabrina" package has been acquired to air on major terrestrial and pay TV channels throughout the world, including TF1, Irelands RTE, Super RTL in Germany, Italys Mediaset, Austrias ORF, Saran in Turkey, Alter in Greece, Spains regional stations Forta, Brazils SBT, Noga in Israel and Canadas Teletoon. Additionally, Walt Disney Television International acquired SABRINAS SECRET LIFE to air on the Disney Channel in the U.K., Asia, Taiwan, Australia, France, Latin America including Brazil, the Middle East and Spain. The worldwide channel also airs SABRINA: THE ANIMATED SERIES in select territories. SABRINAS SECRET LIFE has been acquired by Polands Minimax, TV3 in Malaysia, GMTV in the UK, Switzerlands SSR and Mexicos Televisa while Cartoon Network in India plans to air SABRINA: THE ANIMATED SERIES. In the U.S. market, SABRINAS SECRET LIFE debuted in November on The DIC Kids Network. SABRINA: THE ANIMATED SERIES airs on the Disney Channel in the U.S.
Finally, DIC and Stan Lees POW! Entertainment will show the first look at the 26 half-hour series STAN LEES SUPER 7. Scheduled to debut in the U.S. in fall 2004, the series will target teenaged viewers and feature an innovative animation style, combining a pop-art look with anime and traditional CGI animation. STAN LEES SUPER 7 is the first project resulting from DIC and POW!s partnership to develop and produce a slate of original superhero action properties over the next five years under the Stan Lees Super World banner.
STAN LEES SUPER 7 follows a group of super-powered alien teens that were genetically engineered. They are chased to Earth where they are discovered by a reclusive comic book creator, Stan Lee, who must use all of his skills in order to help the teens learn what it means to be human as they adjust to life on this strange new planet, all while powerful forces from Earth and from their home planet seek to attack or exploit them.
DIC Entertainment is a leading childrens entertainment company with more than 3,000 half-hours of programming in its prolific library. DIC has also amassed an incomparable family of domestic and international broadcasters who air DIC programming in Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and Australia. DIC is a full service studio with production, development, distribution, home video, marketing and licensing departments. For more information, visit www.dicentertainment.com.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
