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Pet Alien Adopted by U.S. Broadcasters Cartoon Network and Animania HD

PET ALIEN, Taffy Entertainments groundbreaking, new 3D, CGI character-comedy was acquired today (Nov. 22, 2004) by Cartoon Network to debut on the cablenet in the second quarter of 2005. The series started airing on Animania HD on Nov. 20 at 7:00 pm.

Produced by Mike Young Productions (MYP) and distributed by MYPs subsidiary, Taffy Ent., the series will also premiere on Cartoon Network Europe in the first quarter and on all of the networks other broadcast services across the globe, including Latin America, Asia/Pacific and Japan, throughout the rest of 2005. The 52x11 series is a co-production between MYP in the U.S., Antefilm/TF1 France, Crest of India and Irelands Telegael. The series is based on a property created by Jeff Muncy of John Doze Studios.

Targeted to kids 6-11, PET ALIEN is a screwball, non-sequitur character-comedy with a heavy emphasis on physical gags à la Tex Averys Looney Tunes. The laughs multiply, looking at a rather normal boys life and relationships through anything but normal alien eyes specifically the eyes of Dinko, Gumpers, Flip, Swanky and Scruffy. These unique characters take up residence with 12-year-old Earth boy Tommy Cadle. The aliens try to help him in every aspect of his complicated pre-adolescent life, managing to turn his existence inside out and upside down.

MYP took great pains to maintain and deliver the squash-and-stretch, beautiful designs and great actions from 2D in a palatable 3D TV experience with the quality and a fraction of the cost of a high-end CGI feature production.

PET ALIEN is a great addition to our programming lineup in 2005, said Terry Kalagian, vp of acquisitions and co-productions for Cartoon Network. The skewed character-comedy, along with the captivating state-of-the-art CGI animation, is a very exciting combination.

We are thrilled to be hosting the U.S. premiere of this exciting new series. As the hi-definition home of the series in the U.S., PET ALIEN will become a key part of our overall schedule, designed to give viewers a new way to enjoy animation, said Keith OConnell, vp, programming and acquisitions for Animania HD.

In addition to the slapstick physical comedy, the series has attitude and a strong point of view, which we hope will make it highly appealing to the networks millions of discriminating cartoon aficionados around the world, said exec producer Bill Schultz, a principal at MYP and Taffy Ent.

Animania HD is a 24/7 hi-definition animation channel featuring an eclectic mix of classic shows and the newest programming from around the world. Other Animania HD programming includes Columbia Tri-Stars DAN DARE: PILOT OF THE FUTURE, Neptuno Films 20/20 and Xilam Animations RATZ.

Animania HD is one of the VOOM HD Originals, an all-inclusive package of 21 commercial-free channels created by Rainbow Media and available exclusively to subscribers of VOOM, the first television service to offer a comprehensive array of HD programming to customers throughout the continental United States. VOOMs HD lineup includes STARZ! HD, Encore HD, Showtime HD, Playboy Hot HD, ESPN HD, HBO HDTV and Cinemax HDTV, as well as an exclusive package of brand-new, commercial-free VOOM HD Originals such as WorldSport, Equator and Animania. VOOM is offered across the U.S. through local retailers and online retailers. Customers may purchase the service by calling 1-800-GET-VOOM or by visiting www.voom.com.

Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in 87.1 million U.S. homes and 160 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System Inc.s ad-supported cable service offering 24/7 animated entertainment.

One of the most prolific independent animation studios in Hollywood today, Mike Young Productions represents the convergence of three major talents: Mike Young, creator of the British Academy award-winning series SUPERTED; Liz Young, supervising producer of the Emmy Award-winning JAKERS! THE ADVENTURES OF PIGGLEY WINKS; and Bill Schultz, Emmy Award-winning producer of THE SIMPSONS. With more than 12 years experience in the industry, MYP has a long and successful track record of creating quality animated series that touch, teach and delight their audiences.

MYP recently announced the creation of Taffy Ent., a new business unit dedicated to the rights management and worldwide distribution of family and childrens programming. In addition to PET ALIEN, other Taffy properties in distribution include JAKERS! and TODDWORLD.

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