America Online has signed major licensing deals with the Cartoon Network and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, which extend its original PRINCESS NATASHA webisode series beyond the Internet. Twenty original animated short cartoons developed for the KOL kids service by Animation Collective, an independent animation house, will be available on television later this year, marking one of the first online children's animated properties to make this transition.
In addition, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers plans to release the first two books in its series of $3.99 PRINCESS NATASHA digest books in May 2006.
"We feel strongly that these deals represent a major shift in the way original Internet programming is being perceived by the entertainment industry," said Malcolm Bird, AOL's svp/gm for kids and teens programming. "With the increased adoption of broadband, the time is right for innovative online video programming to set a new bar. We are excited to be the innovators and leaders in the area of original online programming and believe that this is just the start for a strong web series like PRINCESS NATASHA in extending beyond the Web."
PRINCESS NATASHA will be a great addition to Cartoon Networks lineup of girl power series, like ATOMIC BETTY and TOTALLY SPIES, said Bob Higgins, svp of programming and original animation for Cartoon Network. We think its a fun cartoon that kids can relate to with exciting characters, adventurous plotlines and a unique look.
PRINCESS NATASHA has been a huge hit on the KOL service and we are thrilled to be bringing these fun characters to bookshelves nationwide, said David Ford, Publisher, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. We are certain that the book series will help expand the growing fanbase even further.
Millions of kids have followed on the Internet the escapades of Princess Natasha's adventures as she captures the invisibility spray, finds Zoravia's stolen national treasure and discovers a double agent. In addition to the webisodes, a series of Princess Natasha online games and a web-based comicbook series were launched on the KOL service.
Princess Natasha, the student secret agent, who came from the beautiful, friendly country of Zoravia, inspired the quaint town of Fountain Park, Illinois, to change its name to Zoravia. As the real Zoravian Princess, she has been charged to go to Zoravia, Iillinois, to find the evil Lubek and stop him from destroying her home country.
For more than 160 years, Little, Brown has produced many childrens classics including Jerry Spinelli's Newbery Medal winner MANIAC MAGEE and the Newbery-Honor book MR. POPPERS PENGUINS, as well as Marc Brown's best-selling ARTHUR adventure series. In addition, Little, Brown has published such favorites as WHERE'S WALDO, LOOK-ALIKES, I LOVE YOU LIKE CRAZY CAKES, TODD PARRS ITS OKAY TO BE DIFFERENT, HOLLY HOBBIES TOOT & PUDDLE books, as well as the MATT CHRISTOPHER series, the top selling sports series for kids. This spring, Little, Brown will publish the young reader debuts of notable adult authors David Baldacci, Walter Mosley and James Patterson.
Cartoon Network (www.CartoonNetwork.com), seen in 87.6 million U.S. homes and 160 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System Inc.'s 24-hour, ad-supported cable service offering animated entertainment. Since its launch in 1992, Cartoon Network has remained one of ad-supported cable's highest-rated networks.
Winner of the 2004 National Parenting Seal of Approval, the KOL service is the first version of the America Online service designed entirely for kids. Combining exclusive content from industry leading kids' brands and original programming, the KOL service is fully integrated with AOL's award-winning Parental Controls, offering kids a safer and more secure online environment.
America Online, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. Based in Dulles, Virginia, America Online is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services.
