Geographical Region: Asia

Cory Yuen, the highly acclaimed action director collaborated with Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. to make its latest release, RISE TO HONOR the most cinematic, authentic martial arts action game available on the market. The PlayStation2 action/combat game, inspired by the cinematic style of the Hong Kong movie genre, features the martial arts style and voice talent of the world-renown film star and legendary martial artist, Jet Li.

Cartoon Network will air a 90-minute special to introduce the new series, DUEL MASTERS, on Feb. 27, 2004 at 5:30 pm. The series will then air Saturdays at 7:00 pm, starting March 13, during Cartoon Network's Saturday action/adventure programming block. CN acquired the series from Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro Inc.

Hidemi Fukuhara joins VIZ LLC as the new vice chairman/cfo, replacing Satoru Fujii, who is retiring from day-to-day operations, but will remain on the VIZ board of directors.

Tiger Aspect Productions has signed a three-year deal with Nickelodeon U.K. for its hit series, animated MR BEAN, bringing the outlandish animated adventures of one of the worlds most recognizable comic figures to strip throughout the week on Nicktoons TV in February 2004.

Ronnie Cook has been named md of Fox Kids Europes consumer products division, Active Licensing Europe where he will co-ordinate all of FKE's pan-European consumer products activities, including home video, working closely with Fox Kids' local mds.

Breakthrough Animation Inc. has sold ATOMIC BETTY to Cartoon Network in the U.S. The series, co-produced with fellow Canadian Atomic Cartoons and Tele-Images Kids in France, has cleared in a number of markets around the world, but creators were especially keen on bringing the cartoon to American TV viewers.

Strengthening its Latin American management team in Miami, Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) has appointed Angel Orengo to vp, distribution, Latin America and the Caribbean. Orengo will oversee all SPTI program distribution to free, basic and pay TV services and platforms in Latin America and the Caribbean, working closely with SPTI's worldwide distribution, sales planning and finance teams in Los Angeles. He will also be responsible for continuing to develop SPTI's new media opportunities in the region with cable and satellite operators and new entrants in the digital space.