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Speed Racer Next Gen Goes Global

Speed Racer Enterprises races past the competition appointing four agencies to represent both SPEED RACER: THE NEXT GENERATION and the classic SPEED RACER series for licensing and merchandising across a majority of the world.

The company has also secured a dozen additional licensees for the highly-rated new animated television series SPEED RACER: THE NEXT GENERATION (SR: TNG) airing in the U.S. on Nicktoons Network, Nickelodeon's 24-hour animation network.

"Speed Racer is a brand that has been extremely successful for decades and our new series, SPEED RACER: THE NEXT GENERATION is proving to be a strong performer with stellar ratings, a rapidly growing fan base, robust DVD sales and an ever expanding roster of licensees," said James Rocknowski, President, Speed Racer Enterprises. "We have carefully chosen our partners in the U.S. and abroad and are confident that they will bolster our brands as we build fruitful, long-term relationships."

Expanding its licensing and merchandising campaign for SR: TNG and classic SPEED RACER beyond U.S. borders, Speed Racer Enterprises has tapped G Squared Promotion for Canada, Empire International Merchandising Corporation to cover all of Asia excluding Japan, while EXIM Licensing Group will represent South, Central and Latin America. In addition, BKN will handle Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and The Middle East.

Fueled up and ready to race to retail, a dozen new licensees have signed on to produce SR: TNG merchandise in a variety of categories. Joining the roster of over 30 licensees are Duncan Yo-Yo and Inter-Axions for toys; Baby Boom/Betesh Group for domestics and room decor; as well as H.E.R. Accessories and Infinity Headwear for accessories.

New apparel licensees include JEM Sportswear, Kids with Character, Level One Concepts, MTC and Steve & Barry's. Playground Maniacs will create trading cards, stickers, collection albums, tattoos and lenticular cards.

SR: TNG has already gained significant traction with today's kids and it was the #1 series premiere of all time among Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14 on Nicktoons Network. The 90-minute premiere on May 2 posted double- and triple-gains vs. year-ago and prior 4-weeks for the network.

DVD sales for SR: TNG topped the charts with week 1 sales ranking in the top 10 best debuts for animated Children's Non-Theatrical episodic series for 2008 (May 6). SR: TNG was also the #1 children's non-theatrical rental of the week.

SPEED RACER: THE NEXT GENERATION (26x30) is geared toward a new generation of 6-14-year-old viewers and builds on the legendary adventures of the original iconic series incorporating hot-topic storylines such as renewable resources and the pursuit of a car built with a gasless engine. After leaving an orphanage, Speed arrives at the Racing Academy and discovers that he is the son of the world famous Speed Racer who had gone missing many years ago. Along with action-packed adventure on the racetrack, Speed and his pals work together to solve the mystery surrounding his father's disappearance and build the ultimate racing machine -- the Mach 6 -- all the while avoiding the evil schemes of oil tycoon Zile Zazic.

SPEED RACER (52x30) made its original debut in 1967 in Japan and was dubbed into English and syndicated nationally on television. After 40 years, it is one of entertainment's most recognizable animated cultural icons. The classic series explores the passion of a teenage racer with the most powerful and stylish car on the planet, the unsurpassed Mach 5, and centers on friendship and family issues amidst the world of high-octane racing.

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