In a continued partnership, Mattel (NYSE: MAT) has awarded the North American home entertainment rights to the first release in its all-new line of Barbie™ direct-to-video features -- "Barbie™ Fairytopia™" -- to Lions Gate's Family Home Entertainment (FHE), a division of Lions Gate Entertainment (NYSE: LGF) Toronto. "Barbie™ Fairytopia™" will be released on both VHS and DVD formats in March 2005, just in time for the Easter Holiday. The announcement was made today by Glenn Ross, President of Family Home Entertainment and Steve Ross, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Entertainment and Business Development of Mattel Entertainment
FHE was selected to distribute the first "Barbie™ Fairytopia™" title following its tremendous success serving as the distributor of Mattel's Barbie™ Princess Series videos, which, since 2001, have come out annually in the fall. The first three releases in the Princess Series -- "Barbie in the Nutcracker™," "Barbie™ As Rapunzel" and "Barbie™ of Swan Lake" -- have all performed extremely well at retail. The fourth Barbie™ release in the Princess Series -- "Barbie™ as The Princess & the Pauper" -- hit stores in September and has already topped charts as the #1 kids video to purchase this holiday season, according to Nielsen Video Scan.
"Barbie™ Fairytopia™" marks the first-ever direct-to-video feature starring the world's favorite doll that will be released in the spring as a new franchise in Barbie™ Entertainment. Distinguishing itself from the Princess Series, "Barbie™ Fairytopia™" incorporates a whole new world for Barbie® that is filled with new characters, more colors, and magical fantasy adventure. "Barbie™ Fairytopia ™" is a stunning computer-animated movie that takes girls to a completely new world of rich colors and fantastic images under the flowers.
"We are excited about continuing to expand our overall relationship with Mattel," said Lions Gate's Glenn Ross. "Mattel has been able to consistently delight and surprise consumers with bold new ideas as well as deliver positive messages that empower young girls to be all they dream of being. This philosophy aligns perfectly with what we feel FHE is all about. We are very pleased to be able to add what we know will be a highly-anticipated spring event with the new Fairytopia™ movies. It is important to note, that "Barbie™ Fairytopia™" is a whole new immersive world that is very different from the Princess releases, providing girls with two unique, exciting experiences throughout the year with their favorite doll. "
Similar to the Barbie™ Princess movies, Mattel will support "Barbie™ Fairytopia™" with a full, all-new line of Barbie® Fairytopia™ dolls and other toys based on the movie. The marketing and promotional campaign supporting the releases will be similar to "Barbie™ As The Princess and The Pauper" including a powerful advertising campaign, cross sells, and much more. More details on the marketing programs will be released at a later date.
"We continue to engage girls deeper in the world of Barbie® and extend the brand through entertainment and our partners at Lions Gate support our strategy and share in our vision," said Steve Ross, Mattel Senior Vice President of Entertainment and Business Development. "The Lions Gate team has been with us from the beginning and have proven to be outstanding partners. They will help us realize our plans for Fairytopia™ entertainment, which will be backed with the biggest spring media and public relations campaign ever for a Barbie® toy and video launch, and we feel confident that together, we will continue to build on the incredible success of the number one girls brand worldwide," Ross added.
"Barbie™ Fairytopia™" will be released on March 8, 2005 for the suggested retail price of $19.98 on DVD and VHS. The DVD is presented in family-friendly widescreen with Dolby 5.1 and 2.0 Audio with Spanish 2.0 Audio and is filled with wonderfully fun special features including a "Boogie with Barbie™" dancing game, "Pixie Hide and Seek" game, "Fairy Friends," and interactive menus. The title has a prebook date of February 1, 2005.
About Lions Gate Entertainment
Lions Gate Entertainment is the leading diversified independent producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand content, and its prestigious and prolific library of 8000+ titles is the largest in the indie world. The Lions Gate brand name is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.
About Mattel
Mattel, Inc., (NYSE: MAT) (www.mattel.com) is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products, including Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever introduced. The Mattel family of toys and games is comprised of such best-selling brands as Hot Wheels®, Matchbox®, American Girl®, and Fisher-Price®, which also includes Little People®, Rescue Heroes™, Power Wheels®, as well as a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs more than 25,000 people in 36 countries and sells products in more than 150 nations throughout the world. The Mattel vision is to be the world's premier toy brands --- today and tomorrow.
©2004 Mattel, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
CONTACTS:
Sarah Greenberg/ Jodie Magid Adam Fenton/Janine McGoldrick
LIONS GATE HOME ENTERTAINMENT BENDER/HELPER IMPACT
310-255-3856/ 212-386-6885 212-689-6360
Julia Jensen Audrey Henderson
MATTEL, INC. KETCHUM
310-252-4592 310-584-8318
SOURCE: Lions Gate Entertainment
CONTACT: Sarah Greenberg, +1-310-255-3856, or Jodie Magid,
+1-212-386-6885, both of Lions Gate Home Entertainment; or Adam Fenton or
Janine McGoldrick, both of Bender/Helper Impact, +1-212-689-6360, for Lions
Gate Home Entertainment; or Julia Jensen of Mattel, Inc., +1-310-252-4592; or
Audrey Henderson of Ketchum, +1-310-584-8318, for Mattel, Inc.