Digital Media FX News Archives

Monday - July 2, 2001
- Cats & Dogs Opens Wednesday
- Jimmy Neutron Toy Line Being Created for Movie
- Release Charts: Animated, Anime, and FX DVDs
- News Link of the Day - For Eisner, the Business Is Content

Cats & Dogs Opens Wednesday
(by digitalmediafx.com) Warner Bros. FX-filled Cats & Dogs movie will open nationwide this Wednesday and is being accompanied by a multi-million dollar promotional campaign.

In some ways Warner Bros. is mimicing the strategy of the promotion for PDI/DreamWorks Shrek by participating in campaigns like newspaper ads featuring characters from the movie that encourage parents to have their kids read the newspaper every day.

Warner Bros. does have a sweepstakes tie-in with PetSmart stores. The more than 500 PetSmart stores across the country are sponsoring a Cats & Dogs-themed sweepstakes, with major point-of-sale displays plus two weekends of Kodak-sponsored photo opportunities. The campaign involves PetSmart charity Paws for Pets, which raises funds and awareness for the plight of homeless animals, and to which Warner Bros. will be making a cash donation.

In a three-week promotion, Cartoon Network is highlighting the film with an extensive on-air campaign including sweepstakes spots, trailers, billboards and customized programming. Their online campaign includes a customized contest page, a Cats & Dogs poll, and character profiles. On-air promos will direct viewers to log onto the Cartoon Network Website for a chance to win a grand prize trip to Los Angeles or one of 150 additional Cats & Dogs prize packs.

In related Cats & Dogs news, some cat organization are protesting that the film portrays the cats in the movie as the villains.

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Jimmy Neutron Toy Line Being Created for Movie
(by digitalmediafx.com) Flying Colors, a division of Pacific, Inc., is creating a line of activity toys and stationery products in time for the theatrical release of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius on December 21, 2001 (this replaces the former November released date that would have seen the movie competing with Monsters, Inc. and Harry Potter).

"Jimmy Neutron" is Nickelodeon's first simultaneous multimedia property, with a TV series already slated for fall 2002 on the network.

The activity toy line will aim to replicate the creativity and innovation that Jimmy uses in his secret laboratory. The products -- including activity kits, play compounds and back-to-school products -- are being designed to appeal to kids' desire to experiment and will include inventive apparatus and materials to enhance the realism and possibilities of the kits, while staying true to Jimmy Neutron's "cool style" and genius.

"Jimmy Neutron is the type of property that inspires inventiveness," remarked Michael Bianco, executive vice president, JAKKS Pacific. "The line we are developing is intended to encourage the same type of ingenuity that Jimmy Neutron exemplifies. Through the use of inspired activity sets with unique play materials, kids will be able to use their imagination and creativity for fun, back-to-basics toys."

While many toys will be available in time for the movie, others won't be available until fall of 2002.

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Release Charts: Animated, Anime, and FX DVDs
(by digitalmediafx.com) Last week Amazon.com's listing for the Akira and Akira: Limited Special Edition DVDs was changed at the very last minute from June 26 to July 24, 2001. Here is a list of new animated, anime, and FX DVDs being released tomorrow:

Alien Defender Geo Armor - Kishin Corps - 7 episodes (anime)
Cartoon Crack-Ups (animated)
Toy Town Story Adventure (animated - no relation to Toy Story)
T-Rex - Back to the Cretaceous - IMAX (1998 - FX)
V - The Original TV Miniseries (1983 - FX)

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News Link of the Day - For Disney's Eisner, the Business Is Content, Not Conduits

According to the New York Times:

"Under the headquarters roof held up by the Seven Dwarfs, Michael D. Eisner is nervous.

Mr. Eisner, chairman of the Walt Disney Company, is nervous not because Pearl Harbor has fallen short of expectations. He is nervous not because ABC is still working off its 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' hangover. He is nervous not because the new Disney's California Adventure theme park seems half-empty…"

Click here for the full story. (may require free registration to view)

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