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SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a leading diversified global entertainment company, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with leading consumer entertainment products company, MGA Entertainment, to acquire the home entertainment distribution rights to one of the hottest toy properties in the market, Lalaloopsy™. Lionsgate will serve as the exclusive distributor of Lalaloopsy™ product for all packaged media and digital platforms in several territories, including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.  The announcement was made by Lionsgate EVP of Family Entertainment Anne Parducci and MGA Entertainment CEO Isaac Larian.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110919/LA70620LOGO) 

Since hitting the market in 2010, the cute and magical Lalaloopsy dolls have captivated the market in a way that hasn’t been seen since the introduction of Cabbage Patch Kids in the 1980s. The announcement of Lionsgate’s entry into this whimsical world comes soon after the property dominated all wish lists during the holiday shopping season.  Called “This year’s Tickle Me Elmo” by MSNBC and “the ‘IT’ doll for the holidays” by the Today Show, the Lalaloopsy™ dolls were featured in just about every major hot toy list for the holidays including Amazon.com, Toys R Us, Time To Play, toys.com and many more. Lionsgate’s initial home entertainment feature release – Adventures in Lalaloopsy Land: The Search for Pillow - will launch in March.   

“We have been very impressed by Lalaloopsy‘s exponential growth as a brand since their launch in 2010, developing beyond the initial doll line into several additional categories such as apparel, fashion accessories, video games and books,” said Parducci.  “We are excited to help bring the highly successful Lalaloopsy doll line to life through the first Lalaloopsy movie. The unique stories that each doll has combined with all of their wonderful friends and accessories lends itself perfectly to the type of high quality, engaging premiere children’s entertainment that has become the trademark of our Family division.” 

“MGA has enjoyed a great partnership with Lionsgate through the years as witnessed by the popularity of Bratz home entertainment,” said Larian.  “They have an amazing library of family friendly films and we are thrilled to add the magic of Lalaloopsy to the Lionsgate family this spring!”

ABOUT LALALOOPSY™

Lalaloopsy are collectible, magical dolls that come to life when the very last stitch of their clothing is sewn. Each character has her own extra-cute pet and a background story based on the fabrics used in her fashion. The Lalaloopsy line is truly magnificent and includes imaginative playsets, large dolls and accessories, fashion packs, a multitude of miniature collectibles and carrying cases. With your love and a little imagination, the magic can go on forever!

ABOUT LIONSGATE

Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution and new channel platforms. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming through Debmar-Mercury and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 15 shows on more than 10 networks spanning its prime time production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as “Mad Men,” “Weeds” and “Nurse Jackie” along with the comedy “Blue Mountain State,” the critically-acclaimed drama “Boss” and the syndication successes “Tyler Perry‘s House Of Payne,” its spinoff “Meet The Browns,” “The Wendy Williams Show” and “Are We There Yet?”.

Its feature film business has been fueled by such recent successes as THE LINCOLN LAWYER, TYLER PERRY‘S MADEA’S BIG HAPPY FAMILY, MARGIN CALL, THE EXPENDABLES, THE LAST EXORCISM, TYLER PERRY‘S WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO?, KICK ASS and the critically-acclaimed PRECIOUS, which won two Academy Awards®. The Company’s home entertainment business has grown to more than 7% market share and is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 13,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

ABOUT MGA ENTERTAINMENT

MGA Entertainment, a consumer entertainment products company headquartered in Van Nuys, California, manufactures innovative lines of proprietary and licensed products including toys and games, dolls, consumer electronics, home decor, stationery and sporting goods. The MGA family includes award-winning brands such as Little Tikes®, Lalaloopsy™, Bratz®, Moxie Girlz™, BFC, Ink.™, Rescue Pets® and Zapf Creations®. The Company is continuing its tradition of creating imaginative doll brands for girls. For more information please visit: www.mgae.com, www.littletikes.com, www.lalaloopsy.com, www.bratz.com, www.moxiegirlz.com, www.moxieteenz.com, and www.bfcink.com.

SOURCE Lionsgate

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UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Universal Partnerships Licensing (UPL), Illumination Entertainment and Thinkway Toys today announced that they will partner on the global production of toys based on the highly anticipated follow-up to Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s blockbuster hit Despicable Me.  Thinkway Toys has been awarded the master global toy license for the motion-picture event Despicable Me 2, which arrives in theaters on July 3, 2013.  The announcement was made by UPL President, Stephanie Sperber, and Thinkway Toys CEO, Albert Chan. 

The enormous success of Despicable Me, which grossed more than $543 million at theaters worldwide, made its sequel one of the most sought after properties in Hollywood.  Despicable Me was released in July 2010 and went on to become the 10th-highest-grossing animated film in U.S. history and the second highest-grossing animated film of 2010. 

The film has had a very successful run in the home entertainment markets, selling 13 million units worldwide since its home video offering in December 2010.  Despicable Me also debuted on Video on Demand in January 2011 and has become the No. 1 most ordered animated film since that time.  In summer 2012, Universal Orlando Resort in Florida will launch a 3D theme-park attraction based on Despicable Me.

Despicable Me rocketed its mischievous, scene-stealing Minions to the forefront of pop culture, and the popular characters naturally lend themselves to toys.  Thinkway Toys will develop a wide variety of toys featuring the Minions and other key characters including interactive toys, figures, plush, dolls, playsets, vehicles, role play and novelty items.

“Gru and the Minions made Despicable Me a tent-pole franchise for Universal and we know Thinkway’s innovation, reputation and global reach make them the best partner for us to bring the Minions to life through toys,” said Sperber.  “The Thinkway team is made up of creative, out of the box thinkers who will include technology that the consumer has never seen before.” 

“Our team is ecstatic to create an all new line of toys for Despicable Me 2.   The characters are endearing, filled with humor and adventure and we can’t wait to include these elements into the toy line,” said Albert Chan, CEO of Thinkway.

Products will be available on shelves in summer 2013.

About Universal Partnerships Licensing

UPL oversees Universal’s consumer product licensing, film and home entertainment promotions, and all corporate alliances for Universal’s theatrical, home entertainment, theme parks and stage productions.  This dedicated division is also responsible for monetizing the Studio’s vast library of films and characters through licensing, branding and marketing opportunities. UPL is part of NBCUniversal.  NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience.  NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks.  Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49% stake.

About Thinkway Toys

Thinkway Toys is a global toy company that designs and develops products in-house sold to retailers and distributors worldwide.  Incorporated in 1984, the company is recognized as an industry leader with innovative electronic, interactive and animatronic products with a reputation for high quality toys.

Thinkway has offices in Canada, Hong Kong, China and Taiwan and is held privately, solely by its founder, Albert Chan who also serves and CEO and President and remains the driving force behind the creativity and innovation from the company.

SOURCE Universal Partnerships Licensing

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Vote and Register to Win Fantastic Prize Packages

NEW YORK, Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Now that the holiday gifts have been unwrapped, families are invited to visit the Toy Industry Association’s (TIA) ToyAwards.org website through midnight on Sunday, January 15th, 2012, to vote for their favorite toys and games and register to win fantastic prizes that will be perfect for birthdays and special occasions throughout the coming months.

“From dolls and board games to innovative and specialty toys, the winners of TIA’s annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards go down in history as the most influential playthings of our time,” said TIA president Carter Keithley. “We invite everyone who loves toys to help decide which toys and games make it to the top of this year’s coveted list!”

The 77 TOTY finalists across 11 categories were selected from nearly 600 nominees. Committees comprised of academics, journalists and toy trend experts, play therapists, toy inventors and designers, and toy retailers narrowed the submissions to come up with the current slate of nominees that inspire imagination and creativity, promote learning and active lifestyles, and create fun play opportunities for kids of all ages.

Winners are selected with the input of consumers on ToyAwards.org and via ballots of retailers (mass and specialty), media and members of the toy industry.  Each nominee is described in detail on ToyAwards.org, where voters can also enter to win prize packages containing all of the toys from a given category.

Category winners and the overall Toy of the Year grand prize will be announced during an awards ceremony on Saturday, February 11, 2012, as the kick-off to the 109th American International Toy Fair.

The Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards program is the annual Toy Industry Association-administered event in support of the inspiring work of the Toy Industry Foundation. More information about the TOTY Awards (including product images and descriptions), the Toy Industry Association and the Toy Industry Foundation can be found in the online press room www.ToyAwards.org/Press.

About the Toy Industry Association www.toyassociation.org

TIA is the not-for-profit trade association for producers and importers of toys and youth entertainment products sold in North America, representing more than 535 companies who account for approximately 85% of domestic toy sales.  Toy safety is the number one priority for the toy industry. TIA has a long history of leadership in toy safety including development of the first comprehensive toy safety standard more than 30 years ago, and working with government, consumers and industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe play.

SOURCE Toy Industry Association

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AppGear™ to Premiere at CES 2012

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4, 2012  /PRNewswire/ – from ShowStoppers @CES 2012 — AppGear™ from WowWee is a line of collectible toys that interact with free downloaded apps, the latest trend in gaming and graphics. AppGear changes the way consumers interact with the world of gaming, connecting apps with traditional tangible toys providing the user with a unique interface combining the digital and real world, essentially creating a new reality…”Amplified Reality.”

Launching in early 2012 with 6 unique titles, AppGear will be the low-cost innovative leader in the newly created category, known as AppCessories.  A leading national newspaper recently said the AppCessory™ category will be the hottest toy category for 2012.

Last year, App sales surpassed 5.2 billion dollars and this year, that number is expected to increase to over 15 billion.  By 2014, experts expect to see the number grow exponentially to 185 billion in sales.

“Until now, traditional retailers or brick-and-mortars have been unable to tap into this huge growing market.  They’ve been left out of the app party, but now App Gear is providing retailers an opportunity to take a bite out of the ‘app’ pie,” said Mike Gonzales, Creative Director and Digital Brand Manager for WowWee.   “AppGear products will be sold at retail with price points of $9.99 up to $19.99, making the AppGear experience affordable for the real consumer!”

Every AppGear product, such as a collectible figure, interactive playset or customizable toy, will connect or interact with the associated free downloaded app. Also unique to AppGear and crucial to the success of AppGear for 2012, every AppGear product is compatible with all IOS(iPhone, iPad, iTouch) and Android platforms.

“Apps used to be something you played on your mobile devices.  Thanks to WowWee’s AppGear, you now play with real toys in the virtual world.  Foam Fighters is one of a series of toy based apps. You fly your toy, play on your phone, using your real world as background. How cool is that?” said technology expert, Robin Raskin. Earlier this week “Foam Fighters” was chosen as one of the 10 finalists for this year’s Mobile Apps Showdown.  As part of CES, The Mobile Apps Showdown honors the best of the best apps founded by Robin Raskin, Founder of Living in Digital Times.

SOURCE WowWee

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We have reinvented the wheel…Carving on a Skateboard will never be the same

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SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ — We have reinvented the wheel…Carving on a Skateboard will never be the same. We have engineered an entirely new way of motion related to skateboarding, bringing change to the action sports industry.  Join our mailing list for first availability updates. Revolution Is Imminent… www.arissport.com.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120104/CG29726)

Skateboarding Redesigned 

To view this video on YouTube, please visit: http://youtu.be/wkJQdhkTJh0
Media Contact: Info ARISSPORT ARIS SPORT, 4085956900, arissport1@gmail.com

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SOURCE ARIS SPORT

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