"Yu-Gi-Oh!" Comes to Kids' WB! This Fall
Kids' WB! Press Release
Wed., June 13, 2001 2:00 PM
"YU-GI-OH!" COMES TO KIDS' WB! THIS FALL
4KIDS ENTERTAINMENT AND NETWORK JOIN FORCES AGAIN
AFTER SUCCESSFUL U.S. LAUNCH OF POKÉMON
TO BRING NEW ANIMÉ SERIES TO SATURDAY MORNINGS
BURBANK, CA (June 12, 2001) - Kids' WB!, the #1 broadcast network
for kids, and 4Kids Entertainment (NYSE: KDE), a global provider
of children's entertainment, have joined forces to bring Japan's
hottest new animé series, YU-GI-OH! to kids in the United States
on Saturday mornings beginning this fall. The announcement was made
today by Donna Friedman, Executive Vice President, Kids' WB!, and
Al Kahn, Chairman and CEO of 4Kids Entertainment.
"We are thrilled to be working once again with the creative team
that brought Pokémon to Kids' WB!," said Ms. Friedman. "4Kids Entertainment
and the YU-GI-OH! consortium in Japan are bringing us - and kids
in the U.S. - the next hit animé-adventure series. YU-GI-OH! will
make a great addition to our top-rated fall line-up."
"We are delighted to join with Kids' WB! in introducing YU-GI-OH!
to U.S. audiences," said Mr. Kahn. "We are confident this extraordinary
property will find enthusiastic acceptance among kids in the U.S."
YU-GI-OH!, based on the comic book series, follows the adventures
of Yugi, a smaller than average high school student - and an easy
target for bullies. When his grandfather, a local game shop manager,
gives him an ancient Egyptian riddle called the "Millennium Puzzle,"
and Yugi pieces it together, he unexpectedly becomes the powerful
"Game King," an alter-ego. When Yugi gets into sticky situations,
the "Game King" takes over and protects Yugi and his friends. The
game is on…as Yugi plays games to defeat his monster rivals.
Kids' WB!, jointly launched Pokémon with 4Kids Entertainment on
network television in February 1999 with record-breaking success
in the U.S. With this success, 4Kids Entertainment was tapped by
YU-GI-OH! author, Kazuki Takahashi to exclusively manage the property's
entire licensing program in the U.S. and across the international
marketplace outside of Asia. Together, they now join forces, once
again, to bring all Pokémon fans another adventure-filled series
with strong friendships, teamwork and strategic mastering skills,
presented in a sophisticated style of Japanese animation.
Currently in Japan and airing on TV Tokyo, YU-GI-OH! is a top-rated
animated television series produced by NAS (Nihon Ad Systems, Inc.).
The multi-media property is also in high demand with such products
as videogames, card games and licensed products that have reached
more than $2 billion in revenues. To date, publisher Shueisha has
sold over 23 million comics and video games created by Konami have
sold 7 million copies for PlayStation and Game Boy platforms,in
addition to the 3.5 billion YU-GI-OH! cards that have been sold.
Now readyto take on the U.S., 4Kids Entertainment kicks-off the
New York Licensing Showwith today's formal introduction of the eagerly
anticipated property.
Kids' WB!, a leader in kids' television, is the children's programming
service of The WB Network. The network has set precedent with its
innovative and diverse 2000-2001 programming schedule and is the
#1 broadcast network for the second consecutive season. Kids' WB!
brings viewers this season's breakout hits Jackie Chan Adventures,
Pokémon: The Johto Journeys, Static Shock, the all-original series
X-Men: Evolution, along with the new mid-season series The Zeta
Project. The network also brings viewers the returning highly-rated
hits Pokémon, Cardcaptors, Batman Beyond, Men In Black: The Series,
Max Steel and other Kids' WB! favorites. Kids can find more on Kids'
WB!'s web site atwww.KidsWB.com.
Headquartered in New York City with international offices in London,
4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: KDE) is a global provider of children's
entertainment and merchandise licensing. 4Kids, through its wholly
owned subsidiaries, provides domestic and international merchandise
licensing and product development, television, film, music and home
video production and distribution, media buying and planning and
website development. For further information, please visit the company's
web site atwww.4KidsEnt.com.
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