News Details

Mainframe Entertainment and DIC Entertainment team up for all-new..

2004/02/26 12:27:51

Inspector Gadget CGI animated special, Inspector Gadget Saves the Day...  Maybe@  DVD Release to be distributed domestically by Lions Gate Home Entertainment's  FHE Division  VANCOUVER, Feb 26, 2004 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) -- Go-Go-Gadget...in CGI! DIC Entertainment and Mainframe Entertainment have joined forces to create an all-new "Inspector Gadget" television special and DVD release that will feature the beloved detective in CGI animation for the first time, "Inspector Gadget Saves the Day...Maybe."  Mainframe Entertainment Inc., a division of IDT Entertainment, will be co- producing the special, as well as distributing in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. DIC Entertainment will co-produce with Mainframe and distribute the title internationally. Lions Gate's Family Home Entertainment, a division of Lions Gate Entertainment (AMEX and TSX: LGF) will distribute the home video release in the United States.  "Transforming classic characters like "Gadget" from 2-D to high quality 3- D, CGI is becoming a Mainframe specialty," said Rick Mischel, CEO, Mainframe Entertainment. "As a co-distributor, this high profile project also fits into our ongoing efforts with IDT Entertainment to distribute programs featuring well-known branded characters."  "We are thrilled to partner with Mainframe and Lions Gate to produce and distribute one of the world's most popular properties that appeals to children and adults alike," comments Andy Heyward, Chairman & CEO, DIC Entertainment. "The latest incarnation of "Gadget" combines the classic adventurous storylines and engaging characters that the world has grown to love with exciting CGI technology -- a triple threat in the world of animation."  "We are very selective regarding the properties we market, committing only to the ones we feel have a unique position in the market place," said Glenn Ross, President of Lions Gate's Family Home Entertainment. "Inspector Gadget has always resonated with children because of his incredible creativity and humor. We are extremely excited to collaborate with Mainframe and DIC Entertainment on this animated special about the world famous detective which is certain to provide non-stop entertainment."  In the new special, the world's greatest bionic detective is back and more bumbling than ever. With his niece, Penny, who's now sweet sixteen and even more devoted to Gadget than before, and Penny's dog, Brain, who is still smarter than Gadget could ever hope to be, the Inspector protects Metro City from the heinous machinations of the evil Doctor Claw and his incompetent minions on one hand, and the lunacy of its deranged Mayor on the other. Metro City's Mayor misguidedly buys a thawed, prehistoric Giant Flying Lizard egg to attract tourists. Inspector Gadget must save the pricy egg when Doctor Claw steals it and then save Metro City -- and the entire world -- when it hatches!  About DIC Entertainment: DIC Entertainment, a leading children's entertainment company, is a full-service studio dedicated to creating, developing, producing, distributing, marketing and merchandising family-based intellectual properties. DIC has distinguished itself by building one of the largest libraries of U.S. animation with more than 3,000 half-hours of renowned programming, including Inspector Gadget, Strawberry Shortcake, Knights of the Zodiac, Sabrina, Madeline, Liberty's Kids, Where On Earth Is Carmen Sandiego, Sonic The Hedgehog, Super Mario Bros and Super Duper Sumos. In September 2003, DIC launched the DIC Kid's Network, a unique syndicated programming block designed to meet core FCC requirements and the only network for kids that reaches effectively 100% of U.S. households on over 400 stations, airing in every Designated Market Area across the country. As a pre- eminent supplier of kid's programming worldwide, DIC has developed strategic partnerships with key domestic and international broadcast partners throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and Australia. DIC is headquartered in Burbank, California with international offices in New York, Paris, London and Cologne.  About Mainframe Entertainment: Mainframe Entertainment Inc. is one of the world's most prolific producers of computer animation for television and direct-to-videos, and is expanding into long-form CGI for feature films, commercials and interactive entertainment. In addition to its production of the award-winning "Barbie Swan Lake" direct-to-video feature and the new Spider-Man animated series, the company created the animation, logo, and branding for the 2003 MTV Movie Awards. The company is best known as the pioneer of computer animated television series for the groundbreaking "ReBoot". Mainframe has produced over 240 half hours of computer animation since its inception in 1993. The company employs approximately 150 artists, animators, technicians and production personnel, and has won many prestigious awards for its creative technical innovations, including a Laureate of the 1998 Computerworld Smithsonian Awards. Mainframe's majority shareholder is IDT Entertainment. IDT Entertainment is the IDT subsidiary focused on developing, acquiring, producing and distributing computer-generated and traditionally animated productions and other productions for the film, broadcast and direct- to-consumer markets.  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.  Important Note: In this press release, all statements that are not purely about historical facts, including, but not limited to, those in which the words "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "plan," "intend," "estimate," "target" and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While these forward-looking statements represent IDT's current judgment of what may happen in the future, actual results may differ materially from the results expressed or implied by these statements due to numerous important factors, including, but not limited to, those described in IDT's most recent report on SEC Form 10- K (under the heading ?Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations?), which may be revised or supplemented in subsequent reports on SEC Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings IDT may make with the SEC.  VIEW ADDITIONAL COMPANY-SPECIFIC INFORMATION: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/orgDisplay.cgi?okey=7367  CONTACT: For further information: Kristi Blicharski, KB Public Relation s,  310-371-8795, kristi(at)kbpr.net  News release via Canada NewsWire, Vancouver 604-669-7764  Copyright (C) 2004 CNW, All rights reserved  -0-  KEYWORD: VANCOUVER INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENT  TVN  26-Feb-2004 12:27