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SONIC THE HEDGEHOG SPEEDS, SPINS AND ZIPS INTO THE FOX BOX
4Kids Entertainment’s FOX BOX Adds All-New SONIC X Animated Series To Saturday Morning Line Up Beginning Fall 2003
NEW YORK, NY (May 14, 2003) – 4Kids Entertainment (NYSE:KDE) and SEGA® today announced that the fastest hedgehog in the universe is speeding into the FOX BOX! Continuing its drive to make FOX BOX the Saturday morning destination for kids, 4Kids Entertainment has signed SEGA’s Sonic The Hedgehog® as the network’s newest mega-star for its Saturday morning line-up beginning fall 2003.
4Kids Entertainment has teamed with award-winning animation studio TMS Entertainment Ltd. of Japan to produce 52 all-new animated episodes of the SONIC X cartoon. The show will star the speedy blue superstar whose video games have sold more than 32 million units globally. SONIC X takes its place on FOX BOX alongside such popular shows as TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES, KIRBY: RIGHT BACK AT YA!, ULTIMATE MUSCLE, and THE CRAMP TWINS.
Since his debut role in SEGA’s “Sonic The Hedgehog” game in 1991, Sonic has grown to be one of the most enduring game characters and franchises of all time. Sonic The Hedgehog has appeared in numerous video games across multiple console, handheld and wireless platforms over the past 10 years. Consistently a top-selling franchise, Sonic The Hedgehog continues to be a popular icon worldwide in 2003 and beyond.
“Sonic is one cool sassy hedgehog that kids will instantly be rooting for as he takes on the evil DR. EGGMAN and his robot foes,” said Norman Grossfeld, president of 4Kids Productions.
“SEGA is thrilled to be bringing Sonic to another generation of fans,” said Mike Fischer, vice president of marketing, SEGA of America. “Our speedy blue hedgehog is a video game icon, and SONIC X captures all the excitement and thrills of his interactive adventures. FOX BOX is the perfect place for this great new series.”
Program Synopsis:
Accidentally transported by Chaos Control, Sonic finds himself on a strange planet inhabited by humans and teams up with his newest friend, Christopher. Together, Sonic and Christopher embark on a series of exhilarating and elaborate quests as they search for the “Chaos Emeralds,” precious stones delivering the power to conquer the world to whoever possesses them. Through their adventures, Sonic and Christopher must battle Sonic’s archrival, the evil Dr. Eggman, a robotics authority, who wants the “Chaos Emeralds” for himself so that he can establish his own empire to dominate the world. Known for speed, power and energy, Sonic helps Christopher overcome his boyhood fears as they meet-up with long-time friends Knuckles, Tails and Amy, and encounter new pals Cream and Cheese. In a distant galaxy, the confrontation between Sonic and Dr. Eggman begins once again!
About 4Kids Entertainment, Inc.:
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; product development; television, film, music and home video production and distribution; media buying and planning; and Web site development. For further information, please visit the company’s Web site at www.4KidsEntertainment.com.
About FOX BOX
Saturday morning kids TV has taken on a whole new shape with the Fall 2002 launch of FOX BOX. From 4Kids Entertainment, the company responsible for some of the biggest names in children’s entertainment, FOX BOX is the TV network home for the all-new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Kirby: Right Back at Ya! , Ultimate Muscle: The Kinnikuman Legacy, The Cramp Twins, Ultraman Tiga, Fighting Foodons and Pirate Islands. FOX BOX airs Saturday mornings 8:00AM-12:00PM (ET/PT) on Fox Network affiliates nationwide.
About SEGA
SEGA® of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA Corporation, a $3.5 billion corporation by market capitalization, recognized as a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. SEGA of America’s Web site is located at www.sega.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Due to the fact that the Company faces competition from toy companies, motion picture studios and other licensing companies, and the uncertainty of public response to the Company’s properties, actual results or outcomes may differ materially from any such forward looking statements.