Disney’s Academy Award®-Winning Animated Classic Beauty and the Beast: Diamond Edition

On Blu-ray™+ DVD Combo Pack – October 5, 2010 And Standard Definition DVD – November 23, 2010

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) proudly announces the Blu-ray high-definition debut of Disney’s animated masterpiece, Beauty and the Beast on October 5, 2010.

Disney’s most requested film, Beauty and the Beast, arrives for the first time on Blu-ray Hi-Def as the second installment to the company’s new Diamond Collection. The Blu-ray transformation reveals the magic, music and majesty of the film as never before experienced with state-of-the-art picture restoration, pristine 7.1 Digital Surround Sound and hours of additional viewing experiences that include behind the scenes features, deleted scenes, enhanced music tracks, immersive games and more.

The first of only two animated films ever to be nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Picture (the second is 2009’s Up), Beauty and the Beast earned six Academy Award® nominations and won two Oscars® in 1992 for Best Original Song (“Beauty and the Beast”) and Best Original Score.

Unavailable in any form since 2003, Beauty and the Beast will be released from the Disney vault for a limited time only, arriving on a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack (2 Blu-ray Discs + DVD) October 5, followed seven weeks later with the release of a 2-Disc standard definition DVD on November 23.

The Beauty and the Beast Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack has a U.S. suggested retail price of $39.99 and the 2-Disc DVD set has a U.S. suggested retail price of $29.99.

Film Synopsis:
Set in and around a quaint French village during the late 18th century, Beauty and the Beast follows the fantastic adventures of Belle, a bright and beautiful young woman who finds escape from her ordinary life, and the advances of a boorish suitor, Gaston, by reading books. Meanwhile, off in a castle in the distance, a cruel young prince is cast under the spell of an enchantress who turns him into a tormented beast, while transforming his servants into animated household objects. In order to remove the curse, the Beast must discover a true love who will return his affection before the last petal falls from an enchanted rose. When Belle’s inventor father stumbles upon the Beast’s castle and is taken prisoner, Belle comes to the rescue and agrees to take her father’s place. With the help of the castle’s enchanted staff, she sees beneath the Beast’s exterior and discovers the heart and soul of a human prince.

Film Accolades:
Beauty and the Beast received two Academy Awards® for music in 1992, three Golden Globes® for Best Motion Picture, Best Original Score and Best Original Song in 1992, and two Grammy Awards in 1993. Listed as number seven on the American Film Institute’s Top 100 Animated Films, Beauty and the Beast helped define Disney animation for a new generation as the second film in the “Disney Animation Renaissance” (1989-1999) which launched with The Little Mermaid and revitalized animated features by captivating mature audiences while still delighting young viewers.

Beauty and the Beast features a cast of top vocal talent. Veteran stage actress and singer Paige O’Hara is the voice of Belle, one of Disney’s most beloved and independent heroines, and Robby Benson (TV’s “American Dreams”) delivers a powerful portrayal of the Beast. Three-time Oscar®-nominated screen star (The Manchurian Candidate in 1963, The Picture of Dorian Grey in 1946, and Gaslight in 1945) and six-time Golden Globe® award winner (TV’s “Murder, She Wrote” in 1992, 1990, 1987 and 1985, The Manchurian Candidate in 1963, and The Picture of Dorian Grey in 1946), Angela Lansbury gives a bubbly performance as Mrs. Potts. The late Jerry Orbach (TV’s “Law and Order,” “House of Mouse”) shines as the voice of Lumiere, the passionate candelabra, and David Ogden-Stiers (TV’s “M*A*S*H,” Lilo & Stitch) is Cogsworth, the tightly-wound mantel clock who functions as the head of the household.

Beauty and the Beast was also the first Disney animated film to inspire a Broadway stage production by the same name. Highlighting the film’s music by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, seven new songs were written for the stage musical. Beauty… was nominated for nine Tony Awards in 1994 and ran on Broadway for 5,464 performances until 2007, becoming Broadway’s sixth-longest running production in history.

Remember, the Blu-ray combo pack will be available nearly 6 weeks before the DVD comes out so if you have a Blu-ray it’s worth splurging for both copies rather than just one!

Technorati Tags: Disney, Diamond Collection, Beauty and the Beast, Upcoming Releases, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD

Season Three Premiere Week Also Features Weird Al Yankovic, Anthony Bourdain, Devo and Recurring Guest Stars Biz Markie, Mark Mothersbaugh, Jack McBrayer and Paul Scheer

Future Guest Stars Include: Fred Armisen, Erykah Badu, Rob Dyrdek, Flaming Lips, The Killers, Solange Knowles, Angela Kinsey and Charlyne Yi, Among Others

NEW YORK, Feb. 17, 2010 – The party continues with the Gabba gang – DJ Lance Rock, Brobee, Muno, Toodee, Foofa and Plex – as Nickelodeon premieres the third season of the award-winning preschool music series Yo Gabba Gabba! on Monday, March 8, at 10:30 a.m. (ET/PT). The new season commences with a week of brand-new episodes featuring Sarah Silverman, Weird Al Yankovic, Black Kids, Jack McBrayer, Paul Scheer, Weezer, Anthony Bourdain, Of Montreal, Mos Def, Devo, The Aquabats, Mark Mothersbaugh, Biz Markie and a special remix by Travis Barker, Monday, March 8 – Friday, March 12, at 10:30 a.m. (ET/PT). Yo Gabba Gabba!, created by Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz, is produced by The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN.

Future guest stars for season three include: Fred Armisen, Erykah Badu, Band of Horses, Blitzen Trapper, Chairlift, Rob Dyrdek, The Faint, Flaming Lips, The Killers, Solange Knowles, Mix Master Mike, Angela Kinsey, The Sounds, Taking Back Sunday, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Charlyne Yi and John Francis Daley, Samm Levine and Martin Starr from “Freaks and Greeks.” In addition, Biz Markie is back with his regular “Biz’s Beat of the Day” segment teaching preschoolers how to beat-box, singer/illustrator/composer Mark Mothersbaugh returns in his recurring “Mark’s Magic Pictures” drawing segment and Jack McBrayer and Paul Scheer visit with their recurring “Knock Knock” joke segment.

The schedule for the season three premiere week of Yo Gabba Gabba! is as follows (all times are 10:30 a.m. ET/PT on Nickelodeon):

o Monday, March 8 – “Circus” – Weird Al Yankovic plays the circus ringmaster; Sarah Silverman teaches the “Time to Mime” dancey dance and Black Kids sing the original Yo Gabba Gabba! song, “We Love Clowns.” The episode also features Jack McBrayer and Paul Scheer telling a “Knock Knock” joke and Mark Mothersbaugh in his “Marks’ Magic Pictures” segment.

o Tuesday, March 9 – “Bugs” – Weezer performs an original Yo Gabba Gabba! song, “My Friends Are All Insects” and Mark Mothersbaugh is featured in his “Mark’s Magic Pictures” segment. The episode also features a special remix segment arranged by Travis Barker.

o Wednesday, March 10 – “Doctor” – Anthony Bourdain plays the doctor when Toodee gets sick. Of Montreal performs an original Yo Gabba Gabba! song “Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast!” and Biz Markie is featured in the “Biz’s Beat of the Day” segment.

o Thursday, March 11 – “Superhero”– Mos Def plays a superhero; Devo performs their song “Watch Us Work It;” Biz Markie is featured in the “Biz’s Beat of the Day” segment and The Aquabats perform a “Numbers” segment.

o Friday, March 12 – Encore of “Circus”

Yo Gabba Gabba! premiered in the U.S. on Nickelodeon in August, 2007 and currently ranks as one of the most popular series on television with broad appeal among preschoolers, parents, teens and adults. The award-winning series is created by Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz and is produced by The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN. Jon Berrett and Michael Polis are executive producers. Yo Gabba Gabba!, was voted as one of the best new shows on television by TIME magazine, won a BAFTA Award in 2008, was awarded the “Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Television” Award by the Television Critics Association and is a two-time EmmyÒ nominee. Yo Gabba Gabba! infuses retro-style and beat-driven music to teach simple life lessons through music. The series stars DJ Lance Rock (Lance Robertson) and a cast of colorful characters, including: Brobee, the little green one, Foofa, the pink flower bubble, Muno, the red Cyclops, Toodee, the blue cat-dragon and Plex, the yellow robot. Yo Gabba Gabba! airs regularly at 1:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. (ET) on Nick Jr., the 24-hour commercial-free, educational preschool network from Nickelodeon.

Technorati Tags: Sarah Silverman, Yo Gabba Gabba, New Season, Weird Al, Biz Markie, The Killers, Flaming Lips, New Episodes, Kids Programming, Nick Jr

NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2010 – Cheating in school is easier and more popular than ever. According to recent studies, 64 percent of high school students admit they cheated on a test within the last year. Nick News with Linda Ellerbee’s Cheaters Never Win: True or False? premiering Sunday, March 7, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Nickelodeon, explores today’s reality of kids and cheating.

“Who doesn’t cheat?” says Andrea, 15: “We have politicians that have cheated, and look where they are today.”

“If a kid hears that politicians cheat, corporate executives lie, athletes take illegal steroids (or parents cheat on their income taxes), and that these people often get away with it, why are we surprised at the message that kid is getting?” says Ellerbee. “And it’s not just about bad influences. Why students cheat is a complex question. But I was stunned at how common cheating is today.”

Begin with this: Advances in technology have made cheating easier. Matt, 12: “I see lots of kids hiding their cell phone under the table and texting each other the answers.” Richard Muszalski, a teacher at Northeast Middle School, Creve Coeur, Mo.: “They are literally just copying stuff right off the Internet, and trying to pass it off as their own.”

Many kids say they cheat because they feel pushed to succeed. Tara Rosipal, teacher at North Middle School, Great Falls, Mont.: “We have seventh and eighth graders who are worried about college and fear that if they don’t have straight A’s here, it’s going to affect their ability to get into a college. Kids that I talk to and I say, ‘Why did you cheat?’ They say, ‘Because I needed the A.’”

Christine, 13: “I can find myself in a lot of pressure because I do a lot of activities out of school,” she says. “Last year, I was just so overwhelmed, and I caught myself cheating sometimes. You never wanna see a bad grade on your paper.”

“I hate cheating,” says Jackson, 15: “I go home with guilt piled onto me. I just feel like probably one of the worst kids ever, but I still wanna get good grades and I still wanna make my family happy and get into a good college someday.”

What classifies as cheating may not always be so clear. Nick News asked kids across the country to weigh in on a series of potential “cheating situations.” Randy Cohen, ethicist for The New York Times, addresses the issues surrounding what the right thing to do is in each scenario — and why.

While it has become increasingly difficult to detect cheating, schools are finding new ways to prevent it, including the use of plagiarism prevention websites. “I don’t want to catch cheaters,” says Susan Heckman, English teacher at Coronado High School in Las Vegas. “So why do I put the time and effort into it? It’s for all the students out there who have the courage to put their very own work forward. So I feel like it’s my job to protect the honest students.”

Nick News, produced by Lucky Duck Productions, is now in its 19th year and is the longest-running kids’ news show in television history. It has built its reputation on the respectful and direct way it speaks to kids about the important issues of the day. Nick News recently was honored with its first ever Edward R. Murrow Award for “Network News Documentary” for the documentary special, “Coming Home: When Parents Return from War,” marking the first-ever kids television program to receive the prestigious award. Over the years, Nick News has received more than 20 Emmy nominations and recently won its seventh Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Children’s Nonfiction Program for “Coming Home: When Parents Return from War.” Additional Emmy wins for Outstanding Children’s Programming include: “The Untouchable Kids of India” (2008); “Private Worlds: Kids and Autism” (2007); “From the Holocaust to the Sudan” (2005); “Faces of Hope: The Kids of Afghanistan” (2002); “What Are You Staring At?” (1998). In addition, in 1994, the entire series won the Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Programming. Nick News has also received three Peabody Awards, including a personal award given to Ellerbee for her coverage for kids of the President Clinton investigation, as well as two Columbia duPont Awards and more than a dozen Parents’ Choice Awards.

Technorati Tags: Nickelodeon, Linda Ellerbee, Nick News, Cheating, Cheater, Television Show, Episode, High School, Middle School, College

The show will premiere on January 24, 2010. Here are the details that I received in the following press release from Nickelodeon.

NEW YORK, Jan. 5, 2010 – Cancer. When children hear the word, what do they think? It may be scary, but today, a diagnosis of cancer is not necessarily a death sentence. Nick News with Linda Ellerbee explores the world of kids who are living with cancer on The Face of Courage: Kids Living with Cancer, premiering Sunday, Jan. 24, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon. The road these kids travel is not easy; it is pitted with fear, pain and loss. But also it is a road paved with hope, strength, courage and even humor. They have been where no kid should have to go, and they have survived to share their stories – and their courage – with the rest of us.

“All of these kids live as if the cancer were never coming back,” says Ellerbee, an 18-year cancer survivor. “Cancer is a part of my past. That’s a fact. It’s a part of my present because I choose to speak about it, and for the same reason, it will be a part of my future. But it is not who I am. It is not who any of us is.”

Alexandra, 14, lost her leg to bone cancer. “I was sitting on the bed outside the operating room…and I remember just taking a pen from one of the nurses aids and writing ‘I love you’ on (my) knee…that was the last thing I basically did for my leg,” says Alexandra. Today, her cancer is in remission and she’s made friends with her new “bionic” leg. “I think that as much as cancer hurts you and harms you, in the end…all the experiences you have gone through make you stronger, so you almost go from being too weak to being stronger than you were in the first place.”

Diagnosed with leukemia in July 2009, Diamonisha, 12, currently is in treatment and, not surprisingly, angry, confused and hopeful, all at the same time. “The hospital is not a world for kids…you don’t wanna be in there…Sometimes it makes me feel sad cause I don’t like this cancer. Sometimes it makes me feel happy because the cancer’s going away and I’m gonna be better, and I’ll have hair, finally,” she says.

While in the hospital being treated for an aggressive form of leukemia, Tatyana, 11, made a video about her experience for her friends so they could understand what it was like. She has since returned to school. “I wore a hat because I didn’t want anybody to see my baldness. I was very worried that my friends were going to treat me different. Then, once I took the hat off, I realized that they were fine with it. They didn’t really care and so…if they didn’t care, why should I?”

Going through the first of five rounds of chemo for a tumor in his abdomen, Tyler, 10, hates the mask he must wear in public to protect himself. Tyler says, “I try to ignore everybody who stares…or whispers to somebody else. I just don’t feel normal when I wear it.” As for the cancer? “It does change my view of life…because I have learned that life is full of twists and turns now.”

Hector, 14, suffers from a soft tissue cancer that affected an eye socket. “They had to remove my eye or else I was going to die. So they told me to make a choice,” says Hector. A choice a kid shouldn’t have to make. Hector worried that losing an eye would make him too different from other kids, but being in a cancer ward gave him a new perspective. “It made me realize that it wasn’t only me. The world was full with kids with cancer.”

Lexi, who is 11 and has a slow-growing brain tumor, gets a similar feeling of camaraderie at Camp Sunshine, where every kid has cancer. Lexi says, “Everybody here knows what you’re going through and you feel like a normal kid. It’s a place where I can talk to people about my cancer life and they know what I feel like.”

Bryn, 14, was diagnosed with Stage Four lymphoma nearly two years ago. Today she’s in remission and participates in a support network called Teens Living with Cancer. “I think the experience of a veteran is a lot like the experience of a cancer survivor because you are coming back from a war, you’re coming back from the fight for your life basically. You start to realize that life is very fleeting and that you want to make the most of it,” says Bryn.

Nick News, produced by Lucky Duck Productions, is now in its 19th year and is the longest-running kids’ news show in television history. It has built its reputation on the respectful and direct way it speaks to kids about the important issues of the day. Nick News recently was honored with its first ever Edward R. Murrow Award for “Network News Documentary” for the documentary special, “Coming Home: When Parents Return from War,” marking the first-ever kids television program to receive the prestigious award.

Over the years, Nick News has received more than 20 Emmy nominations and recently won its seventh Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Children’s Nonfiction Program for “Coming Home: When Parents Return from War.” Additional Emmy wins for Outstanding Children’s Programming include: “The Untouchable Kids of India” (2008); “Private Worlds: Kids and Autism” (2007); “From the Holocaust to the Sudan” (2005); “Faces of Hope: The Kids of Afghanistan” (2002); “What Are You Staring At?” (1998). In addition, in 1994, the entire series won the Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Programming. Nick News has also received three Peabody Awards, including a personal award given to Ellerbee for her coverage for kids of the President Clinton investigation, as well as two Columbia duPont Awards and more than a dozen Parents’ Choice Awards.

Note: Photo Courtesy of Lucky Duck Productions. This article was updated to reflect a change in the date of this special.

Technorati Tags: Nickelodeon, Nick News, Stories of Courage, Kids, Childhood Cancer, Cancer, Linda Ellerbee, News for Children, Children’s Programming, Television

San Francisco, Calif. – September 10, 2009 – In a landmark agreement, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced that its animated series NARUTO Shippuden has been acquired by Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group for debut on Disney XD (www.DisneyXD.com) television channel beginning in October.

Disney XD is a new basic cable channel and multi-platform brand that showcases a compelling mix of live-action and animated programming for kids age 6-14, hyper-targeting boys and their quest for discovery, accomplishment, sports, adventure and humor. New dubbed episodes of NARUTO Shippuden will premiere on the network.

In the NARUTO manga and animated series, Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja in training, wants to be the best ninja in the land. He’s done well so far, but Naruto knows he must train harder than ever and leaves his village for intense exercises that will push him to his limits. NARUTO Shippuden begins two and a half years later, when Naruto returns to find that everyone has been promoted up the ninja ranks-except him. Sakura is a medic ninja, Gaara has advanced to Kazekage, and Kakashi… well, he remains the same. But pride isn’t necessarily becoming of a ninja, and Naruto quickly regains his focus when he learns that Sasuke never returned from his search for Orochimaru and that the mysterious Akatsuki organization is still an ever-present danger. The more Naruto finds out about Akatsuki’s sinister plot, the more he realizes that nothing in his world is as it seems. Naruto is finding that he’s older, but will he also prove wiser and stronger?

“Disney XD is a growing destination for our key demographic, boys 6-14, and we’re looking forward to bringing the adventures of NARUTO Shippuden to our lineup,” says Tracy McAndrew, Director, Acquisitions and Co-Productions, Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group.

Created by Masashi Kishimoto, NARUTO was first introduced in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan in 1999 and quickly became that country’s most popular ninja manga targeting tweens and teens and has sold more than 85 million copies to-date. The manga series (rated ‘T’ for Teens) and animated counterpart (NARUTO rated ‘T’ for teens, and NARUTO Shippuden rated ‘T+’ for older teens), is one of VIZ Media’s most successful properties and has captivated millions of fans across North America, Europe and South America. NARUTO is a co-production of TV TOKYO, VIZ Media parent company Shueisha Inc., and Pierrot Co., Ltd.

“We’re very pleased to partner with Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group to bring NARUTO Shippuden to U.S. television audiences this fall,” says Bill Germain, Director of Programming Sales, VIZ Media. “With Disney XD as its new broadcast home base, NARUTO Shippuden is poised to take viewers, both new and old, to unprecedented levels of ninja-excitement!”

More information on NARUTO is available at www.Naruto.com.

Technorati Tags: Disney XD, Disney Channel, Naruto, Ninja, Television, Press Release, Japan, Viz Media, Naruto Uzumaki, ABC Network

San Diego, CA – August 17, 2009 – Traveling from over 25 countries and six continents, more than 1,125 players ages 6 to 55 competed for the chance to be crowned the best Pokémon TM players in the world this weekend in downtown San Diego, CA. Hosted by The Pokémon Company International, the worldwide leader in video games and trading card games, the Pokémon World Championships gave the highest-skilled players from around the world a chance to compete for the prestigious title of World Champion, as well as travel packages, custom Nintendo game systems, trophies, and more than $100,000 in scholarships. The two-day championship event emphasized the skill, strategy, creativity and fun involved in playing the Pokémon Trading Card and video games.

The top 60 video game players from the United States, Japan and Europe earned an invitation to participate in the Pokémon Video Game World Championships by defeating hundreds of challengers in qualifying tournaments held across the globe. The top finishers in each age division (Junior and Senior) each received a grand prize that includes a custom Nintendo DSTM game system, automatic entry in and travel to the 2010 Pokémon Video Game World Championships for a chance to defend the title, and a six-day vacation package for four to Tokyo, New York City, or Oahu. The winners include:

2009 Pokémon Video Game World Champions- Junior Division (born in 1997 or later)
First Place: Jeremy Fan (Age 11) from Sante Fe, California USA
Second Place: Santa Ito (Age 9) from Japan

2009 Pokémon Video Game World Champions- Senior Division (born in 1996 or earlier)
First Place: Kazuyuki Tsuji (Age 25) from Japan
Second Place: Tasuku Mano (Age 15) from Japan

The top 350 TCG players from more than 25 countries qualified for the invite-only Pokémon Trading Card World Championships by spending countless hours preparing and battling though a season of city, state, regional and national tournaments. Each of the three first place TCG finishers received a grand prize that includes a paid trip and invitation to defend their title at the 2010 TCG World Championships, as well as a scholarship worth $7,500. In total, the value of the scholarships divided amongst the TCG participants from 1st through 16th place in all age divisions totaled more than $100,000. After two full days and over twelve hours of fierce one-on-one TCG battles, three winners were crowned in each age group, including:

2009 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Champions – Junior Division (born in 1998 or later)
First Place: Tsubasa Nakamura, (Age 9) from Japan
Second Place: Jason Martinez, (Age 11) from Glendale, California USA
Third Place: William Shand, (Age 11) from Colorado Springs, CO

2009 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Champions – Senior Division (born in 1994-1997)
First Place: Takuto Itagaki, (Age 12) from Japan
Second Place: David Cohen, (Age 14) from Kent, Washington USA
Third Place: Nicolas Fotheringham, (Age 15) from United Kingdom

2009 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Champions – Masters Division (born in 1993 or earlier)
First Place: Stephen Silvestro, (Age 20) from Citrus Springs, Florida USA
Second Place: Sammi Sekkoum, (Age 20) from United Kingdom
Third Place: Jay Hernung, (Age 20) from Madrid, Iowa USA

Over the past 13 years, Pokémon has established its prominence as one of the top children’s franchises in history. In 2009, the Pokémon animated series will be broadcast in as many as 153 countries in more than 25 languages. The Pokémon video game series has sold more than 191 million games worldwide and The Pokémon Trading Card Game is the No. 1 collectible trading card game of all-time having more than 46,000 active members worldwide.

For more information, please visit: http://www.go-pokemon.com/worlds

About Pokémon
The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, visit www.pokemon.com.

Technorati Tags: Pokemon, Trading Cards, Video Game, Japan, Champions, Worldwide, The Pokémon Company International, Pokemon World Championships

Academy Award®-nominee Pete Docter (2008, Best Original Screenplay, WALL•E; 2001, Best Animated Feature Film, Monsters, Inc.) directs one of the funniest fantasy-adventures of all time featuring a gifted voice cast that includes Ed Asner (Elf),
Christopher Plummer (Inside Man), Up co-director and writer Bob Peterson (Monsters, Inc.), Delroy Lindo (This Christmas) and John Ratzenberger (who has lent his voice to every Disney•Pixar feature film).

Up is the tenth in an unprecedented streak of critical and box office triumphs for Disney•Pixar that includes four Academy Award® winners for Best Animated Feature— WALL•E (2008), Ratatouille (2007), The Incredibles (2004) and Finding Nemo (2003)— as well as Cars, Monsters, Inc., Toy Story 2, A Bug’s Life and Toy Story. Up joined each
of its predecessors in ranking #1 at the box office on its opening weekend.

BONUS FEATURES FOR UP
• Commentary by director Pete Docter and co-director Bob Peterson.
• Dug’s Special Mission – An all new original short film that follows the
misadventures of Dug as he attempts to complete his “special mission.” The short is directed by Up Story Supervisor, Ronnie Del Carmen.
• The Many Endings of Muntz – Many ideas were hatched about how to dispose of the film’s arch villain, Muntz, and now viewers can see the many alternate endings proposed during story development.
• Partly Cloudy –The hilarious short film that preceded screenings of Up. Everyone knows that the stork delivers babies, but where do the storks get the babies? The answer lies up in the stratosphere where the cloud Gus is a master at creating “dangerous” babies, which prove to be more than a handful for his loval delivery stork Peck. Directed by Pixar story artist, animator and voice actor Peter Sohn.
• Adventure is Out There – This action-packed documentary tells the story of the filmmakers’ own trek to the tepuis mountains of South America to research the design and story of the film.

And, only on Blu-ray Hi-Def, hours of features, and behind-the scenes bonus features, including:
• Cine-Explore – A visual montage of concept art, clips and documentary coverage that illustrates the directors’ commentary.
• Geriatric Hero – A character study of Carl, from research to realization including art and design, rigging, animation and story. It focuses on the issues of aging, “simplexity”, shape-language and compelling character arcs.
• Canine Companions – For anyone who ever wondered where CG puppies come from, an introduction to the design, behavior and language of dogs.
• Russell: Wilderness Explorer – A character study of Russell from inspiration and design to finding the character arc and authentic voice for this wilderness ranger.
• Our Giant Flightless Friend, Kevin – Find out how avian research and
development at Pixar helped bring a mythical, 13-foot tall iridescent bird to life.
• Homemakers of Pixar – Carl and Ellie’s house is an important “character” in the film. Fans follow the development of the house from story to art to its ultimate realization in the computer.
• Balloons and Flight – Carl’s house and Muntz’s dirigible presented the
filmmakers with two different problems—how could they make a physical impossibility possible? And, in the case of the dirigible, how would they unearth a fallen giant and let it soar?
• Composing for Characters – Composer Michael Giacchino returns to score his third Disney•Pixar feature film. See how the Up filmmakers collaborated with Giacchino to create the memorable score and compelling musical themes.
• Married Life – The original story concept that became the powerful “Married Life” scene, showing Carl and Ellie’s love story.
• Global Guardian Badge Game – Players try to locate countries, states and capitals around the globe in a multi-layered BD-Exclusive geography game enhanced by BD-Live.

Synopsis:
Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios take moviegoers up, up and away on one of the funniest adventures of all time with their latest comedy-fantasy. Up follows the uplifting tale of 78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen, who finally fulfills his lifelong dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America. But he discovers all too late that his biggest nightmare has stowed away on the trip: an overly optimistic 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell. Their journey to a lost world, where they encounter some strange, exotic and surprising characters, is filled with hilarity, emotion and wildly
imaginative adventure.

Up has a suggested retail price of $39.99 SRP (US) or $44.99 SRP (Canada) for the 2- Disc DVD, and $45.99 SRP (US) or $52.99 SRP (Canada) for the 4-Disc Blu-ray Combo pack. A 1-Disc DVD is also available at SRP $29.99 (US), $35.99 (Canada)

STREET DATE: 11/10
Direct prebook: 9/1
Distributor prebook: 9/15
Pricing: 2-Disc DVD: $39.99, 4-Disc Bluy-ray Combo: $45.99
Feature run time: 96 minutes
Rated: PG
Bonus Materials Not Rated in US
Technical specifications may only apply to feature.
Aspect ratio: DVD: Widescreen 16×9
Sound: SD: 5.1 Dolby Digital, BD: Dolby Digital EX 1080P
Languages: English, Canadian French, Spanish

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, a recognized leader in the home entertainment industry, is the marketing, sales and distribution company for Walt Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Buena Vista product, which includes DVD, Blu-ray Disc™ and electronic distribution. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is a division of The Walt Disney Studios.

Technorati Tags: Press Releases, News, Up, Disney, Blu-ray, Blu-Ray DVD Combo, Disney’s UP, announcement, movie, family friendly, release

Series Launches with Two Weeks of Brand-New Episodes

NEW YORK, AUG. 10, 2009 – Preschoolers will get up and dance to the original pop tunes of The Fresh Beat Band – Nickelodeon’s new music group and self-titled original live-action comedy series. Premiering Monday, Aug. 24, The Fresh Beat Band centers on four best friends in a band who attend music school together and love to sing and dance. The 20-episode, half-hour series has a broad-based music curriculum focusing on self-expression through music, music appreciation and comprehension of music terminology.

The Fresh Beat Band will premiere with two back-to-back episodes on Monday, Aug. 24, at 12:00 p.m. (ET/PT), followed by two weeks of brand-new episodes Tuesday, Aug. 25—Thursday, Aug. 27, and Monday, Aug. 31—Thursday, Sept. 3, at 12:00 p.m. (ET/PT). Nickelodeon will encore the Monday premiere on Friday, Aug. 28, and Friday, Sept. 4, at 12:00 p.m. (ET/PT). Two back-to-back episodes will also encore on NOGGIN, Sunday, Aug. 30, and Sunday, Sept. 6, at 7:00 p.m. (ET).

“Kids and their parents will sing and laugh along with The Fresh Beats as the four friends tackle daily adventures in each episode,” said Brown Johnson, President, Animation, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group. “With fantastic original songs, a core music curriculum and a multi-talented cast, The Fresh Beat Band is the perfect addition to our lineup.”

Meet The Fresh Beat Band:

Marina (Shayna Rose)
Marina is an awesome drummer and the “rock steady” beat of The Fresh Beats. She brings her drumsticks with her everywhere she goes and can play any drum (or anything resembling a drum) that is put in front of her.

Kiki (Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer)
Vivacious, bubbly and spunky, Kiki is also a “kickin’” dancer who loves making up new dances and teaching them to her friends and band mates. Plus, she can rock the guitar and the violin.

Twist (Jon Beavers)
Twist is a DJ, a skilled rapper and a beat boxer. His instruments of choice are his super-cool mix-tables and his voice. Twist is really imaginative and a natural jokester. Even when his outrageous ideas don’t come through, he doesn’t get into a twist; he just goes with the flow.

Shout (Thomas Hobson)
Intelligent, confident, and bursting with energy, Shout loves to jam on his keyboards, and he loves to dance, too. He gets really excited about everything, and his excitement is contagious.

In the premiere episode, “Stick Together,” Kiki, Marina, Twist and Shout have a special surprise birthday party planned for their music teacher, Ms. Piccolo. They’re going to decorate the music room with new wallpaper, birthday party goodies, streamers and balloons. But when The Fresh Beat Band arrives at music school, they each have their own ideas about how to wallpaper the music room and decide to work separately. Their surprise for Ms. Piccolo quickly turns into a sticky, wallpapery mess. They decide that the only way to wallpaper the music room and surprise Ms. Piccolo is to work together. They decorate the music room beautifully and Ms. Piccolo is surprised and delighted, especially when they present her with her birthday present… a piccolo!

Nickelodeon will support The Fresh Beat Band premiere week online and via wireless with dedicated playlists beginning Monday, Aug. 10. The playlists will include themed clips, music videos and a sneak peek of The Fresh Beat Band on Nick Jr. Video.

Nick Jr.’s award-winning website (www.nickjr.com) will feature activities to complement The Fresh Beat Band series premiere. Throughout the month of August, NickJr.com will feature music-themed printables, crafts, activities and more.

The Fresh Beat Band centers on four best friends – Kiki, Marina, Twist and Shout – in a band who attend music school together and love to sing and dance. Set to original pop songs, the half-hour series teaches preschoolers about music appreciation and how to express their feelings through movement, song and instrumental music. Kids will also be introduced to the fundamentals of music such as melody, rhythm, tempo and performance styles. In each episode, preschoolers will sing and dance along as they help The Fresh Beat Band solve everyday challenges. Viewers will also learn the importance of friendship, working together in a positive way and respecting each other’s differences.

The Fresh Beat Band features original songs with preschool-friendly lyrics written by series creators/executive producers Nadine van der Velde and Scott Kraft. Van der Velde and Kraft have won three Emmys for their work on children’s television programs and share an extensive background in television, film and theatre. They have written music video treatments for many pop music superstars including Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and Faith Hill. The music on the show is composed by Matter Music, an award-winning company that creates original compositions for film, television and commercials.

Nickelodeon, now in its 30th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 99 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 15 consecutive years.

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NICKELODEON/VIACOM CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND NOOKA INC. PARTNER ON LIMITED-EDITION HIGH-END WRISTWATCHES FEATURING SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS

Nooka Joins the Porous Pal’s 10th Anniversary Celebration Just in the ‘Nick’ of Time

New York, NY – May 11, 2009 – Nickelodeon/Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) and fashion design brand Nooka Inc. have partnered to create a line of limited-edition, high-end wristwatches inspired by SpongeBob SquarePants. In honor of the pop-culture icon’s 10th anniversary celebration this year, Nooka has created two limited-edition timepieces featuring graphics and colors inspired by SpongeBob and “Bikini Bottom,” with additional collaborations to be released throughout 2009 and 2010.

The unique designs of the pieces utilize two brand-new Nooka styles – the ZUB ZENH (horizontal bars) 20 mm in Yellow and the ZENV (vertical bars) Aluminum in Night. The concepts and graphics of both untraditional watches are reflective of the geometric themes and bold color pallets of SpongeBob SquarePants and Nooka’s design methods. The collection, available for both men and women, will be available at retailers in July, The watches will retail at $170 and $275, respectively.

“As we continue to reinterpret the look and feel of SpongeBob for our vast audiences in its 10th Anniversary year, Nooka’s cutting-edge style combined with SpongeBob’s humor and optimism makes that transition an organic one,” said Hal Snik, Senior Vice President of Domestic Licensing, NVCP.

The Nooka ZENH model counts time with four horizontal bars. The first two bars count the hours- the third bar counts the minutes- the fourth marks the seconds. Each hour is marked by a single block read left to right (hours 1-6 in the top bar, hours 7-12 in the second bar). Each minute is marked by a single “tick” mark along the third bar (minutes 0-59). There are also white dots below the bar indicating every five minutes, as well as small numbers to indicate 15, 30, and 45, for quick reference. Each second is marked by a single tick mark along the fourth bar (seconds 0-59). There are also white dots below this bar indicating every five seconds for quick reference. Along the bottom right, one of two dots will be filled in to indicate AM/PM.

The Nooka ZENV models counts time with three vertical bars and a small box with digital numbers. The first two bars from the left count the hours- the third bar counts the minutes- the small box on the right-hand side marks the seconds. Each hour is marked by a single block read from bottom to top (hours 1-6 in the first bar, hours 7-12 in the second bar). Each minute is marked by a single “tick” mark along the third bar (minutes 0-59) there are also white dots to the right of the bar indicating every five seconds, as well as small numbers to indicate 15, 30, and 45, for quick reference. Each second is marked by a digital counter in the small box on the right-hand side (seconds 0-59). Above the seconds’ box, one of two dots will be filled in to indicate AM/PM.

SpongeBob SquarePants is one of the most popular series in kids’ television history. It has been the number-one animated program with Kids 2-11 for more than six consecutive years and its Saturday morning airing ranks as the top-rated program on television among Kids 2-11. Adult viewers also continue to tune in and have increased by 121% since the premiere of the show in July 1999. The most widely distributed property in MTV Networks’ history; SpongeBob SquarePants is syndicated in 171 markets in 25 languages and is among the top rated kids’ shows, across broadcast and cable, in every major television market around the world.

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For all the details, check out the following press release:

An Exciting Industry First: Blu-ray™+ DVD Combo Pack — October 6, 2009 — 7 Weeks Before Standard Definition DVD Release November 24

Burbank, Calif., April 3, 2009 – Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) proudly announces the highly-anticipated, October 6 high definition debut of the most-acclaimed animated movie ever made, Walt Disney’s original classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Making history again with its exciting debut, the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Blu-ray bow marks the first time Disney Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack (2 Blu-ray discs + DVD) has ever been released, followed seven weeks later with the release of a Deluxe 2-Disc Classic standard definition DVD on November 24. The Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Blu-ray edition will undoubtedly represent the quintessential way to experience this landmark film.

“We are thrilled that the consumer has clearly recognized the value in our Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack releases and will have another opportunity to maximize their viewing options in October with Snow White,” Bob Chapek, President of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, said. “With today’s technological breakthroughs found in Blu-ray, we are confident that this version of Snow White will easily become the reference point for high definition home entertainment libraries and family collections all over the world.”

Perfectly timed for holiday gift-giving and available for a limited time only, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ historic high definition release will include a spectacular assortment of all new bonus features. A magical tale filled with laughter and excitement, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is the jewel in Disney’s cinematic crown.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has been unavailable in any form, since 2001. The film earned a 1939 honorary Academy Award® for “significant screen innovation which has charmed millions, and pioneered a great new entertainment field.” And now, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Blu-ray becomes the ultimate home entertainment experience with state-of-the-art picture restoration and a pristine 7.1 Digital Theater System Hi-Def Surround Sound.

About Platinum Combo Packs (Blu-ray + DVD in a single package):
To provide consumers with unprecedented quality, value and portability of their favorite Disney classics, in 2008 WDSHE pioneered the Combo Pack – Blu-ray Disc(s) plus a DVD in a single package. Current Disney Platinum Edition titles available as Combo Packs include Sleeping Beauty and Pinocchio.

About Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs:
Celebrated as an entertainment landmark for over 70 years, the first full-length animated film ever made, and still the ‘fairest of them all,” Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ world premiere represented a major milestone for the world of animation, a giant leap forward for The Walt Disney Company. It is one of the most beloved and most watched films in history. As one of the first films ever to be designated for preservation by the Library of Congress, it has been entertaining movie-goers and critics alike for decades. It is also the first film ever to have a motion picture soundtrack, as well as the first film that uses music to advance the story. To date, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has been released theatrically a total of nine times.

Synopsis:
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is the time-honored story of a beautiful princess whose blossoming beauty disturbs her stepmother the Queen. Each day the Queen asks a mysterious magic mirror the quintessential question: “mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all.” As long as the mirror answers the Queen’s name, all is well. However, when one day the mirror replies with Snow White’s name, the evil Queen begins her quest to kill the young girl, so she may once again be “the fairest of them all.”

Snow White’s escape from the evil Queen’s plan leads her deep into the forest and to a small cottage where she meets, in one of the most famous scenes in motion picture history, the Seven Dwarfs. Once “off to work” they go, the wicked Queen persuades Snow White to take a bite of a poisonous apple that places a powerful sleeping curse on the young beauty. Heartbroken, the dwarfs make a glass coffin for their friend, because she is too beautiful to bury. Only when a handsome Prince — who had previously fallen in love with Snow White — finds her and kisses her, does she awaken, “to live happily ever after.”

The Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack is priced at $39.99 SRP and the 2-Disc DVD set is priced at $29.99 SRP.

BLU-RAY STREET DATE: October 6, 2009
DVD STREET DATE: November 24, 2009
Direct prebook: August 11, 2009
Distributor prebook: August 25, 2009
Pricing: Blu-ray and DVD Combo Pack $39.99 SRP
2-Disc DVD: $29.99 SRP
Feature run time: 84 minutes
Rated: G
FastPlay™: FastPlay enabled

*Technical specifications may only apply to feature.

–Blu-ray Disc–

Aspect ratio: Widescreen (1.33:1)

Sound: 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio

Languages: English SDH

–DVD–

Aspect ratio:
Widescreen (1.33:1)

Sound: 5.1 Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix (DEHT)
5.1 DEHT French and Spanish Language Tracks

Languages:
English SDH, French and Spanish Subtitles

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, a recognized leader in the home entertainment industry, is the marketing, sales and distribution company for Walt Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Buena Vista product, which includes DVD, Blu-ray Disc™ and electronic distribution. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is a division of The Walt Disney Studios.

We hope you are as excited about this as we are. Feel free to let us know by sharing your thoughts in our comment section!

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