GRIN >> I might buy tomorrow after seeing this:
Warner Bros. Brings "Pok‚mon The Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back" To North American Audiences This Fall; Brand-New Pok‚mon Introduced Onscreen For First Time in Any Format
BURBANK, CA, June 24, 1999 - Warner Bros. has acquired the rights to distribute "Pok‚mon The Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back," the first animated Pok‚mon feature film, to a worldwide audience, excluding Asia. The big-screen version of the immensely popular franchise will be a Kids' WB! Presentation, and will open in theaters throughout North America on November 12, with distribution in the rest of the world to follow. The announcement was made today by Sanford E. Reisenbach, Warner Bros. Executive Vice President of Marketing and Planning.
"Pok‚mon The Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back" was produced in Japan by Shogakukan Productions Co., Ltd. When the film was released there last summer, it became the fourth-highest grossing film in Japan for 1998.
"Pok‚mon The Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back" is an epic adventure featuring the debut of new, bio-engineered "Super-Pok‚mon," whose powers rival those of the existing creatures, creating exciting new plot twists and turns. The new Pok‚mon appears in this film for the first time in any format; it cannot yet be seen on television or in any video game. For the upcoming release of the film, the producers are adding a new musical score.
"The Pok‚mon storyline combines a variety of appealing characters that not only entertains kids but reinforces teamwork and cooperation," stated Mr. Reisenbach. "The interest and fervor for Pok‚mon, by both boys and girls, is incredible. 'Pok‚mon The Movie' is family entertainment that everyone will enjoy."
The Pok‚mon phenomenon began in Japan as a game for Nintendo's Game Boy portable video game system before capturing the attention of America. Its huge popularity prompted the creation of a Pok‚mon television series, which became a tremendous success in Japan. The phenomenon spread to the United States, where Nintendo has now sold more than 2.8 million units of the game, topping industry sales charts.
The "Pok‚mon" TV show now airs in the U.S. in syndication and on Kids WB!, where it has emerged as the #1 kids' program. In addition to the video games and TV show, Pok‚mon continues to entertain millions of fans all over the world with a best-selling toy line, a hugely popular card game and a multitude of licensed products.
"'Pok‚mon the Movie' will bring these popular characters to an even wider group of viewers, who will learn for themselves what makes Pok‚mon red-hot," said Alfred Kahn, Chairman and CEO of 4Kids Entertainment, the company authorized by Nintendo to hold the rights to the movie, television series, home video and merchandising. "We are thrilled to be in business with Warner Bros. and Nintendo in both the television and motion-picture rollout of Pok‚mon."
Pok‚mon is set in a fantasy world populated by 151 different imaginary creatures called Pok‚mon, each possessing unique, special powers or abilities. In the Pok‚mon environment, human beings act as Pok‚mon trainers, capturing as many of the creatures as they can. The Pok‚mon then join the trainer's team and help capture other Pok‚mon, enabling their human companions to become "Pok‚mon Masters." In the feature film, Ash Ketchum, accompanied by his friends Misty, Brock and Pikachu (a favorite, electrically charged Pok‚mon), continues his quest to become the world's greatest Pok‚mon trainer. The challenge is greater than ever when Mewtwo, a bio-engineered Pok‚mon, creates a strain of Super-Pok‚mon and sets the stage for the ultimate Pok‚mon battle.
A 22-minute short subject, "Pikachu's Vacation," will precede the feature. In addition to Mewtwo, four brand-new Pok‚mon will appear in "Pikachu's collections.. |
