Jan 9, 2007

New She-Ra Animated Series?

Let me see if I read this news article from Cynopsis Kids right:

Genius Products (GNPI), a DVD producer/licensor/distributor, and The Weinstein Company (TWC) have inked a long-term pact with Entertainment Rights and Classic Media for the distribution, co-production and co-financing of a range of home video and videogame productions for the family, kids and teen markets. Under the terms of the deal GNPI has the exclusive North American distribution rights for home video and certain digital media distribution rights for Classic and ER's catalogs (e.g. Lassie, Fat Albert, Postman Pat, Rupert Bear, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and VeggieTales), as well as for ER, Classic and TWC new co-productions and co-financed slate of kid-targeted new animated productions (e.g. The Lone Ranger, Gumby, and She Ra and Kung Fu Magoo). In addition, GNPI will have North American distribution rights for a slate of up to 12 new videogames it will produce and finance based on titles in the ER and Filmation catalogs. ER will handle the international distribution of home video and co-productions. Eric Robinson, VP/Production and Development, TWC will manage the productions. ER is in the process of acquiring Classic Media.

That's the article in full. But here's the news item that kind of caught my eye:

Under the terms of the deal GNPI has the exclusive North American distribution rights for home video and certain digital media distribution rights for Classic and ER's catalogs (e.g. Lassie, Fat Albert, Postman Pat, Rupert Bear, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and VeggieTales), as well as for ER, Classic and TWC new co-productions and co-financed slate of kid-targeted new animated productions (e.g. The Lone Ranger, Gumby, and She Ra and Kung Fu Magoo).

So, in other words, has the Genius and Weinstein announced that Classic Media/Entertainment Rights are making new animated series based on The Lone Ranger, Gumby, She-Ra, and Mr. Magoo? Obviously Kung Fu Magoo is a new series that I haven't heard much about (I knew TV Land was going to have a new Mr. Magoo series, but I have no idea if this is it or they decided to go the martial arts parody route just for kids?). The Lone Ranger isn't all that surprising. Gumby's back in comics form in twisted, but brilliant tales. But She-Ra? After the so-called "failure" of the 2003 He-Man revamp, is Mattel really considering a revival of the girl-based spinoff? It's an interesting development to say the least.

Also, it is nice to see Classic Media and Entertainment Rights get along after their merger. Of all the mergers that occurred in 2006, this is the one that actually made the most sense.



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