THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED PBS KIDS SERIES
JAKERS! THE ADVENTURES OF PIGGLEY WINKS HAS JOINED
UNITED MEDIA'S FOLD
All-new licensing program planned for the internationally acclaimed Irish-themed 3D, CGI animated series, guest starring Mel Brooks
New York, February 11, 2004 -- This little Piggley can - and has! - become one of the hottest new properties at this year's International Toy Fair: Entara Ltd. today announced that it has tapped United Media to represent the North American licensing rights for its critically acclaimed series, Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks. Launched this fall on PBS KIDS, Jakers!™ is produced and distributed by Mike Young Productions for London-based Entara and features 40 half-hour episodes aimed at kids 4-7. Guest starring Mel Brooks as Wiley the Sheep, Jakers! brings the charm and inspiration of Irish storytelling to its audiences with state of the art 3D, CGI animation.
United Media's licensing program will focus initially on key categories such as toys and promotions. As the program builds, social expression and apparel will be targeted.
"Jakers! is a wonderfully funny and charming television series with significant licensing potential," said Doug Stern, President and CEO of United Media. "Well developed characters, delightful stories, and the recognizable humor of Mel Brooks appeal to both children and adults. Entara has done an excellent job in developing this budding new series with Mike Young Productions, and as a partner, we hope to continue to grow the brand successfully through the licensing channel."
"United Media is the ideal licensing agent for Jakers!," said Stephanie Gougeon, CEO of Entara. "The company's experience in developing children's favorites into quality evergreen brands is unparalleled in the industry, and we look forward to having Piggley join the ranks of its premiere portfolio of characters."
Jakers! has been airing on PBS KIDS weekly since last September. International broadcasters include TVO Canada, ABC Australia, TF1 France, RTE Ireland and SVT Sweden.
The 3D, CGI-animated series is the first PBS KIDS series to air in high definition TV and was recently nominated for two 2003 Annie Awards for Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Television Production Produced For Children and Outstanding Achievement in Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production.
Jakers! follows the adventures of Piggley Winks™, a spunky eight-year-old piglet, and his friends Dannan the Duck and Ferny the Bull on Raloo Farm in Ireland. While the intrepid trio are enjoying their escapades ("Jakers!" is their oft-used Irish expression of delight and amazement), American transplant Wiley the Sheep (voiced by Mel Brooks) is busy offering wild and woolly advice to his all-too-sheepish flock. The opening and closing of each story features Piggley Winks as a granddad, telling these tales of childhood shenanigans as entertaining lessons in life to his three very contemporary, rambunctious city-dwelling grandpigs.
Following each of Grandpa Piggley's animated tales, soccer great Cobi Jones of the 2002 MLS Cup Champion team, the Los Angeles Galaxy, and three-time US World Cup team member, hosts a three-minute live-action epilogue entitled "Jakers! Live and Learn." These educational moments spotlight children from diverse cultures and backgrounds sharing sometimes amusing, sometimes poignant, real-life anecdotes that complement the moral lesson of Piggley's exploits.
About ENTARA
Based in London, Entara holds all the rights to and manages the Jakers! franchise worldwide. Jakers! is the company's debut property and follows its founding philosophy to develop evergreen children's programming with quality content and global appeal; programming that will remain timeless throughout the generations.
Entara is dedicated to enhancing the Jakers! story through innovative educational materials online and compelling interactive initiatives developed and produced by an in-house team. To accompany the series, Entara will also release a range of appealing books, toys and games, featuring Piggley and his friends as they translate the values of the series across a variety of platforms.
About UNITED MEDIA
United Media (UM) is a worldwide licensing and syndication company that focuses on building brand equity around a wide range of creative content. The company recently signed the MTA (New York Metropolitan Transit Authority), SHiNE, and the Emmy award winning television series, Arthur, to its portfolio of properties. It also collaborated with fellow E.W. Scripps company, Food Network, to build an all new licensing programming featuring the popular cable channel. United Media licenses and/or syndicates other properties, including, PEANUTS, Precious Moments, Copyrights at United Media (The World of Beatrix Potter, Paddington Bear, etc.), Raggedy Ann & Andy, Dilbert, and 2GRRRLS. United Media is an E.W. Scripps Company.
