PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT TO DISTRIBUTE JAKERS!TM THE ADVENTURES OF PIGGLEY WINKSTM, ENTARA'S EMMY AWARD-WINNING, 3D CGI-ANIMATED SERIES
Millions of young American and Canadian fans of JAKERS! THE ADVENTURES OF PIGGLEY WINKS, Entara's Emmy award-winning, 3D, CGI-animated series, will soon be able to enjoy their favorite TV episodes on DVD and video-cassette via newly appointed home entertainment distributor, Paramount Home Entertainment.
The critically acclaimed series, which currently airs on PBS KIDS in the U.S. and TVO, SCN, Access Alberta and Knowledge Network in Canada, will be available on DVD and VHS in major retail outlets beginning in the spring of 2005. The release date coincides with the launch of a range of story and novelty books from Simon Spotlight, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
JAKERS!TM follows Piggley WinksTM and his friends Dannan the Duck and Ferny the Bull through their childhood in rural 1950s Ireland. Their hometown of Tara, and the surrounding areas, provides the safe and secure backdrop for their fertile imaginations to run riot. Whether they are fishing for the salmon of knowledge, sailing the seven seas in their pirate ship (made of hay bales!), or trying to avoid their chores, Piggley, Dannan and Ferny will find a way to turn the familiar into the utterly fantastic.
While the trio busy themselves with the task ahead, Wiley the Sheep, an American import and a legend in his own mind, is busy fulfilling his 'role' of bringing a little bit of sheep cool to his rural flock. Wiley's own particular humor, voiced by Mel Brooks, is a favorite with the adult audience. The start and finish of each episode feature Piggley in the present day as a Grandpa, telling these stories of childhood escapades as entertaining lessons in life to his three very contemporary city-dwelling grandpigs.
"Since the series debuted last September, we've been inundated with requests from viewers to make it available on DVD and VHS," says Stéphanie Gougeon, Entara's CEO. "We're thrilled to be able to fulfill their enthusiastic demand for product, especially with a first-class distributor like Paramount Home Entertainment, which handles such premiere children's programs as Blue Clue's, Dora the Explorer and Rugrats, to name a few."
"JAKERS! is one of those unique TV series with appeal to both kids and adults," says Thomas Lesinski, President, Paramount Pictures, Worldwide Home Entertainment. "While children identify with Piggley and his exploits, adults appreciate the sophisticated humor. And everyone enjoys the multi-layered storylines and exceptional animation. It's a perfect complement to our other children's properties."
JAKERS!, produced for Entara by Mike Young Productions, debuted on PBS KIDS in September 2003 and quickly became a favorite among fans and critics alike, garnering rave reviews in The Hollywood Reporter, TV Guide, Child Magazine, the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times, among many others. The series has also received numerous accolades including a 2004 Parents' Choice Silver Honor Award; two Annie nominations; a 2003 Genesis Commendation from the US Humane Society; and two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Production Design and Outstanding Achievement in Storyboarding. For more information about the series, visit http://pbskids.org/jakers.
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 Paramount Home Entertainment
Paramount Home Entertainment is a division of Paramount Pictures, which is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc., one of the world's largest entertainment and media companies, and a leader in the production, promotion and distribution of entertainment, news, sports, and music.
