Press Releases
February 10, 2011 – MULTI-FACETED MARKETING INITIATIVE SUPPORTS U.S. FEBRUARY LAUNCH OF YU-GI-OH! 3D: BONDS BEYOND TIME
MULTI-FACETED MARKETING INITIATIVE SUPPORTS U.S. FEBRUARY LAUNCH OF YU-GI-OH! 3D: BONDS BEYOND TIME
4KIDS ENTERTAINMENT AND CINEDIGM DIGITAL CINEMA BRING 3D KIDS’ FILM TO 300 DIGITAL THEATRES ACROSS THE NATION
KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT LEADS 10th ANNIVERSARY FESTIVITIES WITH U.S. TRADING CARD GAME MALL TOUR, NEW VIDEO GAME AND LIMITED EDITION MOVIE CARD TCG PACK
MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION® OF METRO NEW YORK SELECTED TO BENEFIT FROM FILM PREMIERE AND KID-FOCUSED CAMPAIGN TO “MAKE A DIFFERENCE”
NEW YORK (February 10, 2011) – When the popular “Yu-Gi-Oh!” illuminates movie theatre screens across the U.S. beginning February 26th in the franchise’s eagerly awaited 3D animated movie Yu-Gi-Oh! 3D: Bonds Beyond Time, it will not just be an exciting moment for devoted fans, but also the culmination of a powerful kid-targeted marketing effort. Some of the best-known names in the genre including 4Kids Entertainment, Konami Digital Entertainment, Cinedigm Digital Cinema, VIZ Media and Make-A-Wish
Foundation, have joined together to mark the property’s 10th anniversary.
For Cinedigm (NASDAQ:CIDM), the global leader in digital cinema, the Yu-Gi-Oh! film marks the
company’s first 3D release targeting kids 6-14. Digital cinema provides moviemakers with a unique
opportunity to bring their theatrical releases to screens while eliminating the cost of film prints and
effectively reaching the fan base through social media, grassroots efforts and highly targeted media
campaigns without the cost of a traditional national advertising campaign.
“With an extremely avid fan base and very robust marketing support, Yu-Gi-Oh! is the perfect release for
digital distribution and benefits from the extremely targeted and efficient model brought forth by digital
cinema technology,” said Jonathan Dern, President of Cinedigm Entertainment Group. “Due to popular
demand, we have already increased our footprint from 250 locations to 300 to satisfy the groundswell of
interest from Yu-Gi-Oh! fans. Additionally, we are thrilled that moviegoers at all four special event
screenings will receive an exclusive Konami “Malefic Red-Eyes B. Dragon” collectible card for the
legendary Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME, as well as a mini-manga from VIZ Media.”
Cinedigm Digital Cinema will engage several of its own marketing resources to inform fans that Yu-Gi- Oh! 3D: Bonds Beyond Time will be shown on consecutive weekends (February 26 & 27 and March 5 6), including Share Square, a unique free service that enables the sharing of Yu-Gi-Oh! special features and updates to participating mobile smartphone users.
Konami Digital Entertainment will commemorate this brand milestone with several exciting fan
experiences. First, it will launch a ten-city mall tour on five consecutive weekends from February 12th
through March 13th in the New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston and Tampa/St. Petersburg
areas. Fans of all ages can stop by designated Simon Malls (www.simon.com), learn to play the Yu-Gi- Oh! TRADING CARD GAME, and discover the exciting world of Yugi, Jaden and Yusei.
In addition, Konami will be producing a limited edition movie-related pack of Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG cards
available February 22nd. This worldwide release will allow everyone to get the new monsters from the
movie, even if they can’t attend a screening. But only those attending the 3D film will receive the Super
Rare version of the “Malefic Red-Eyes B. Dragon” card, which offer players a strategic edge in their
duels.
And finally, Konami will release a new video game in Spring 2011, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s World Championship
2011: Over the Nexus, which seamlessly combines high-paced dueling with a deep and enthralling story
mode. This time, players start in the desolate and deserted city of Crash Town – with ambitions and
dreams of traveling to New Domino City to battle in the coveted World Racing Grand Prix.
“The 10th Anniversary is a great way for us to reach out and celebrate with our avid fans while
introducing the Yu-Gi-Oh! experience to a new audience as well,” said Yumi Hoashi, Vice President of
Card Business at Konami. “The face-to-face interaction is a perfect way to introduce the game to budding
Duelists around the country. And, once they learn the basics of the game at the tour, they can continue to
play and develop their skills at one of our Official Tournament stores in their area.”
4Kids Entertainment (PK:KIDE) will produce a PSA for broadcast by PIX11, the New York flagship
station of The CW Television Network, which features Yugi encouraging fans to get involved in the
“Kids for Wish Kids®” program. The spot, which will air Saturday mornings in “TheCW4Kids” popular
five-hour children’s programming block (7:00 AM – Noon), will challenge kids 6-14 to take an active
role in making a difference in their communities by participating in Kids for Wish Kids programs to
brighten the lives of kids in their own neighborhoods diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions.
This initiative empowers children to team up with classmates, friends and local youngsters to organize,
raise funds and manage their program with guidance from parents or teacher advisors.
The partners will introduce the Yu-Gi-Oh! 10th Anniversary Make-A-Wish Metro New York Challenge
Website https://secure.wish.org/ourfriends/010-000/yugiohmovie.htm and match contributions up to
$3,750 to sponsor one wish. The campaign will also be featured on the official movie Website
(www.YugiohMovie3D.com) and Facebook Fan page (www.facebook.com/yugioh). Additionally,
local Make-A-Wish families will attend the special New York City movie premiere at the AMC Loews
Kips Bay Theatre (570 Second Avenue at East 32nd Street) on Wednesday, February 23rd. All proceeds
from the evening’s Yu-Gi-Oh! merchandise raffle will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro
New York.
VIZ Media, publisher of the hugely popular Yu-Gi-Oh! manga (graphic novels), is providing a free mini-
manga to all moviegoers, and has also hosted a fan art contest. For the past month, its SHONEN JUMP
magazine has been accepting original Yu-Gi-Oh! fan art entries with those selected for originality and
presentation to receive a host of prizes. One Grand Prize winner will receive a special Game Mat, 20
Movie Pack boosters, and a full-size movie poster. Two Runners-Up will also receive a Game Mat, 10
Movie Pack boosters, and a full size poster. But best of all, the winners, along with additional select
drawings, will be featured online at www.shonenjump.com and www.4kids.tv; and on the big screen in a
photo montage to run before the Yu-Gi-Oh! 3D movie plays in theatres. Partners are excited to harness
the extensive fan creativity and certain that the user-generated content will exponentially spread the word
and enthusiasm of this special anniversary year.
4Kids has also made it easy for fans to keep on top of the latest developments via Twitter (YGO3D),
Facebook (www.facebook.com/YuGiOhPage), and its own Website (www.yugiohmovie3d.com).
Yu-Gi-Oh! 3D: Bonds Beyond Time (©1996 Kazuki Takahashi, ©2010 NAS ・TV TOKYO) was created by renowned
manga artist Kazuki Takahashi and is the world’s first full-length animated feature to be drawn by hand
and then rendered into 3D for the big screen. This North American film version has a ten-minute back
story on the three main characters, Yugi Muto (from Yu-Gi-Oh! Classic), Jaden Yuki (from Yu-Gi-Oh!
GX), and Yusei Fudo (from Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s) that incorporates scenes from all three animated series not
included in Japan’s original movie release.
The 10th Anniversary is being celebrated over a three-year window, reflecting the property’s original
launch date geographically. Asia marked the milestone in 2010, North America and Europe will do so in
2011 and the rest of the world in 2012. 4Kids Entertainment, global licensing agent of the Yu-Gi-Oh!
brand, is managing a multi-faceted program (outside Asia) for this commemoration, and working with
partners to maximize the impact of the theatrical release in key territories.
Following the run of the original Yu-Gi-Oh! manga series in Shueisha’s WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP
magazine ten years ago, the publisher serialized the Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monster GX and Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s.
The respective series are now published in 19 countries, with related titles totaling sales of 36 million
copies. The continuing strength of the game and property is also affirmed by VIZ Media’s Yu-Gi-Oh!: GX
Vol.4 topping the Nielsen BookScan list of top-selling graphic novels sold in bookstores in January 2010
and each new Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise manga release charting on the top Nielsen Bookscan list. The trading
cards are translated into six languages, and more than 22.5 billion cards had been sold as of April 2009 in
51 countries, a record-setting feat which has earned the brand a Guinness World Record.
The popularity of the animated Yu-Gi-Oh! series extends well beyond the shores of Japan, with episodes
also airing in the United States and a total of 80 countries worldwide. For the latest updates on related
information, please visit the official movie Website http://www.yugiohmovie3D.com, or www.4kids.tv.
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About 4Kids Entertainment, Inc.
With U.S. headquarters in New York City and international offices in London, 4Kids Entertainment, Inc.
(PK:KIDE) is a global organization devoted to the creation, development, production, broadcasting,
distribution, licensing and manufacturing of children’s entertainment products.
Through its subsidiaries, 4Kids produces animated television series and films, distributes 4Kids’
produced or licensed animated television series for the domestic and international television and home
video markets, licenses merchandising rights worldwide to 4Kids’ owned or represented properties, and
operates Web sites to support 4Kids’ owned or represented properties. Additionally, the Company
programs and sells the national advertising time in “TheCW4Kids” Toonzai five-hour Saturday morning
block on The CW Television Network. It continues to be the #1 kid broadcast network on Saturday
mornings.
Additional information is available on the www.4kidsentertainmentinc.com corporate web site and at the
www.4Kids.tv game station site.
About Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York
The mission of the Make-A-Wish Foundation is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening
medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. The Metro New York
chapter, which serves the five boroughs of New York City and Nassau County, Long Island began in
1983 and is headquartered in Lake Success with a field office in Manhattan. Since its founding, the Metro
New York chapter has granted more than 8,500 wishes. In Fiscal Year 2010, the chapter touched the lives
of 793 wish children and their families by granting a record number of 531 wishes of local children and
by facilitating 262 wish assists for children who reside in other areas, but whose wishes took place in
New York – that’s more than one wish every 11 hours, making Metro New York one of the most active
chapters in the national network of 64 Make-A-Wish chapters across the country. The Metro New York
chapter is also the proud recipient of Charity Navigator’s highest rating – 4 Stars – in December of 2010
and is featured as one of the “50 Best Nonprofits to Work for in 2010” in The NonProfit Times. The
NonProfit Times April 2010. For more information, visit www.metrony.wish.org
About Cinedigm
Cinedigm is a leader in providing the services, experience, technology and content critical to transforming
movie theaters into digital and networked entertainment centers. The Company partners with Hollywood
movie studios, independent movie distributors, and exhibitors to bring movies in digital cinema format to
audiences across the country. Cinedigm’s digital cinema deployment organization, software, satellite and
hard drive digital movie delivery network; pre-show in-theater advertising services; and marketing and
distribution platform for alternative content such as CineLive® 3-D and 2-D sports and concerts, thematic
programming and independent movies is a cornerstone of the digital cinema transformation. Cinedigm™
and Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp™ are trademarks of Cinedigm Digital Cinema
Corp. www.cinedigm.com [CIDM-G].
About Nihon AD SYSTEMS
NIHON AD (Animation Development) SYSTEMS, Inc., (commonly known as NAS), has been involved
principally in the planning and production of many popular TV animation programs such as “Yu-Gi-
Oh!,” “Prince of Tennis” and “EYESHIELD 21,” as well as in copyright management of animation
characters. Leading Japan’s animation industry for more than 30 years since its establishment in 1975.
NAS has been instrumental in spreading Japanese animation culture globally through, for example, “Yu-
Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters,” which has created an international sensation.
NAS is an affiliate company of ASATSU-DK (ADK), the third largest advertising agency in Japan and
also ranked ninth in the world. The company leverages its functions and networks to expand ADK’s
multi-faceted content businesses on the global stage, and strives to develop and foster new content by
responding effectively to the growing fan base for animated products and diversification of the media.
About TV TOKYO
TV TOKYO Corporation operates a Tokyo-based free-to-air terrestrial television network, which is the
core business of TV TOKYO Group. Other businesses of the group include satellite television
broadcasting, FM radio programming and internet and mobile content distribution. In terms of
programming, TV TOKYO is considered the best home of Japanimation. The channel’s current schedule
represents roughly one half of all Japanese TV animation premieres. The company also produces and
globally distributes animated series such as “Yu-Gi-Oh!,” “Naruto” and “Bleach” that have known
success worldwide.
About SHUEISHA, Inc.
SHUEISHA, Inc. was created in Japan in 1925 as a division of the publishing company SHOGAKUKAN
devoted to entertainment magazines. In 1926, SHUEISHA separated from SHOGAKUKAN to become an
independent company, and in 1949, the publishing company SHUEISHA, Inc. was established.
SHUEISHA has continued to publish popular magazines one after the other and has become a leading
national publisher. “WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP” in particular is popular not only in Japan, but also
overseas. SHUEISHA also publishes a variety of women’s fashion magazines for the teenage to adult
market. SHUEISHA’s publications are not limited to magazines and include trade books such as bestseller
novels, dictionaries, art books and children’s books, making SHUEISHA one of the most successful
Japanese publishers.
The information contained in this press release, other than historical information, consists of forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may involve
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements.
Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it
can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors beyond the
Company’s control, including general economic conditions, consumer spending levels, competition from toy
companies, motion picture studios and other licensing companies, the uncertainty of public response to the
Company’s properties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s
expectations. The information contained in this press release, other than historical information, consists of forward-
looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements
may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such
statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors
beyond the Company’s control, including general economic conditions, consumer spending levels, competition from
toy companies, motion picture studios and other licensing companies, the uncertainty of public response to the
Company’s properties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s
expectations.
CONTACT: 4Kids Entertainment
Barry Stagg
(310) 880-3193
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