Press Releases

4Kids Entertainment (PK:KIDE) and Nihon Ad Systems have

partnered with Cinedigm Digital Cinema (NASDAQ:CIDM) to bring the highly anticipated 3D

animated movie Yu-Gi-Oh! 3D: Bonds Beyond Time to digital theatres across the nation.

Additionally, moviegoers at the four special event screenings will receive an exclusive Konami

“Malefic Red-Eyes B. Dragon” Yu-Gi-Oh! collectible trading card from the legendary TRADING

CARD GAME, as well as a mini-manga from Viz Media.   

 

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.  Cinedigm, the global leader in

digital cinema, will bring this epic adventure to 250 theatres for two consecutive weekends on

February 26 & 27 and March 5 & 6 throughout the United States.  Theatre locations will be

confirmed in the coming weeks.  Movie-goers can visit www.YugiohMovie3D.com for the trailer

and more updates.

 

There is much fan anticipation for the theatrical release of Yu-Gi-Oh! 3D: Bonds Beyond Time.

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. This special footage

was not included in Japan’s original movie release.

 

“The release of this breakthrough film speaks to the long-term appeal of the Yu-Gi-Oh! brand,

still the best selling trading card game in the world,” says Roz Nowicki, EVP of Global Marketing

& Licensing at 4Kids Entertainment.

 

Yu-Gi-Oh! 3D: Bonds Beyond Time features the main heroes from all three of the animated

series and brings them together for the very first time to fight a fierce duel against Paradox, a

powerful new enemy, who is as evil as he is mysterious. Fans will be thrilled that the original

lead voice actors will be reprising their roles in this film, which commemorates the 10th

anniversary of the Yu-Gi-Oh! animated series.

 

In January 2010, Yu-Gi-Oh! 3D: Bonds Beyond Time attracted more than 100,000 people at 124

3D theaters across Japan during its premiere weekend.  Tickets sold out almost instantly for the

first two showings at United Cinema Toyosu, where the cast and creator, Kazuki Takahashi,

made a special live appearance to greet the fans.  In its limited three-week run, the film

garnered nearly $3,000,000 in revenues.

 

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 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.  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.

 

Yu-Gi-Oh! 3D: Bonds Beyond Time is one of many recent live and alternative content

programming releases by Cinedigm, including the ground-breaking, worldwide LIVE 3D

broadcast of the FIFA World Cup Championship, the BCS Championship in LIVE 3D, the Dave

Matthews Band 3D concerts, and the sold out 3D PHISH concerts. Cinedigm has also released

the KIDTOONS series for the past six years, a weekly family friendly matinee series that runs in

over 165 theatres across the country.

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, operates Web sites to support 4Kids’ owned or represented properties, and

produces and markets collectible trading card games.  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 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.

 

NAS has led Japan’s animation industry for more than 30 years since its establishment in 1975.

Additionally, we have 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. We leverage ADK’s functions and networks to expand our

multifaceted contents business on the global stage.

 

We will strive 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.

 

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.