LevyMann Entertainment has entered into an agreement with Toys "R" Us to release its direct-to-video, animated musical pre-school series, ITTY BITTY HEARTBEATS. As part of the deal, Toys R Us will also carry a combo pack featuring a VHS of four eleven-minute episodes, a musical CD and two plush toys of the series' lead characters, CoolHeart and SweetHeart. All products will be exclusive to all Toys "R" Us stores beginning October 21, 2003, before launching wide 30 days later. To promote the release, a launch event will be held at the Toys "R" Us Times Square store on Tuesday, October 21, 2003. This event will feature appearances by life-size ITTY BITTY HEARTBEATS characters.
Created and produced by LevyMann Entertainment, ITTY BITTY HEARTBEATS features seven lovable characters that live in a magical world called HeartLand where they tell stories and sing songs that will help children grow up as more educated, tolerant and loving human beings. StudioWorks Entertainment will oversee the direct-to-video distribution.
"[Co-producer] Anita [Mann] and I have coined the phrase 'we do things from the heart,' because we want to get kids thinking and acting with their heart from an early age," said co-producer Shuki Levy. "We believe that this show has the potential to affect children in an extraordinary way."
Mann adds, "The home video format allows kids the opportunity to watch the ITTY BITTY HEARTBEATS adventures over and over again, which will help to reinforce the positive messages each episode contains."
ITTY BITTY HEARTBEATS combo pack will sell for $16.99. Individual DVD will retail for $12.99, with the VHS tapes priced at $9.99.
LevyMann Entertainment is a Beverly Hills-based company headed by Shuki Levy, former co-founder of Saban Entertainment and award-winning director, composer and musical artist. His partner, Anita Mann, is an Emmy-winning choreographer, producer, director and writer. For more information contact LevyMann at 405 N. Foothill Rd., Beverly Hills, California 90210; tel: (310) 274-6111; or fax: (310) 274-6263.
StudioWorks Entertainment is a full service studio operation offering a wide range of entertainment services including worldwide home entertainment distribution, merchandising, television sales and brand management. For more information visit www.studioworks.com
Toys "R" Us is one of the world's leading retailers of toys, children's apparel and baby products. The company sells merchandise through 1,607 stores worldwide: 679 toy stores in the United States; 554 international toy stores, including licensed and franchised stores. For more information visit www.toysrus.com.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
