Motion Pictures
June 1, 2000
Three New Pokémon Trading Card Game Cards Plus U.S. Debut Of Ancient Mew – One Of The Hottest Cards In Japan - Will Be Available Only With Admission To Kids’ WB! Presents "Pokémon The Movie 2000," Opening July 21
(June 1, 2000 – Burbank, CA) – Ancient Mew, one of the most unique Pokémon trading card game cards in Japan, will be available in the United States for the first time ever as one of the exciting exclusives surrounding "Pokémon The Movie 2000," it was announced today by Brad A. Ball, President, Domestic Marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures.
Beginning July 21 and continuing for one week or while supplies last, with the purchase of a ticket to the much-anticipated release of "Pokémon The Movie 2000," fans can get a special coded, double-sided holographic foil trading card game card featuring the mysterious Ancient Mew. The following week, beginning July 28 and continuing while supplies last, moviegoers will receive a randomly selected Pokémon trading card game card from three all-new special edition images from Wizards of the Coast. The new trading cards, designed especially for the film, show the legendary bird Pokémon Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres.
"The first Pokémon movie raised the bar for promotional opportunities and helped that movie rocket to incredible new heights on its opening weekend," Ball said. "We couldn't be happier to continue our relationship with Nintendo and Wizards of the Coast and look forward to this exciting new opportunity to enhance the moviegoing experience for audiences of all ages when they come to see ‘Pokémon the Movie 2000.’”
All-new Pokémon trading card game cards are compatible with the existing Pokémon trading card game and will be distributed while supplies last.
This sequel to last fall’s hit movie is an exciting adventure about a terrible force that arrives on Earth foretelling an ancient legend of the balance of the elements being thrown off and causing catastrophic results. The only one who stands a chance of righting it before all the Earth is destroyed or irreparably damaged is young trainer Ash Ketchum … but it will take all his courage and strength to become the hero he was destined to be. In “Pokémon the Movie 2000,” Ash sets out to prove that one person can make all the difference when he embarks on the greatest Pokémon adventure yet … saving the world.
"Pokémon the Movie 2000" will see the debut of six new Pokémon, including Lugia, a legendary Pokémon that plays a key role in helping Ash restore balance to the world. Warner Bros. Pictures is once again collaborating with Nintendo of America, which controls the Pokémon franchise, which it acquired from the original creators in Japan, in all territories outside of Asia, and 4Kids Entertainment, whose production company handles the adaptation of the original Japanese release.
Kids’ WB! Presents a 4Kids Entertainment Production, “Pokémon the Movie 2000,” produced by Norman J. Grossfeld, President of 4Kids Productions. Grossfeld and Michael Haigney adapted the film from its original Japanese production. The American director is Michael Haigney, along with Japanese director Kunihiko Yuyama. The film is distributed by Warner Bros. Family Entertainment, a Time Warner Entertainment Company. www.P2Kthemovie.com
The Pokémon phenomenon began in America in September 1998 with the release of the original Red and Blue Game Boy games and debut of the animated television series. In the United States to date, Nintendo has sold more than 17.3 million Pokémon-related video games. Leisure Concepts, Inc., a division of 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: KIDE) is Nintendo of America's exclusive licensing agent for Pokémon in all territories excluding Asia. In 2000, Nintendo projects the Pokémon franchise total retail revenues to exceed $3.0 billion in the United States alone. Pokémon launched in Europe in October 1999 and has truly become a worldwide cultural and retail phenomenon.
Wizards of the Coast Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS), is the worldwide market share leader in the trading card game and tabletop role-playing game categories. Wizards of the Coast is a leading developer and publisher of game-based entertainment products as well as the owner and operator of one of the nation's largest specialty game retail chains. The company holds an exclusive patent on the play mechanics of trading card games (TCGs) and produces the world's best-selling Pokémon(tm)* and Magic: The Gathering TCGs. Wizards of the Coast is also one of the
world's leading fantasy and science fiction book publishers, and is a publisher of adventure games such as the classic Dungeons & Dragons games, family card and board games and electronic media products. The company's retail locations, many of which provide game-play areas, include a growing number of Wizards of the Coast® specialty game retail stores as well as 51 The Game Keeper® stores. Headquartered near Seattle, Washington, Wizards of the Coast has international offices in Antwerp, Paris, Milan, London and Beijing. For more information on Wizards of the Coast, visit the company's Web site and electronic retail store at .# # #