Motion Pictures
April 27, 2006
Warner Bros. And Village Roadshow Pictures Announce Major Promotional Agreements For Upcoming Comedy Adventure Feature “Happy Feet”
(April 27, 2006 - Burbank, CA) – Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures have announced several initial promotional agreements tied to their highly anticipated film, "Happy Feet," set for release November 17, 2006. Burger King Corporation has a global promotion planned to support the picture. National partners for the film to date include a major package-good company, as well as Pepperidge Farm, Doubletree Inns, Perfectmatch.com and Color Me Mine. SCA and Unilever join the international promotional partners, which also include a Kellogg’s promotion in Italy. The announcement was made by Gaetano Mastropasqua, Senior Vice President, Corporate Global Promotions and Partner Relations, Global Brand Management, Warner Bros. Entertainment. Mimi Slavin and Gene Garlock, Senior Vice Presidents of Domestic and International Promotions, respectively, for Warner Bros. Pictures, were also instrumental in negotiating the agreements.
A comedy adventure, "Happy Feet" is set deep in Antarctica. Into the land of the Emperor Penguins, where each needs a heart song to attract a soul mate, a penguin is born who cannot sing. Our hero, Mumble, son of Memphis and Norma Jean, is the worst singer in the world… however, as it happens, he is a brilliant tap dancer!
The feature is directed by George Miller (“Babe”) and written by George Miller, John Collee, Judy Morris and Warren Coleman. It stars the voice talents of Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman. "Happy Feet" also features the tap dancing of Savion Glover. The producers are Doug Mitchell, Bill Miller and George Miller, and the executive producers are Zareh Nalbandian, Graham Burke, Dana Goldberg and Bruce Berman. Warner Bros. Pictures will distribute "Happy Feet" in most territories worldwide, with Village Roadshow co-financing and releasing in Australia, New Zealand, Greece and Singapore.
“Director George Miller has brought his extraordinary talents as a filmmaker to create a truly unique movie-going experience,” said Mastropasqua. “We believe that the film’s stunning visual style, combined with the all-star ensemble voice cast and incredible musical soundtrack will captivate audiences of all ages. We look forward to working with our partners to create some exciting promotional opportunities that will highlight the film’s wide appeal.”
The Burger King® restaurant promotion includes a global Kids Meal program in more than 8,220 restaurant locations worldwide; point-of-sale materials; Kids Meal toy premiums; inclusion in the U.S. in-store newsletter; and a themed version of the monthly Birthday Mailer kit, which is distributed to members of the Burger King® Kids Club domestically.
Perfectmatch.com, an online relationship service, will offer members an advance screening program and two consumer sweepstakes, supported by TV, print, radio and online advertising.
Doubletree Hotels will support the theatrical release of "Happy Feet" with promotional flyers to thousands of kids and their families through the brand’s summer KidsCAREPak® family travel program, displays in their hotel lobbies, on-hold messages on their reservations numbers and an online sweepstakes to promote the movie during the months of September and October.
The online sweepstakes at doubletree.com/happyfeet will include a grand prize trip for four to the premiere of "Happy Feet," and "Happy Feet" licensed merchandise.
National advertising and online banner ads will support the Doubletree sweepstakes including banners to be placed on the doubletree.com home page and may possibly include additional websites.
Pepperidge Farm will support the film with their Goldfish ® brand crackers and a national Instant Win game. Consumers who find the winning packages of Goldfish ® will either win a trip for four to the premiere of "Happy Feet," or one of hundreds of other prizes.
Support for the promotion includes "Happy Feet" branded packages and national retail displays, featuring Finn(R) the Goldfish ® and Mumble; advertising in parent-focused publications; co-Marketing in key accounts with account-specific offers; and kid-targeted online efforts through pfgoldfish.com with "Happy Feet" related activities.
Color Me Mine Paint-Your-Own Ceramic Studios will support the theatrical release of "Happy Feet" with an in-studio program at 100 locations via a consumer sweepstakes (grand prize is a Color Me Mine party for 10).
Internationally, along with Burger King restaurants, KFC will support the film in non-activating Burger King markets as means of gaining maximum exposure in this important category. Other international partners include category leaders such as Unilever, Kellogg's, Capri-Sun and SCA.
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