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Konami
Gets Dragon Boost
(Press
Release)
LOS
ANGELES - June 8, 2004 - Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. (CEO: Kazumi
Kitaue) announced today that it has signed a worldwide video game
agreement with Alliance Atlantis Communication Inc. for ALLIANCE
ATLANTIS new childrens animated property, Dragon Booster(tm). Konami
Digital Entertainment, Inc. will develop, manufacture and distribute the
game based on the highly anticipated animated series that is expected to
debut in the US on Jetix (ABC Family and Toon Disney's branded block)
Saturday, October 23, 2004 and on CBC in Canada on Tuesday, October 26,
2004, before rolling out around the world in early 2005.
Konami
Digital Entertainment, Inc. has earned widespread industry accolades for
previous anime-licensed titles including Shaman King(tm), and will work
closely with the Dragon Booster animators and creative team to produce a
unique video game experience.
We
are very proud to be expanding our licensed game catalogue and anime
content with the addition of Dragon Booster, said Mr. Kazumi Kitaue,
Chief Executive Officer at Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. Our
mission is to listen to our consumers and deliver entertainment that
fits with the target market. At KDE, we plan to continue to acquire
licensed properties that resonate with our consumers, such as we have
done with Dragon Booster.
Dragon
Booster was thoughtfully crafted from its inception not only to provide
our video game partner with compelling, rich content, but to deliver key
elements specific to the gaming community, in turn providing our partner
with a tremendous pool of resources, characters and freedom from which
to build an exciting video game franchise with global appeal, said
Jennifer Bennett, Vice President, Merchandising and Licensing at
ALLIANCE ATLANTIS. Konami was a perfect fit for us and for Dragon
Booster and it is with great pleasure I announce their appointment as
our worldwide video game partner.
Dragon
Booster is a mythic good versus evil struggle in a classic, yet timeless
world where humans and dragons co-exist. Our hero is Artha Penn, an
ordinary teenager who is plunged into an incredible adventure when he is
chosen to ride Beaucephalis, the dragon of legend. When teamed with
Beau, Artha is transformed into a mythical hero known as the Dragon
Booster -- a hero charged with the task of saving the world from an
impending war and uniting humans and dragons for once and for all.
Dragon Booster is high-octane adventure set against the backdrop of
dragon racing where 12-ton reptiles chew up the asphalt at over 200
miles per hour!
Dragon
Booster has been pre-sold to ABC Family in the US, CBC in Canada, Sky
One (Pay TV) and Five (Free TV) in the UK and ABC TV in Australia.
ALLIANCE ATLANTIS previously announced a worldwide master toy licensing
agreement with Jakks Pacific, Inc. at the Licensing Show in 2003.
ALLIANCE ATLANTIS is currently in the process of finalizing agreements
for other key merchandising categories including trading cards and
publishing.
Dragon
Booster was conceived by The Story Hat. The Story Hat is an exciting new
intellectual property creation and management company built around a
revolutionary cross-venue development model. The Story principals, Kevin
Mowrer and Rob Travalino, have found the place where mythology,
emotional empowerment, and commercial culture converge, because stories
are far more successful and fulfilling when the audience fully connects
with every new story _expression.
About
Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
Konami
Digital Entertainment was established in Los Angeles in October 2003 as
a new base for the Computer Video Game Division. In working to increase
market share Konami aims to obtain important licenses, establish an
original brand, and develop a product line-up, which are all based on
the needs of the target markets.
About
ALLIANCE ATLANTIS
Alliance
Atlantis Communications Inc. is a leading vertically integrated
broadcaster, creator and distributor of filmed entertainment. The
Company common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange - trading
symbols AAC.A, AAC.B and on NASDAQ - trading symbol AACB. The Company
Web site is www.allianceatlantis.com.