Cartoon Network and LucasArts� Thrillville are Riding High for Class of 3000
Multi-Platform Co-Branded Promotion Featuring Broadband Video, a Custom Mini-site and Pod casting
Leads up to Class of 3000 Premiere on Nov. 3
and Thrillville Video Game Release on Nov. 21
School is in session and LucasArts� Thrillville� is seated front row at Class of 3000. This fall, Cartoon Network Ad Sales and Marketing and LucasArts teach a lesson in branded consumer promotions when they introduce a co-branded marketing campaign that extends to Cartoon Network on-air, CartoonNetwork.com, broadband player Cartoon Network Video and pod casting.
Class of 3000, the highly anticipated primetime half-hour animated series created and executive produced by Andr� �3000� Benjamin (OutKast) and Tom Lynch (Romeo!), will debut with a one-hour premiere on Friday, Nov. 3, at 8 p.m. (ET, PT), on Cartoon Network. The night of the premiere kicks off at 7 p.m. (ET, PT) with a special musical event from the historic Fox Theatre in Atlanta featuring special guest star performances.
�We are thrilled to have our returning sponsor LucasArts on board once again for one of Cartoon Network�s major initiatives this year,� said John O�Hara, senior vice president and general sales manager, Cartoon Network Ad Sales and Marketing. �We hope to only strengthen this innovative relationship we have created with them around Cartoon Network�s successful programming lineup.�
�This custom marketing partnership we developed for LucasArts around the release of Thrillville and premiere of Class of 3000 will increase awareness for both brands across all of the key Cartoon Network platforms that kids are interacting with each day,� said Phyllis Ehrlich, senior vice president, Cartoon Network Promotions Marketing.
�Thrillville and Cartoon Network are a natural fit � both are all about delivering quality entertainment to kids. Working with Cartoon Network on Class of 3000 provides a platform to showcase how fun and unique Thrillville is,� said Nancy MacIntyre, vice-president of global sales and marketing at LucasArts.
Starting Oct. 30, CartoonNetwork.com will launch a unique Class of 3000 game that kicks off the multi-platform promotion surrounding the anticipated show premiere. LucasArts� Thrillville will sponsor the game, which includes branded promotion supporting the Nov. 21 release date. The site will also feature a direct link to a custom LucasArts mini-site developed for Thrillville featuring a video game trailer, key game messaging and video game artwork for kids to enter the Thrillville theme park.
Recently released Cartoon Network broadband player Cartoon Network Video will feature an exclusive Class of 3000 sneak peek starting Oct. 30, sponsored by LucasArts� Thrillville. Kids can become familiar with the storyline and cast of characters before the premiere on Nov. 3. The player will also feature weekly episodes following the on-air premiere. LucasArts will be featured through a branded link to the custom Thrillville mini-site and creative content before the start of each episode.
Class of 3000 also features pod casting available through CartoonNetwork.com and iTunes, sponsored for a limited time by LucasArts� Thrillville. When viewers download the content, creative promoting the game will run as pre-roll to the video.
In addition to all of these digital components, LucasArts� Thrillville will also gain exposure within Class of 3000 on-air tune-in leading up to the premiere on Nov. 3.
The series, about an international music star who gives up everything to teach a group of gifted musical prodigies in Atlanta, will feature a new song every week from Benjamin within the context of a music video, animated by some of today�s most highly respected animation directors. Benjamin also wrote and performed the series� theme song. In addition to his creative responsibilities � including production, writing contributions, and voice, music and visual direction � Andr� �3000� Benjamin will lend his voice talent to the lead character, Sunny Bridges.
Class of 3000 is produced by Cartoon Network Studios in association with the Tom Lynch Co. and Benjamin�s production company, Moxie. Thomas W. Lynch and Andr� �3000� Benjamin are the executive producers of Class of 3000. Twelve half-hours and a one-hour premiere are in production at Cartoon Network Studios in Burbank, Calif. The show�s co-executive producer and head writer is Patric M. Verrone, a writer for Futurama, The Critic and Pinky and the Brain and a supervising producer on Futurama. Joe Horne (The Boondocks, Teamo Supremo, The Oblongs) serves as supervising producer.
Thrillville, available on November 21st for the PlayStation�2 computer entertainment system, PSP� (PlayStation�Portable), and Xbox� video game system, allows kids to create their own theme park, interact with their guests, build and hop into their own roller coasters and other rides, and play dozens of arcade-themed mini-games. Thrillville combines elements of simulation, party games and social interaction like nothing before it, all in one of the most console-friendly theme park titles ever to be released.
LucasArts, a Lucasfilm Ltd. company, is a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software worldwide for video game console systems, computers and the Internet. Based in San Francisco, Calif., as well as on the Internet at www.lucasarts.com, LucasArts was created in 1982 by George Lucas to provide an interactive element to his vision of a state-of-the-art, multifaceted entertainment company.
Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in nearly 91 million U.S. homes and 160 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.�s ad-supported cable service offering the best in original, acquired and classic animated entertainment for kids and families. Overnight from 11 p.m.-6 a.m. (ET, PT) Sunday-Thursday, Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming for television industry.
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