MONTREAL, QC, April, 2006/PR Newswire -- Demonstrating its growing commitment to the kids’ DVD market in the U.S. and Canada, Direct Source has released the first multi-disc DVD set of family programming as part of their licensing and distribution deal with Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. The release includes classic titles such as Lassie: The Complete First Season; Are you Afraid of the Dark: The Complete First Season and Animal Crackers: The Complete First Season.
Direct Source, a full-service home entertainment distribution company, originally announced a licensing and distribution deal with Cookie Jar Entertainment to distribute a library of over 50 properties in a range of single and multi-disc DVD sets in February 2005. The programs are available in a combination of English, Spanish and/or French language tracks, as well as French packaging for the French-speaking Canadian market.
Named one of the Top 100 icons of the century by Variety magazine, Lassie is undoubtedly one of the most famous dogs in the world. Lassie: The Complete First Season is the new series—and Parents’ Choice Silver Award winner—true to the original spirit, warmth and values that Lassie has represented for over 75 years.
First broadcast in Canada on The Family Channel, Société Radio-Canada and YTV in the early 1990s and re-airing again in 2004 and 2006, Are You Afraid of the Dark: The Complete First Season is a show that resonates with young adults as spooky and scary entertainment without the gore. In the U.S., Are You Afraid of the Dark was extremely popular on Nickelodeon throughout its seven season run. This innovative series was also well-received critically; it won accolades from TV Guide, calling it the “Number #1 Show for Teens,” and won Canada’s Gemini Award in 1996 for “Best Children’s Program or Series.”
Based on the comic strip in syndication since 1968 and appearing in over 100 newspapers, Animal Crackers follows the comic foibles of life in the jungle. The series originally aired on The Family Channel, SRC and YTV in Canada and was later re-broadcast on Fox Family Channel and Teletoon (Canada). Animal Crackers also aired on Nickelodeon in the U.S. in the early 1990s. The lovable and wacky jungle characters are still the stars of a long-running license in American Greetings cards.
AVAILABLE IN US & CANADA
Animal Crackers: The Complete First Season, 3-disc DVD Digipack
Available: April 2006
AVAILABLE IN CANADA ONLY
Lassie: The Complete First Season, 3-disc DVD Digipack
Available: March 2006
Are you Afraid of the Dark: The Complete First Season, 3-disc DVD Digipack
Available: April 2006
About Direct Source Special Products, Inc.:
Direct Source Special Products Inc. is a full service, independent home entertainment company based in Montréal, Québec. As a leading supplier of premium entertainment products, Direct Source develops, produces and distributes a wide range of film, TV, audio and brand driven product lines to major retailers throughout the United States and Canada.
About Cookie Jar Group
Cookie Jar Group develops, produces, distributes and markets quality products to children, their caregivers, parents and teachers. Cookie Jar Group’s products reflect its commitment to providing the best in children’s published content, animated and live action programming and innovative educational and entertainment-driven products worldwide. The group of companies consists of Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. and Cookie Jar Education Inc., as well as a 20% interest in Teletoon Canada Inc., Canada’s only all-animation broadcaster.
Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc., Cookie Jar Group’s entertainment operation, is a leading, global, independent producer, marketing and brand manager of such renowned children’s properties as “Arthur,” “The Doodlebops,” “Caillou” and “Gerald McBoing Boing.” Combining globally-renowned intellectual properties with an industry-recognized management team, Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. is a market-driven, brand building company that is committed to children first and foremost and is dedicated to the development and production of quality programming that embraces the whole child, with animated and live-action series that entertain, inspire and enlighten children and family audiences worldwide.