My Dog Skip

hops onto HV

On July 11, Warner Home Video will unleash the theatrical live-action pet flick My Dog Skip (US$22.96) on home video. In support of the release, WHV is offering a US$5 mail-in rebate to consumers who purchase the movie and one other select Warner title. Skip’s fate should also be bolstered by the success of the series Malcolm in the Middle, which also stars child actor Frankie Muniz. The movie will also be available in a DVD (US$24.98) version, with the usual accoutrements, including deleted scenes, plus commentary from the film’s stars and director. Starting on June 27, WHV will run ads for Skip on TV (Nick, WB, Lifetime and Cartoon Network) and in consumer publications (People, Entertainment Weekly, Disney Adventures, DC Comics and Nickelodeon).

Warner taps toon vault for IV Century Collection

On July 25, WHV kicks off the fourth and final wave of its year-long Century 2000 Collection with the release of Taz’s Jungle Jams (US$14.95), a new title containing six best-of eps starring the amiable beast, plus four Looney Tunes cartoons. Other titles in the Collection include repromotes for Home Tweet Home, Tweet & Lovely, Marvin the Martian Space Tunes and The Bugs Bunny Road Runner Movie, which will retail for US$14.93 each. Also on July 25, WHV will rerelease the animated/live-action hoops flick Space Jam on VHS (US$14.95) and DVD (US$24.98). Both versions feature new behind-the-scenes footage of Jam star Michael Jordan, commentary from the movie’s director, plus three music videos of songs used on the Space Jam soundtrack. All of the Wave 4 titles prebook June 27, and will come with a savings booklet insert offering US$250 worth of discounts from Act II, Princess Cruises, Zenith, Fuji Film and Kid Rhino. Additionally, WHV will run a buy-three-get-one-free offer to consumers who purchase any three titles in the 2000 Collection. On July 11, Warner will support the promo with print, TV, on-line and radio ads targeting kids and families.

New Tubbies vid-undies

not included

Warner will release Teletubbies: Bedtime Stories & Lullabies (US$14.95) on August 1. The hour-long video, which prebooks June 27, is the follow-up to last year’s Nursery Rhymes and features all new numbers for kids to sing along to. Fruit of the Loom is tying in to the release with a special line of Bedtime underwear, which will also contain a coupon insert for US$1.50 off the video.

Columbia TriStar fires up Dragon Tales titles

On August 1, Columbia TriStar Home Video will release the first three volumes of preschool educational kids show Dragon Tales on home video and DVD. The videos, Big Brave Adventures, Let’s All Share! and You Can Do It! (US$12.95 each), come with three 12-minute eps of the show, which airs weekdays on PBS, plus two sing-alongs. The DVD (US$24.95), entitled Adventures in Dragon Land!, will feature five eps and three sing-alongs. Both formats prebook on June 29. CTHV is supporting the releases with a Dragon Tales Family of Four Getaway Sweepstakes, which will award one family with the grand prize of a free trip to San Diego. Other promotional partners tying in to the sweepstakes include Hasbro, Random House and NewKidCo. Starting in October, CTHV will run print ads promoting the videos in parenting pubs, including Sesame Street and Parents.

Trimark picks up Voltron

Trimark Pictures has inked a distribution deal with Chicago-based prodco World Events Productions for the company’s CGI sci-fi series Voltron. Starting this fall, the agreement, which covers North America only, will see Trimark Home Video distribute 12 new eps of Voltron: The Third Dimension, as well as selected eps of the original `80s series Voltron: Defender of the Universe. Additionally, Trimark will distribute a video documenting the making-of the Voltron series, which currently airs in syndication on select stations in the U.S.

Artisan snags Clifford

Artisan Home Entertainment has signed an agreement with Scholastic Entertainment for North American distribution and marketing rights to the studio’s animated series Clifford the Big Red Dog. Artisan will start distributing eps of the Clifford show, which is slated to debut on PBS this fall, on home video in spring 2001. Clifford is the second kids TV property for Artisan, which also currently distributes off-TV eps for another animated pooch, Kipper.