LONDON and BEIJING, February 15,
2016 /PRNewswire/ --
First time a Mattel-owned
brand to release theatrically in China
'Sodor's
Legend of the Lost Treasure' to screen in 5,000
theatres nationwide
MATTEL, Inc., the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture
and marketing of toys and family products, and HIT Entertainment,
one of the world's leading pre-school entertainment companies and a
subsidiary of Mattel, has today announced its latest CGI feature
length Thomas & Friends™ special
Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure will debut
in 5,000 cinemas across China on
the 20th February
2016.
(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160203/329167 )
This is the first time a Mattel-owned brand has seen a
theatrical release in China, and
will be the first non-native children's movie of the Chinese New Year to be released in cinemas. The
exciting debut of Sodor's Legend of the Lost
Treasure, which has been specially dubbed in Mandarin,
comes after two years of planning and will screen in cities
countrywide including Beijing,
Shanghai, Guangzhou, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Chengdu and Shenyang. A blue carpet premiere is planned
for the 18th February in Shanghai.
Peter Broegger, MD of Mattel APAC said: "This is a historic and
unprecedented moment in the development of the Thomas & Friends
franchise in China. The reach and
scale of this theatrical release means we can engage with families
and children in a whole new way by bringing Thomas to the big
screen across the country."
Christopher Keenan, VP Global
Content & Executive Producer, HIT Entertainment, added: "One of
the great joys of producing Thomas & Friends is the opportunity
to introduce unique and engaging characters. We look forward to our
Chinese audience's reaction to Thomas' new foes and friends in
'Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure!'"
The feature length film, which will be distributed by Huaxia
Film Distribution Co. Ltd in China, was produced to commemorate the recent
70th anniversary of Thomas the Tank Engine™ which was
created by the British Rev. Awdry in 1945 and today is enjoyed by
families in more than 300 territories and in over 40 languages. The
film Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure sees
Thomas on a spectacular new adventure that takes him to a new part
of Sodor on a curious treasure quest that introduces a host of new
characters and songs, all while teaching children about
valuable life lesson like Friendship and Problem
Solving.
Thomas & Friends TV series is available in
China through all major digital
platforms including iQiYi, YouKu, QQ, SoHu, LeTV, TMall Box,
BesTV among many others. The brand is available in a variety
of formats and products including live events, consumer products,
publishing and digital radio. Please visit
thomasandfriends.cn for more information.
Notes to Editors:
About Thomas & Friends
Thomas the Tank Engine™ was created by a father for his son 70
years ago and today is enjoyed by families in more than 300
territories and in over 40 languages. The No.1 blue engine
and his friends invite children to enter a world of imagination
through the tracks of a train and the words of a story. Children
embark on adventures with their engine friends while experiencing
timeless life lessons of discovery, friendship and cooperation.
Thomas & Friends makes tracks to great destinations on PBS
KIDS® and Sprout® in the US and on Five's Milkshake! and Nick Jr in
the UK. Downloadable episodes are available through iTunes.
For more information about the world of Thomas the Tank Engine™ and
his friends, please visit http://www.thomasandfriends.com
About HIT Entertainment
HIT Entertainment is one of the world's leading pre-school
entertainment companies, specialising in building powerful brands
based on engaging stories. HIT Entertainment's world-class
portfolio includes Thomas & Friends®, Mike the Knight™,
Fireman Sam®, Bob the Builder™, Barney®, Angelina Ballerina®,
Pingu® and Rainbow Magic®.
HIT Entertainment excels at creating and building globally
successful brands which capture the hearts and imaginations of
pre-schoolers and their families. This is achieved through
exceptional storytelling in multiple formats, enhanced by creating
high quality character-based products and experiences with
best-in-class partners. HIT Entertainment's lines of business span
television and home entertainment production, content distribution,
digital media and live events and attractions. HIT
Entertainment, a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc., has operations in the
UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan. For more information visit
http://www.hitentertainment.com
About Mattel
The Mattel family of companies (Nasdaq: MAT) is the worldwide
leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family
products. Mattel's portfolio of best-selling brands includes
Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever produced,
Hot Wheels®, Monster High®, American
Girl®, Thomas & Friends® and
Fisher-Price® brands, including Little
People® and Power Wheels®, MEGA®
Brands, including MEGA BLOKS® and RoseArt®,
as well as a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. In
2013, Mattel was named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies"
by Ethisphere Magazine and in 2014 ranked No. 5 on Corporate
Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. With
worldwide headquarters in El Segundo,
Calif., Mattel's companies employ nearly 30,000 people in 40
countries and territories and sell products in more than 150
nations. At Mattel, we are Creating the Future of
Play. Visit us at http://www.mattel.com,
http://www.facebook.com/mattel or http://www.twitter.com/mattel