GERONIMO STILTON ANIMATED SERIES DEBUTS AT MIPTV

Co-Production Partners Atlantyca Entertainment and The Moonscoop Group to Premiere First Completed Episodes of Highly Anticipated Series

(Italy) (France) (March 9, 2009)— Acclaimed literary figure Geronimo Stilton has “A New Story to Tell” as the first completed episodes of his new animated series will debut at this year’s MIPTV. Co-production and distribution partners Atlantyca Entertainment and Moonscoop will give international broadcasters a look at the first episodes featuring the adventures of the illustrious mouse journalist, Geronimo Stilton.

“We have taken great care in bringing what is so loved about the Geronimo character to the screen,” said Caterina Vacchi, Atlantyca’s Senior Manager and Executive Producer o)f the series. “I think we have succeeded in visually capturing the amusing chronicles of Geronimo Stilton’s fun-filled adventures. Our production teams have been singularly focused on developing well-crafted stories and interesting characters, ultimately creating an animated series that everyone will enjoy.”

The series has been pre-sold to Radio-Canada and is scheduled to premiere in Italy (Rai) in Fall 2009 with a roll out across Europe in 2010 beginning with France’s M6. The series can also boast a European toy licensing deal already in place with leading international toy company Giochi Preziosi.

”From the moment we announced the start of production on ‘Geronimo Stilton,’ there has been a level of interest from broadcasters which is higher than anything I’ve seen in a long time,” said Lionel Marty, President, Worldwide Distribution for The Moonscoop Group. “We’re looking forward to giving everyone at MIP a sneak peek at this incredibly fun new series.”

Based on the award-winning Geronimo Stilton international kids’ chapter book series, the new TV series (26 x 22’), now in the final phase of production, centers on the life and adventures of the famous Geronimo Stilton – head of a veritable media empire, erudite mouse, and klutz extraordinaire, and Benjamin Stilton, his fearless young nephew. Geronimo is an intellectual mild-mannered mouse who would rather spend his days reading or playing chess with his favorite nephew Benjamin. But then, adventure always comes knocking on their door, launching them paws-first into capers in New Mouse City or exotic locales around the world. They are often joined in these adventures by Trap, Geronimo’s cousin – the ultimate pack rat and consummate prankster, and Thea, Geronimo’s sister who is a daring special correspondent.
End
MEDIA CONTACTS:

Atlantyca Entertainment: Sabrina Propper, RPiPR, +1 (818) 515-5798 — spropper.rpipr {at} gmail(.)com

Moonscoop: Blueprint PR: Aimee Norman, 442083416171 — aimee {at} blueprintpr.co(.)uk

About Atlantyca Entertainment.
Atlantyca Entertainment was established in September 2006, by leading Italian publishing entrepreneur and creator Pietro Marietti who with Elisabetta Dami, produced one of today’s most successful junior publishing sensations, the celebrated kids book series Geronimo Stilton. A multi-faceted entertainment company, with production, licensing, publishing and a translation rights divisions–Atlantyca Entertainment seeks co-production partners (and to acquire third party properties) to produce content for TV, movies, books and multi-media. The company along with co-production partner Moonscoop is currently in final production of the new Geronimo Stilton animated series set to premiere in fall 2009.

Atlantyca’s publishing department is the licensor of the Geronimo Stilton book series and is responsible for seeking new business opportunities for the books and all of its character spin-off franchises. The publishing department aims to create, develop and produce loosely-based book series based on new and popular animated series and .is currently developing novels for Moonscoop’s Code Lyoko, Dive Olly Dive and Hero 108. Atlantyca Entertainment is responsible for the sales of foreign rights for Piemme children’s books and properties and through a dedicated rights division has secured 1000 translation deals with 50 leading publishers around the world.

The company’s licensing division manages the international licensing initiatives for the Geronimo Stilton brand and is the appointed Italian licensing agent for Moonscoop’s Code Lyoko, Growing Up Creepie and Dive Olly Dive!.and recently became a co-production partner and distributor (Italy only) for Dive Olly Dive (Season II)

About Moonscoop

Moonscoop is a leading worldwide production, distribution, brand management and entertainment company, focused on producing original projects and building brands with international appeal and longevity. Its rights library combines many of the most successful programs and best-loved animated creations in the global television market and includes over 3,000 half-hours of programming airing in more than 160 territories worldwide. Key brands include “Code Lyoko,” “Fantastic Four,” “Titeuf” (Tootuff), “Pet Alien,” “Dive Olly Dive!” and “Casper” which are licensed in markets around the world. Moonscoop’s production slate currently includes new series “Geronimo Stilton”, “Hero:108”, “Twisted Whiskers” and “Chloe’s Closet”.
Moonscoop was established with the merger of France Animation and Antefilms Production and the subsequent stake of a majority share in US-based Mike Young Productions and Taffy Entertainment, which all now fall under the Moonscoop label. Moonscoop employs over 350 people worldwide.
.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Taffy Entertainment: Marc Grossmann, +1 (818) 227-8966 — PR {at} taffyentertainment(.)com

Atlantyca Entertainment: Sabrina Propper, RPiPR, +1 (818) 515-5798 — spropper.rpipr {at} gmail(.)com