RC2 to Launch Chuggington™ in United States Exclusively at Toys"R"Us® Stores Nationwide This Fall
Loaded with action-packed train play, the highly-anticipated line captures the excitement and traintastic adventures of the popular preschool television series.
OAK BROOK, Ill., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- RC2 Corporation's (Nasdaq: RCRC) Learning Curve® brand (www.learningcurve.com), a leader in creating innovative preschool toys, today announced the retail launch of its Chuggington die-cast toy line in the United States. Inspired by Ludorum's popular train-centric series seen daily in the U.S. on Disney Channel's Playhouse Disney programming block (check local listings), Learning Curve's new Chuggington die-cast toy line is launching exclusively at Toys"R"Us stores across the country and online at Toysrus.com beginning in October 2010. Earlier this year, the line made its retail launch in international markets, including the UK, Germany, France, Australia and Canada and has been met with enthusiastic consumer response.
Featuring the show's unique look, Learning Curve's initial line of Chuggington products feature action packed toys that reflect the key core developmental messages and storylines of the CGI-animated series. The line also offers preschoolers a chance to recreate the adventures of the show's three young 'trainees': Wilson, Koko and Brewster.
"The anticipation surrounding the introduction of our Chuggington line is building every day and has been astonishing," said Peter Henseler, President of RC2 / Learning Curve Brands. "With huge interest from both children and parents, we are thrilled to introduce our U.S. customers and Chuggington fans to a line of innovative products so they can create exciting new adventures. With the show's successful run on Playhouse Disney and Chuggington's continuing success abroad, we look for Chuggington to be successful in 2010 and for many years to come."
Ludorum recently announced it has licensed the second season of 13 half hour episodes of Chuggington to Disney Channel for its Playhouse Disney programming block in the United States. The acquisition of the second season follows the success of the first season of 26 half hours, which commenced broadcast on Playhouse Disney in January 2010 and currently airs seven days a week. Disney Channel is currently available on basic cable in over 99 million U.S. homes.
"Chuggington's vibrant characters and engaging lessons have captured the hearts of preschoolers and parents nationwide," said Maureen Taxter, Senior Vice President of U.S. Consumer Products for Ludorum. "With Learning Curve, we're excited to start bringing innovative, high quality Chuggington products to all of our fans so their experiences with the brand can extend beyond the television screen and into the realm of imaginative play."
In addition to its Chuggington master toy licensing rights, RC2 holds a 50 percent interest in Chuggington's intellectual property rights.
For more information on Learning Curve's Chuggington product line, visit
www.learningcurve.com/chuggington.
About Chuggington™
Chuggington is a computer generated 3D series as well as a fully immersive interactive website. The series follows the adventures of Wilson, Brewster and Koko, trainee engines, each with their own unique personality and learning style. The series is set in a world much like our own with cities, villages and diverse cultures and geography. Entertainment and enjoyment is at the heart of Chuggington, but embedded within each story are important educational and developmental messages centered on learning and social-emotional development. Chuggington is directed by Sarah Ball, who won a BAFTA award for her work as a director and writer of Bob the Builder™. The property was conceived to seamlessly integrate television, books and interactive. Further information is available at www.chuggington.com.
About Ludorum plc
Ludorum is a global IP company dedicated to developing, acquiring and marketing quality entertainment properties for television, interactive and new media. Ludorum is the creator of Chuggington™, a CGI animated television series for preschoolers that has been licensed to more than 175 territories worldwide including the U.S. on Disney Channel's Playhouse Disney, January, 2010. Ludorum was formed in 2006 and has offices in London, Chicago and New York. For more information about Ludorum please visit: www.ludorum.com.
About RC2 Corporation
RC2 Corporation (www.rc2.com) is a leading designer, producer and marketer of a broad range of innovative, high-quality products for mothers, infants, and toddlers, as well as toys and collectible products sold to preschoolers, youths and adults. RC2's mother, infant, toddler and preschool products are primarily marketed under its Learning Curve® (www.learningcurve.com) family of brands which includes The First Years®, Lamaze® and JJ Cole® Collections brands, as well as popular and classic licensed properties such as Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder, Special Agent Oso, Chuggington, Dinosaur Train, John Deere, Disney's Winnie the Pooh, Princesses, Cars, Fairies and Toy Story, and other well-known properties. RC2 markets its youth and adult products primarily under the Johnny Lightning® (www.johnnylightning.com) and Ertl® (www.ertl.com) brands. RC2 reaches its target consumers through multiple channels of distribution supporting more than 25,000 retail outlets throughout North America, Europe, Australia, Asia Pacific and South America.
Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this release contain "forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "expect," "intend," "may,'' "plans," "potential," "target," "should," "will" and "would." Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results and future developments could differ materially from the results or developments expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to make any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained in this release or to update them to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release.
SOURCE RC2 Corporation
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