4Kids Entertainment, Inc. Reports Progress of Pokemon in International Television, Film and Licensing

Business Wire, Dec 28, 1999

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 28, 1999

4Kids Entertainment NASDAQ (KIDE) reports the Pokemon television series to date has secured four to five year broadcaster contracts with 41 countries internationally. To date, the Pokemon series has achieved successful ratings in Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom.

Pokemon's wide spread appeal reaches beyond television. POKEMON "The First Movie" opened to excellent results in Australia, and New Zealand taking the No. 1 spot in the market in its opening weekend.

International Licensed Product Update:

Clive Hill, the Managing Director of Leisure Concepts International (UK), a 4Kids Entertainment Company, reports the success already felt by the Japanese and US markets appears to be replicating in the international markets. "Following the phased introduction of the Nintendo Games, Hasbro Toys and the Wizards of the Coast cards during October and early November, many international markets are reporting initial sell through of merchandise. Supported by the TV broadcast, the potential licensees in UK and Germany in particular are showing exceptional response to the Pokemon characters. Demand for third party licenses is increasing with interest in all product areas including publishing, clothing and textiles, confectionery and giftware."

Hasbro is responding to the demand by increasing production and shipping more products. Specifically, Hasbro is now distributing product in the UK, Germany, Australia and New Zealand, with additional European countries expected to expand this list in early spring 2000.

Wizards of the Coast Brand Manager for the Pokemon Trading Card Game, Carol Pucik reports their success in the US has translated to their international markets which includes Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemberg, Australia, and the UK. First shipments sold out in a matter of days. Wizards plans to have the cards available in 16 languages by June 2000. In order to meet the consumer demand for Pokemon cards, Wizards of the Coast qualified a new printing plant in the UK, for Europe alone, in addition to the 6 printing companies already in production worldwide.

"The success Pokemon has created and continues to create in Japan and the United States is showing international promise as well." stated Al Kahn, Chairman and CEO of 4Kids Entertainment Inc.

Headquartered in New York City, 4Kids Entertainment, Inc., (NASDAQ:KIDE) is a vertically-integrated entertainment company whose wholly-owned subsidiaries include: Leisure Concepts, Inc., leader in domestic and international merchandise licensing and product development; 4Kids Productions, a television, film, music and home video production company, and Summit Media, a domestic and international television distribution, media buying and planning company.

Nintendo originally launched Pokemon in Japan for the world's best-selling Game Boy hand held game system and watched the 150 creatures evolve into a cultural phenomenon. The franchise arrived in North America in September 1998 with the release of the television series and the Pokemon Blue and Red Game Boy games and has grown into a $6 billion dollar industry worldwide. Nintendo and its licensing agency, Leisure Concepts, Inc. (a division of 4 Kids Entertainment) have thus far licensed the franchise to more than 100 U.S.-based companies and 50 companies internationally.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Among the factors may cause that actual results or outcomes may differ materially from any such forward looking statements are the fact that the Company faces competition from toy companies, motion picture studios and other licensing companies, and the uncertainty of public's response to the Company's properties.