'Titanic' christened at VSDA

Discount Store News, July 27, 1998 by Robert Scally

The newest installment in Fox's Casper series, "Casper Meets Wendy," streets on Sept. 22. Also due in September is the direct-to-video talking animal feature "Rusty: the Great Rescue."

"Our Friend Martin" will appear Jan. 18 to celebrate Martin Luther King's birthday and Black History Month. Combining animation, live historical footage and original song, the story follows a white and African-American boy who journey back through time and meet Martin Luther King.

Fox has a number of other direct-to-video projects in the works, including a sequel to "Anastasia" and another based on author Amy Tan's story "Chinese Siamese Cat."

Also stepping forward with a strong slate of children's product, Paramount Home Video streets Sept. 8 with an entire holiday season slate of kidvids that will include "Blue's Birthday," a new-to-video edition of a popular episode from the top-rated "Blues Clues" television show. "Blue's Birthday" will contain new footage and will not air on television again until February 1999.

The release of "Blue's Birthday" will coincide with the release of holiday themed titles from "Allegra's Window," "Eureeka's Castle" and "Maurice Sendak's Little Bear." All of the titles will be priced at $9.95.

Also due from Paramount for the holiday season is a pack of five Christmas-themed Charlie Brown titles: "A Charlie Brown Christmas"; "It's Christmas Time Again"; "Charlie Brown, Happy New Year"; "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving"; and "It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown." All of the Charlie Brown titles carry a suggested list price of $12.95 except for "It's Christmas Time Again, Charlie Brown," which is priced at $9.95.

The Nickelodeon line will extend with three new "Rugrats" gift sets containing two titles each. Also due are gift sets from "Ren & Stimpy," "Hey Arnold," "Doug" and "Rocko's Modern Life."

Universal Studios Home Video is approaching the children's video business with a repromotion of "An American Tail," "An American Tail: Fievel Goes West" and the upcoming direct-to-video "An American Tail III: The Treasure of Manhattan Island."

Also due is the latest installment in Universal's successful "Land Before Time" series, "The Land Before Time VI: The Secret of Saurus Rock."

Kidvid king Buena Vista Home Entertainment is set to release the long-awaited direct-to-video sequel "The Lion King II: Simba's Pride" on Oct. 27.

Also on Buena Vista's sell-through plate are "Pocahontas: Journey to a New World," due on Aug. 25, and the Disney animated classic "The Lady and the Tramp, due out Sept. 15.

"The Lady and the Tramp," first released on home video in the early days of sell-through, has been on moratorium for 12 years.

Also streeting from Buena Vista are "The Black Cauldron," on Aug. 4, and "The Rescuers," on Nov. 24.

A pair of live-action kid oriented films are also on Buena Vista's slate.

"Summer of the Monkeys" will street Dec. 15, and "Jungle Book II: Mowgli's Story," is scheduled for Sept. 29.

PolyGram Home Video, the folks who brought Barney's first theatrical film, "Barney's Great Adventure," to home video, are now planning to bring the Broadway musical "Cats" to home video.