BURBANK, August 9: Warner
Bros. Online has announced plans to ramp up the web presence for three of its
key animated brands: Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera and Scooby-Doo.
"Looney Tunes,
Scooby-Doo and Hanna-Barbera are some of the most enduring properties in
entertainment,” said Staci Miller, the VP of operations at Warner Bros. Online.
“Fans of these properties span all age groups and demographics, but one thing
is consistent—they love interacting with the characters. With this
initiative, they will be able to do so in unprecedented ways.”
“Overall, this sweeping
initiative is our most comprehensive since we first launched LooneyTunes.com
more than five years ago,” added Sam Ades, the director of brand strategy at
Warner Bros. Online. “By taking advantage of the latest technology and online
trends we’re able to offer even more ways for fans to enjoy and interact with
these classic brands.”
The new Scooby-Doo.com
will launch on August 15 as a destination for kids ages 2 to 12 years old. New
features include an interactive pet photo gallery and a social networking site;
a dedicated area for preschoolers; downloadable audio podcasts, and 19 games.
The new Hanna-Barbera.com
is geared to pop-culture fanatics as well as tweens and teens. On August 21,
Warner Bros. Online will launch Saturday Morning Forever, a video broadband
channel that will offer two full hours of cartoons per week, comprised of
approximately 80 percent classic Hanna-Barbera shorts and 20 percent new,
original content. The teen-targeted platform will stream programs such as The Flintstones and Yogi Bear free and on demand. The site will also feature games, quizzes, polls,
trivia contests, sweepstakes and more.
LooneyTunes.com will
target everyone from kids to young adults and even adults 30 and up, with
games, cartoons, downloads, sweepstakes and additional content. In September
2006, the site will relaunch with the introduction of two new interactive
components: Toonify.com and We Love Looney Tunes. Toonify.com will deliver
digital wallpaper, IM icons and Looney Tunes-branded media to decorate social
networking sites as well as printable items such as CD covers/cases and custom
cards. We Love Looney Tunes is a new section of the site that will feature six
to eight classic Looney Tunes cartoons presented on-demand. The Looney Tunes
site will also feature Looney Kids, a page dedicated to children ages 5-8.