BKN Signs Licensing and Merchandising Agreement for Speed Racer

LONDON, May 13: BKN has
reached an agreement with Speed Racer Enterprises to handle all the licensing and merchandising in Europe,
Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the Middle East for the new animated
series Speed Racer: The Next Generation and the classic Speed Racer title.

The agreement is effective
immediately. The new animated half-hour television series, Speed Racer: The
Next Generation is currently
airing on Nicktoons Network. Speed Racer: The Next Generation builds on the original 1967 Japanese series by
focusing on Speed’s orphaned son as he contends with the everyday hassles of school
life at The Racing Academy while uncovering secrets behind his famous father’s
disappearance. Meanwhile, the Warner Bros. live-action feature film Speed
Racer, directed by the Wachowski
brothers, was released in theatres throughout the U.S. last Friday.

James Rocknowski, the
president of Speed Racer Enterprises, stated: “We have very high expectations
for Speed Racer as a property
and as a television show. The response from U.S. licensees and retailers has
been very encouraging. We have chosen BKN as a major partner to represent the
property due to their proven capabilities and skills in Europe and Australia
and we expect a long and fruitful relationship.”

Added Nicola Andrews, the
managing director of BKN in London, “Our company policy is to handle only
properties that we own completely but this opportunity was special and we made
an exception. The property has been extremely well received and we feel that
there is a huge market internationally.”

—By Irene Lew