Ben 10: Alien Force

NAME: Ben 10: Alien Force

ORIGIN: Ben 10: Alien Force is the next chapter in the Ben 10 action-adventure series. It features Ben Tennyson five years older, as a 15-year-old.

CREATORS: Ben 10 was originally created by Man of Action (Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau and Steve Seagle).

TV SHOW: Aimed at 6- to 11-year-olds, Ben 10: Alien Force is a 2-D animation series. It airs every day at 5 p.m. exclusively on Cartoon Network in the U.K. and is the number one show on the network.

SYNOPSIS: The next chapter in the continuing Ben 10 saga catches up with Ben Tennyson five years after he hung up his Omnitrix, living the life of a normal teenager—that is, until Grandpa Max suddenly goes missing! Fifteen-year-old Ben Tennyson decides to put on the Omnitrix once again and discovers that it has reconfigured his DNA so he can now transform into ten brand new aliens. Joined by his super-powered cousin Gwen Tennyson and his equally powerful former enemy Kevin Levin, Ben is on a mission to find Grandpa Max. In order to save his Grandpa, Ben must defeat the evil DNALIENS, a powerful alien race intent on destroying the galaxy, starting with planet Earth… 

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Sam Register

COMMISSIONING BROADCASTERS: Ben 10: Alien Force is a Cartoon Network Original.

MAJOR LICENSEES: In EMEA, licensees include Bandai (toy range), D3 (interactive games), Giochi Preziosi (food, stationery and accessories), Egmont (publishing), Cesar (dress-up), MV Sport and Leisure (bikes and scooters), Divertoys S.L. (toys, games and audio), Canal Toys (youth electronics), Aykroyd & Sons (clothing and accessories), H. Grossman (toys, games and audio equipment), Hachette Partworks (publishing/audio and music).

OTHER PRODUCTS: Licensees are on board for additional categories, including cards and gift wrap, key rings, posters, books and stationery, puzzles, sporting goods, bedroom accessories, stickers and sticker albums.

Turner CN Enterprises has signed more than 50 licensees to date in the U.K., covering all key categories, and 150 licensees across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

TV SALES: Ben 10 is now broadcast in more than 50 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

STRATEGY FOR ROLLOUT: The new series of Ben 10: Alien Force began airing on Cartoon Network in the U.K. on February 16, 2009, coinciding with half-term week in the U.K. In that week, the series contributed to Cartoon Network’s highest-rating week for over four years.

Ben 10: Alien Force was launched in the U.K. with the country’s largest kids’ premiere, held at Old Billingsgate in London on February 15, 2009. Additional launch activity included a unique digital campaign. In an industry first, kids were able to trade the virtual currency from the kids’ social network BinWeevils.com for real Ben 10: Alien Force merchandise within the kids’ online marketplace Swapitshop.com. An exchange rate was developed that enabled currency accrued in either community to be traded and used within the other.

In the U.K., master toy licensee Bandai and interactive games licensee D3 Publisher both launched their new Ben 10: Alien Force ranges to coincide with series broadcast on Cartoon Network. All other U.K. licensees will launch in July 2009, with EMEA rollout from the third quarter of this year and into 2010.

Alan Fenwick, the VP of Turner CN Enterprises, notes, "Ben 10 has established itself as both a ratings and retail success, globally as well as in the U.K. It is officially the number one toy range in the U.K., having been named by NPD as the Best Selling Toy Range in 2008, and is continuing to hold its position in 2009. In addition, the game released last month by D3 is currently the top-selling game on PlayStation 2 and PSP. We’re delighted by this fantastic start to the year."