AG Properties, DQ Partner for Animated Preschool Series

NEW YORK/MUMBAI, October
7: American Greetings Properties has signed a co-production deal with India’s
DQ Entertainment to create a 52×11-minute television series for the Maryoku
Yummy property.

The first full-length
episode will be available for screening at MIPCOM, with full delivery set for
March 2009. DQ Entertainment will hold the entertainment distribution rights
for broadcast, home video and merchandise for Maryoku Yummy in Asia (excluding Japan), while American
Greetings Properties will retain entertainment distribution rights and
merchandising rights for the rest of the world.

Maryoku Yummy, targeted at 3- to 5-year-olds, is set in a world
where all children’s wishes go to be granted, Nozomu, which was inspired by the
Edo Japanese art period from 1615 to 1868. In the series, Maryoku, a “Yummy”
who lives in Nozomu, faces daily challenges and adventures with her friends as
they play an important part in the wish-granting process.

Jeffrey
Conrad, the studio chief at American Greetings Properties and creator of Maryoku
Yummy, said, "We are very
excited about partnering with DQ Entertainment to bring Maryoku Yummy to
life in animation. Maryoku means ‘magical’ in Japanese, and the characters grew
out of doodles that I created over the years. I’ve always been fascinated by
the landscape prints from the Edo Period because they create a visual journey
that inspires both philosophical and poetic reflection. Combining the iconic
characters with such a beautiful world, and having it come to life in
animation, is amazing.”

Maryoku Yummy will be supported by a licensing and promotion
campaign, and American Greetings Properties is looking for partnerships in the
publishing, toy, apparel, accessories and home-entertainment categories.

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski