Casper Celebrates 60th Anniversary

NEW YORK: Classic Media is commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Casper the Friendly Ghost property with new partners and products across a range of platforms, including the launch of the CGI animated Casper’s Scare School. 

Casper’s Scare School has now launched on major networks around the world, including TF1 in France, ZDF in Germany, YTV in Canada and Cartoon Network in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Latin America. TV Globo of Brazil will launch the series in March 2010.

Also in celebration of the property’s 60th anniversary, Dark Horse Comics is releasing a hardcover graphic novel featuring a reprint of Casper’s first-ever comic book, originally released in 1949. Ardden Entertainment plans to launch an all-new comic book series, Casper and the Spectrals, this Halloween. This includes three comic book issues and a graphic novel compilation. 

New Casper apparel lines are set to hit retail for Halloween. Local Celebrity (juniors) and Mad Engine (men’s and boys’) will present their collections of printed T-shirts and tops at department stores, specialty stores, boutiques and online outlets. Online retailer Zazzle will be offering a limited-edition glow-in-the-dark T-shirt, available only on Halloween weekend. The apparel program will continue to be refreshed throughout the year with all-new Casper-inspired juniors loungewear, daywear and sleepwear from Briefly Stated. 

The direct-to-video release Casper’s Scare School, which inspired the new series of the same name, is to be rereleased, along with the first two volumes of the classic Casper collection: Casper: Trick-or-Treat Classic Collection Volume 1 and Casper & Wendy: Scare Up Some Fun Classic Collection Volume 2. Classic Media and Vivendi Entertainment plan to rerelease Casper’s Haunted Christmas on DVD in time for the holiday season. 

In the category of social expressions and novelty, American Greetings’ line of Casper greeting cards will be available this Halloween with new designs. Lionel trains is to debut a collectible Casper-themed model car for the Halloween holiday as well. 

The live-events production company Milestone Productions will bring costumed characters of Casper and Wendy to a host of mini-shows and appearances at retailers, fairs, festivals, zoos and art centers. 

“Families around the world recognize Casper as the official ambassador of Halloween,” said Nicole Blake, the senior VP of marketing and consumer products at Classic Media. “Known by generations of fans, the brand has been successfully reinvented decade after decade, making Casper a true entertainment franchise.”