Playmates Toys on Board for Huntik: Secrets & Seekers

LAS VEGAS, June 13: Upper
Deck Entertainment (UDE) has named Playmates Toys as the master toy licensee
for the action-adventure animated series Huntik: Secrets & Seekers.

Playmates Toys will debut
its Huntik: Secrets & Seekers toy
line in fall 2009. The line will include 3-, 6- and 9-inch figures, showcasing
the adventure’s heroes and villains, known as Seekers, and mystical creatures
called Titans, along with vehicles and roleplay toys. The 6-inch figures will
feature a patented technology offering online interactive capabilities.

UDE recently announced
that 4Kids Entertainment has signed on to broadcast Huntik: Secrets &
Seekers in TheCW4Kids Saturday-morning block on The CW in early 2009. In
addition to serving as the co-creator/producers for the property, UDE will
manage all the marketing, promotional and licensing initiatives in the
Americas, the U.K., Japan, China, Korea and Oceania.

Targeted at kids aged 6 to
12, Huntik: Secrets & Seekers was
produced by Italian animation studio Rainbow S.p.A. The series follows young
Lok Lambert and Dante Vale as they travel the globe with their group of
Seekers, exploring exotic locations from the pyramids of Egypt to the jungles of
the Amazon, with the goal of unlocking the ancient secrets of each locale. Lok
and his friends search for powerful spirit-warriors called Titans to use in
battle against the evil Organization.

“Huntik: Secrets &
Seekers features an intriguing
story line, engaging characters and mystical creatures, and Upper Deck wanted a
partner that would help grow this great brand through new ideas and
cutting-edge technologies,” said John Sepenuk, the VP of global business
development for UDE. “Playmates is clearly the right toy partner for Huntik:
Secrets & Seekers and will
bring their demonstrated creativity and philosophy of incorporating technology
to their Huntik: Secrets & Seekers toys.”

—By Irene Lew