Speed Racer Notches Up New Licensing Deals

SANTA MONICA, October 30: Speed Racer Enterprises has inked
a raft of new merchandise licensing agreements for its animated series Speed
Racer and Speed Racer: The Next
Generation, including electronic toys,
footwear and school supplies, among others, to roll out in 2008.

Jada Toys has licensed the classic Speed Racer brand and will produce die-cast vehicles,
battery-operated remote-control vehicles, pull-back vehicles, vinyl figures and
die-cast key chains. Product rollout is set for the first quarter of 2008.

Senario has been tapped to design Plug ‘N Play video games
with inflatable interfaces for the classic Speed Racer series with an option for Speed
Racer: The Next Generation. Senario will
begin to roll out product in the second quarter of 2008.

ES Originals will begin rollout in the first quarter of 2008
on a variety of children’s footwear including athletic, non-athletic, slippers,
EVAs, boots and sandals, as well as a variety of bags such as backpacks, mini
backpacks, rolling bags, luggage, totes and lunch bags. The company will also
create small leather goods and hosiery for both the classic Speed Racer and Speed Racer: The
Next Generation.

A line of party goods is being designed by Unique Industries
to launch in January 2008 for the classic Speed Racer brand, including paper party ware, party hats,
blowouts, loot bags, invitations, thank you notes, party packs, latex and foil
balloons, assorted party favors, decorative accessories and piñatas, among
others. In addition, the company has optioned Speed Racer: The Next
Generation.

Innovative Designs will introduce a line of school supplies,
rolling out in April 2008, for both the classic and new Speed Racer series, including stationery, portfolios,
theme-books, composition books, memo pads, fat books, legal pads, assignment
books, agendas, die-cut memos, sticky notepads, binders, pencil cases, book
covers, pencils, pens, erasers, rulers, markers and magnets.

“Our roster of licensees is steadily and rapidly growing,
which we anticipate will continue as we prepare to launch the new animated Speed
Racer series,” said James Rocknowski, the
president of Speed Racer Enterprises. “Each additional licensee for both the
classic Speed Racer and the new
animated series reinforces the message that classic brands with timeless
stories maintain their success in the extremely competitive children’s market.”

Speed Racer: The Next Generation is scheduled to air on Nicktoons Network,
Nickelodeon’s 24-hour animation network, in 2008. It is geared toward viewers
aged 6 to 14, and builds on the legendary adventures of the original iconic Speed
Racer series which debuted in Japan in
1967, and was dubbed into English and syndicated nationally on television.

—By Kristin Brzoznowski