Storm Hawks

World Screen Weekly, August 8,
2006

NAME: Storm Hawks

ORIGIN: Based on an original idea.

CREATOR: Asaph "Ace" Fipke, Nerd Corps Entertainment’s CEO
and founder.

TV SHOW: This series of 52 half hours is done in 3-D animation. It’s
an action series that depicts the adventures of five mismatched teens and their
strange furry sidekick as they defend their people against an evil empire.
These young Storm Hawks are armed with transforming flying motorcycles as they
fight some of the nastiest villains ever to hit the skies.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Ace Fipke and Ken Faier, the president of Nerd Corps.

COMMISSIONING BROADCASTER: Storm Hawks was
developed in association with Canadian broadcaster YTV. The series will
premiere on YTV in 2007.

TV SALES: The series was recently sold to Cartoon Network in the
U.S., the U.K., France and Latin America, as well as Canadian French-language
broadcaster VRAK. MGM Worldwide Television Distribution has picked up the
rights to distribute Storm Hawks in all
territories excluding North America and Western Europe.

MAJOR TOY LICENSEES: Spin Master has signed on as Storm Hawks’ master toy licensee. They will debut a line of action
figures, vehicles and role-play toys in fall 2007.

OTHER PRODUCTS: MGM Consumer Products will be acting as Storm Hawks’ North American licensing agent and, working with Nerd
Corps, will select licensees to roll out the second wave of merchandise in
spring 2008, with RC vehicles, Plug 'n’ Play games, costumes, collectibles,
games and puzzles, as well as a publishing program including manga, chapter
books, junior novelizations and storybooks. The third wave in fall ’08 will
include interactive (console, online and mobile games), promotions (QSR), food
and packaged goods, apparel and accessories, home furnishings and housewares,
as well as back-to-school items such as backpacks and stationery.

STRATEGY FOR ROLLOUT: Storm Hawks was the
brainchild of Ace Fipke, the CEO and founder of Nerd Corps, who also refers to
himself as the company’s Supreme Commander. Fipke needs to stay in touch with
his inner child in order to stimulate his creativity. Storm Hawks, in fact, came about as a result of putting on his “little
kid” hat. “I’ve always found flying to be this crazy fantasy, and there is also
something exciting about motorcycles.” The fusion of bikes and airborne
machines provide the perfect vehicles for the young heroes in Storm Hawks, and, “an interesting fantasy for any little kid,”
explains Fipke. “Within the heart of a great action-adventure show there’s
comedy, and that’s something that I have a huge affection for as well,” he
continues. “Kids love to laugh.”

As far as the merchandising that
will accompany the show, Fipke believes, “it needs to fit seamlessly as an
extension of the fantasy. It can’t be rammed down kids’ throats. They need to
love what they see and want to live in that fantasy. The merchandising needs to
be from the heart, it can’t be like, ‘let’s make some toys out of this.’ The
show really lends itself well to merchandising and licensing, and we’ve managed
to gain some pretty excited partners along the way.”

Regarding the master toy deal with
Spin Master, Fipke says, “I can’t divulge exactly what it is that we are doing,
but there are aspects regarding transformation and flight that I think are very
interesting. The show’s action is just incredibly fast: there’s speed, there’s
humor, and the special effects make it visually stunning,” he explains, and he
can easily envision an extension of the show in the form of a video game.