Warner Bros. Consumer Products Kicks Off Licensing Show 2002 With New Looney Tunes Feature Film Set To Debut In 2003

(June 11, 2002 – Burbank, CA) – Warner Bros. Consumer Products continues its dedication to building long-term franchises as it kicks off Licensing Show 2002 International with news of a Looney Tunes feature film set to debut in 2003. Warner Bros.’ antic band of animated entertainers, the Looney Tunes, will star alongside Brendan Fraser (“The Mummy,” “George of the Jungle”) as Warner Bros. Pictures begins production on its feature film “Looney Tunes: Back in Action” on July 29 of this year. In addition, the studio is producing a series of animated shorts starring the Looney Tunes that will share the marquee with upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures releases. The feature film is being produced in anticipation of a November 2003 release. "With Brendan Fraser joining the Looney Tunes for an all-new feature film, we are set to take Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety, Taz and the rest of the Looney Tunes cast of characters to a whole new level," said Dan Romanelli, President, Warner Bros. Worldwide Consumer Products. "We are so pleased to be at this year's Licensing Show with so many growing franchises. The Looney Tunes, Harry Potter, Scooby-Doo, The Powerpuff Girls, The Matrix and DC Comics are all packing a major punch." The irreverence of the Looney Tunes, the magic of Harry Potter, the mystery of Scooby-Doo, the force of The Powerpuff Girls, the thrill of The Matrix, the power of the DC Comics superheroes and much more encompass Warner Bros. Consumer Products line-up at Licensing 2002 International. With some of the strongest entertainment brands in the world, the company is helping redefine franchise opportunities for the licensing community. Licensing 2002 International is the annual trade show for the multi-billion-dollar worldwide business of consumer product licensing, marketing and merchandising; the show continues to be the most important marketplace for concepts and creative ideas related to the biggest brands in the world. Consumers spend more than $95 billion on licensed products annually. Located at booths #3019 and #3219, Warner Bros. Consumer Products is one of the largest exhibitors at this year’s show. The show is being held June 11-13 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York. Looney Tunes As audiences around the world gear up for a new Looney Tunes film hitting the silver screen in 2003, the appeal of these beloved characters continues to extend across many activities throughout 2002. The world’s zaniest and most beloved group of inimitable cartoon personalities -- Looney Tunes -- will prove that true character is something you’re born with when Cartoon Network premieres its newest original animated series, “Baby Looney Tunes,” starting Tuesday, Sept. 3. Each half-hour episode, featuring two 11-minute shorts and a one-minute song/music video, will showcase the immortal Looney Tunes cast of characters as “small-fries,” exploring the world for the very first time. The new series, from Warner Bros. Animation, is poised to deliver all the fun and excitement of its classic Looney Tunes counterpart, but in smaller, significantly sweeter doses. Warner Bros.’ legendary Looney Tunes characters return to the world of NASCAR Winston Cup on Saturday, September 7, 2002, when they re-unite in the fast lane with their Team Monte Carlo drivers for the ultimate racing showdown, the Monte Carlo 400 With The Looney Tunes – The Rematch!, at Richmond International Raceway in Virginia. Building on the success of last year’s event, the program will expand in 2002 as nine Looney Tunes-themed Monte Carlos take to the track. Additionally, Looney Tunes-themed cars will be featured in the NASCAR Busch Series race on Friday, September 6th. Kids around the country are ramping it up with Taz and their extreme sports heroes, as Warner Bros. Consumer Products unleashes the “2002 Taz Atti-Tour,” an interactive action sports youth event series. The Taz Atti-Tour will roll into select Wal-Mart stores and weekend hot spots in 19 cities between April and September 2002. The events feature top pro BMX bikers, skateboarders and inline skaters demonstrating huge airs and incredible stunts, and conducting group clinics for local action sports enthusiasts. The tour’s activities also include an open skatepark for kids to skate with the pros, amateur competitions, video games, music, autograph signings and more. Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Sanrio Company, Ltd., recently aligned for a groundbreaking collaborative agreement to bring together for the first time feature characters from two of the world’s leading licensing and retail merchandising companies. The two companies have entered into an agreement under which they will develop and launch co-branded merchandise featuring the popular characters Tweety and Hello Kitty. Products featuring the new co-brand launched in March 2002 and are being sold exclusively at Sanrio locations throughout Japan and most of Asia. The Looney Tunes brand is comprehensively supported worldwide by publishing, music, interactive, online, home video, advertising and branded food/beverages. Harry Potter Anywhere in the world, it is unlikely to find a child or adult that has not been touched by the magical and enchanting world of Harry Potter. More than a children’s property, Harry Potter has cast a spell on children and adults around the world who yearn to believe that with a little imagination anything is possible. Breaking records in both the publishing and film worlds, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” is one of the highest grossing films of all time, and last month, audiences brought the magic home as Warner Home Video (WHV) released the box-office hit, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” for the first time on a spectacular DVD and VHS. Fans can join Harry, Ron and Hermione on their enchanting adventure with a captivating two-disc DVD including additional scenes that have never been seen before, self-guided tours, interviews with the filmmakers and interactive features that will leave fans spellbound. The film based on the second book in the series, “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” will be released in theaters on November 15, 2002 in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain and in other key territories throughout November and December. The renowned cast and crew return with the addition of many new faces and engaging new characters including Kenneth Branagh as the self-important Gilderoy Lockhart, Christian Coulson as Tom Riddle, Aragog the giant spider, Fawkes the Phoenix, and Dobby the house elf. “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” promises more excitement, adventure, magic and humor for Harry Potter fans. With four books in the series thus far, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books have been sold in over 115 countries and translated into more than 40 languages. More than 162 million copies have been published worldwide. Worldwide licensees such as Mattel, Electronic Arts, Wizards of the Coast, LEGO and Mars are capturing the magic of Harry Potter in a range of products based on the books and films. Additionally, Coca-Cola is the sole promotional partner supporting both the film and the video/DVD release. Support for the Harry Potter property spans across all divisions of AOL Time Warner. Scooby-Doo Be afraid. Be somewhat afraid. On June 14, 2002 everyone’s favorite crime-fighting, cowardly canine comes to life in the first-ever, live-action film based on Scooby-Doo. The film stars Freddie Prinze Jr. (“She’s All That”) as ringleader Fred; Sarah Michelle Gellar (“Cruel Intentions,” TV’s “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”) as Daphne; Matthew Lillard (“Scream”) as Shaggy; Linda Cardellini (TV’s “Freaks and Geeks”) as Velma and, of course, Scooby-Doo in full 3D CGI for the very first time. In addition to a fully integrated theatrical marketing campaign, promotional partners and a soundtrack featuring Sugar Ray, Outkast, Shaggy, Baha Men and Simple Plan, Warner Bros. Consumer Products has created a licensing and merchandising program that will extend through Fall. Zoinks!! Kids' WB! is proud to announce the production and pick-up of “What’s New Scooby-Doo?,” featuring the timeless and loveable Scooby gang in all-new adventures. This new animated comedy from Warner Bros. Animation is a joint pick-up by Kids' WB! and Cartoon Network. The all-original series is slated to debut on Kids' WB! in Fall 2002 and will air subsequently in the 2002-2003 season on Cartoon Network. The highly successful and popular “Scooby-Doo In Stagefright - Live On Stage” starring Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne and Velma recently wrapped up its Eastern region tour and will continue its U.S. run in 2003. The live touring show has been well received by enthusiastic kids of all ages. Scooby-Doo is one of the top licensed characters in the U.S. and growing tremendously popular worldwide where he is seen in more than 100 countries, speaking 15 languages. With over 300 episodes, “Scooby-Doo” is one of the longest-running cartoons ever and will also add to his four successful direct-to-video movies with two new direct-to-video releases in 2003. The property is also a major global force in publishing, interactive entertainment, music, online and more. The Powerpuff Girls The Powerpuff Girls is the winner of last year’s International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA) License of the Year. The world’s first female kindergarten superheroes, The Powerpuff Girls, will fly onto the big screen in their very first theatrically animated feature film on July 3, 2002, produced by Cartoon Network Studios and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. A comprehensive licensing campaign, including prime product placements and extensive retail promotions will support the film’s release. “Saving the world before bedtime,” Blossom, Buttercup and Bubbles are three little girls created from sugar, spice and everything nice, combined with a secret ingredient, Chemical X. These cute-as-a-button superheroes guard the city of Townsville against a colorful gallery of villains. Created by Craig McCracken, the Emmy® Award-winning animated series, “The Powerpuff Girls” is a ratings powerhouse, airing multiple times daily on Cartoon Network and reaching more than 35 million viewers per week. The Powerpuff Girls also continues to attract strong new licensees. This year, Cartoon Network will launch a new advertising campaign during the back-to-school and holiday seasons supporting The Powerpuff Girls consumer products. Other highlights of 2002 include new interactive game releases across multiple gaming platforms and the home video/DVD launch of “The Powerpuff Girls Movie,”schedule for holiday ’02. Several of The Powerpuff Girls books have hit the USA Today Top 100 List. In 2002, The Powerpuff Girls reading club is set for official launch. Publishers around the world are also supporting The Powerpuff Girls. The Matrix Producer Joel Silver and Writers/Directors Larry and Andy Wachowski are currently completing production on the sequels to their groundbreaking, Academy Award-winning blockbuster “The Matrix” in Australia. Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss and Hugo Weaving reprise their roles from the original film. The highly acclaimed action-thriller won four Academy Awards and became the fastest-selling DVD on record at the time of its release. “The Matrix” sequels will be presented by Warner Bros. Pictures in association with Village Roadshow Pictures and NPV Entertainment. “The Matrix Reloaded,” scheduled for release in May, 2003 and “The Matrix Revolutions,” scheduled for release later in 2003, will be supported by a licensing campaign geared towards the adult collectible market. Infogrames, a leading global publisher of interactive entertainment software, announced that its highly anticipated video game, “Enter The Matrix” (working title), developed in conjunction with the upcoming sequels to “The Matrix,” will be created for all next-generation platforms, including the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the Microsoft® Xbox™ video game system, the Nintendo GameCube and the personal computer. Developed by Infogrames’ Shiny Entertainment, “Enter The Matrix” is currently scheduled to be released simultaneously on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in conjunction with the theatrical release of “The Matrix Reloaded” from Warner Bros. Pictures in May 2003. Last month, Warner Bros., Monolith Productions and EON Entertainment announced the production of a massively multiplayer online video game based on the The Matrix franchise. Able to accommodate tens of thousands of players in a single shared environment, the game will be a re-creation of the virtual world of The Matrix, employing cutting-edge 3-D graphics, networking and server technology. The game will combine the best elements of the action-adventure genre and character building/role playing games with the social interaction/community of an ongoing online game. DC Comics DC Comics, a division of Warner Bros. an AOL Time Warner Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. Justice League Cartoon Network has enlisted the World’s Greatest Super Heroes, bringing them together once more in a half-hour animated series, “Justice League.” Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and airing on Cartoon Network, the series incorporates an all-star roster of popular DC Comics superheroes including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Hawkgirl and Martian Manhunter. Cartoon Network has picked up a total of 26 new half-hour episodes of the “Justice League” for a second season for 2002/2003, bringing the total to 52 episodes. The Justice League characters are currently featured at over 14,000 Subway restaurants from May 20 – July 7, 2002. The promotion features eight Justice League collectible toys in Subway Kids Paks. DC Comics and Warner Bros. Consumer Products granted a license to Midway for publishing Justice League video games and Midway recently announced “Justice League: Injustice For All” on Game Boy Advance as a 2002 title. DC Comics is also working with ConAgra Store Brands to produce store-branded Justice League fruit snacks. Superman The Man of Steel is a true American icon and the standard against which all other super heroes have been measured. With nearly 100% global awareness, Superman is the only licensed property with decades of continuous major media exposure. Infogrames, the interactive licensee for both comic book and animated versions of Superman for all video games platforms, will begin releasing games in Fall 2002. Superman’s S-Shield continues to be a fashion phenomenon with celebrities, teen girls and young men sporting the emblem as a symbol of empowerment. Look for the launch of Supergirl as a lifestyle brand for teen and tween girls in late 2002. Smallville Today, the WB Network’s smash hit, “Smallville” weaves a blend of realism and science fiction adventure into a live-action “Superman” TV series. Tom Welling plays the young Clark Kent, facing familiar characters from the Superman mythos including Lana Lang and Lex Luthor. “Smallville” airs on Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m. on The WB Network. The show continues its critical and ratings success. The WB Network’s smash hit, Smallville weaves a blend of realism and science fiction adventure into a live-action Superman TV series. Tom Welling plays the young Clark Kent, facing familiar characters from the Superman mythos including Lana Lang and Lex Luthor. DC Direct will be releasing three 6” dynamic action figures from the hit television series, Smallville. Batman Gotham City’s premiere crime fighter and one of the world’s most popular super heroes, is a proven, classic brand that enjoys universal awareness across all age groups. With licensees in all major categories, Batman is one of the most successful merchandising brands of all time. Keeping audiences entertained throughout the week, the “Batman Adventures” airs Sundays at 7:30 p.m. on Cartoon Network and the Emmy Award-winning “Batman Beyond” airs Monday through Friday at 6:30 p.m. exclusively on Cartoon Network’s Toonami programming block. Taking the adventure to the next interactive level, UbiSoft’s “Batman Vengeance” video game, based on the animated series, is available for the PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance, GameCube and X-Box. This thrilling Batman title continues to be a top-seller for all platforms. Kemco’s “Batman: Dark Tomorrow” (based on DC’s Batman comic books) will now be released for PlayStation 2 and X-Box, in addition to the GameCube, beginning in Fall 2002. MAD Magazine Celebrating its 50th anniversary, MAD Magazine is America’s longest-running humor publication. Whether in print, on television, film or on the web at madmag.com, MAD remains one of the favorite American icons. Recently picked up for two more seasons, MAD TV continues to be a hit late night sketch-comedy show that has appeared on FOX since 1995. This Spring, MAD Magazine's irreverent icon known for his gap-toothed grin, Alfred E. Neuman, graced the cover of the Land's End Catalog. He also sported a full set of pearly whites and a milk mustache in the February edition of MAD Magazine. Neuman’s milk mustache ad highlighted calcium’s important role in building strong bones and teeth. America Online’s Winamp, the leading online audio jukebox player, and MAD Magazine are teaming up for a promotion to allow users to customize their Winamp music player with a MAD-themed “skin,” a customized design that changes the look of the player. The promotion runs through September 30, 2002. In addition, MAD Magazine recently aligned with SoBe Beverages for a national promotion and sweepstakes offering the SoBe's "Love Bus Brew" grand prizewinner a chance to be drawn in MAD Magazine. Warner Bros. Consumer Products is a division of Warner Bros., an AOL Time Warner Company, and is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world. # # #