Young viewers will be transported into a world populated by papier mach’ party animals in Viva Pi’ata, a new CG-animated series debuting on Saturday, Sept. 9, during the 4Kids TV block on FOX. Produced by 4Kids Ent. and Bardel, the show serves as a springboard for a multimedia franchise from Microsoft Corp., Rare Ltd. and 4Kids Ent.
Created by U.K.-based video game developer Rare, Viva Pi’ata is part of Microsoft’s strategy to broaden the Xbox 360 audience beyond core gamers. By introducing the property as an animated kids’ show, the company can release the Xbox 360 game to a built-in audience this November.
In the Saturday morning cartoon series, the pi’atas live on the lush Pi’ata Island and regularly blast-off to parties around the world to bring joy and fun to kids of all ages. Main characters include Fergy Fudgehog, Paulie Pretztail, Franklin Fizzlybear and Hudson Horstachio.
The Xbox 360 video game will invite gamers to create their own environment where they can attract and host more than 60 species of wild pi’atas and customize adventures in an ever-expanding virtural world. Gameplay will continue to evolve with new content available via the Xbox Live network.
Announced in January of this year, the strategic alliance between Microsoft and 4Kids Ent. gives 4Kids exclusive representation rights to the Viva Pi’ata property covering all broadcast, home video, music and merchandise licensing. An extensive product line will debut across multiple categories in 2007. Kids can also visit the new Viva Pi’ata web site at www.vivapinata.com, which will officially launch on Monday, Sept. 11.
The new 4Kids TV lineup also includes Yu-Gi-Oh! Capsule Monsters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Fast Forward and Chaotic, which is based on the new trading card game. The block also features new seasons of Winx Club, Bratz, Kirby and G.I. Joe Sigma 6. For more information, go to www.4kids.tv.
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