While the hugely successful Bratz line of fashion dolls is nipping at Barbie’s heels on toy shelves, it will soon be challenging the blonde one in the animated direct-to-video feature market as well. MGA Ent. has launched MGA Ent. Films, a new division dedicated to the development of home video and television series based on Bratz, Alien Racers and other properties.
To help get the new division off the ground, Jay Fukuto has joined the company as VP of MGA Ent. Films and Ellen Levy-Sarnoff has been named senior director of creative for Bratz Ent.
Fukuto previously served as VP of creative affairs for Walt Disney Television Animation, where he contributed to such shows as Kim Possible, Lilo & Stitch: The Series, Teamo Supremo and Lloyd in Space.
Levy-Sarnoff comes to MGA from DIC Ent., where she served as VP of creative affairs and oversaw development of a series of movies for Nickelodeon. She also helped launch Nick’s anime series Speed Racer X and Cartoon Network’s Knights of the Zodiac.
Introduced in June of 2001, the Bratz toy line for girls was named Family Fun magazine’s Toy of the Year three years in a row and has grown to become one of the top sellers of the 2003 holiday season. The first direct-to-video feature, Bratz–The Video: Starrin’ ’N’ Stylin’, will be released this August. For more information on the property, see www.mgae.com or www.bratzpack.com.
