Genius to Distribute BFC Toons in U.S.

Germany-based BFC Berliner Film Companie Distribution GmbH will make its first foray into the U.S. DVD/UMD market with four animated children’s shows to be distributed by Genius Products Inc. The deal will see Adventurers–Masters of Time, Shadow of the Elves, Mission Odyssey and Altair in Starland released in the fourth quarter of 2005.

In Adventurers–Masters of Time, four students upload themselves by way of time continuum software and are whisked back through the ages on a desperate search for their missing computer professor. Through their adventures, they encounter great historical figures while battling the evil Hacker and his Virtual Agents, who threaten to change world history.

Shadow of the Elves takes place in the Meadowlands, a microscopic kingdom where peaceful fairies and comical trolls fight to protect their realm from the evil elfin king, Lord Kann.

A retelling of the classic tale of Ulysses, Mission Odyssey features strong anime influence as it chronicles its hero’s attempts to return home to Ithaca after defeating the Trojans. Plagued by the angry god Poseidon, Ulysses and his band of warriors are sent to the edges of the world, where they must battle fantastic mythological creatures.

Altair in Starland centers on Altair, a young boy growing up among the Starish people in a group of islands in the sky, where he has a series of adventures with his best friend Blip, a clever, wisecracking little star, and his star-herding green dog.

Genius Products CEO Trevor Drinkwater comments, "In just three years, BFC has established a reputation for high-quality animated programming for children. We are pleased to represent these highly popular series as we continue to build our library for the American marketplace with unique content from around the world."

Genius will put out four DVD and one UMD, each featuring two episodes of the BFC productions. Other properties under the Genius Products umbrella include Jay Jay The Jet Plane, The Twilight Zone, Baby Genius, Tonka, My Little Pony, Curious George and Paddington Bear.