User:KylaraE/sandbox

[ personal sandbox, please ignore ]

Card #2, Jonny Quest
Note: Image of Jonny on the back is from East of Zanzibar, not The Darkest Fathoms.

Kidscreen references
Kidscreen TRA references:

"They say there is no going back, but a large number of producers seem to be trying – Hanna-Barbera with Jonny Quest, Cinar with Little Lulu and Film Roman with Felix the Cat, for example. Whether it can be chalked up to tweaking the nostalgic nerves of the baby boom parents or a serious lack of new ideas, new incarnations of old shows seem to be happening with greater frequency. Is it the start of a trend or simply a respite until the creative juices start flowing again?
 * Special Report: NATPE – What’s old is new again: A trend, or simply respite? by Kidscreen Staff. January 1, 1996.

...

‘I think if there is equity in a show, then yes, it makes sense to try to capitalize on that. Jonny Quest is a Hanna-Barbera show that will be released in ’96 on cable. Ultimately, we will probably get involved. But the decision was made that it was a character and a series that had strong enough recognition that rather than design something new we could exploit what was already there. . . and just update it and make it more contemporary.’"

"Turner Broadcasting plans to make The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest the kids television event of 1996.
 * Special Report: Toy Fair: Jonny Quest: A marketing model for future Turner properties by Ed Kirchdoerffer. February 1, 1996.

The company has invested some $40 million in production costs to create 65 half-hour episodes featuring film-quality animation techniques uncommon on cable television. The series will air a combined 21 times a week on TBS, TNT and Cartoon Network beginning August 26.

Jonny Quest is the biggest corporate initiative to come out of the Turner’s 1991 purchase of the Hanna-Barbera Studios and they treating the launch akin to a major motion picture premiere launch. This initiative will serve as a model for integrated marketing for future Turner properties.

A comprehensive licensing and promotional program, which includes a toy line from Lewis Galoob Toys, a fast food promotion with Pizza Hut and a packaged goods promotion, will coincide with the series’ debut.

Quest was selected as the first series for the Turner marketing synergy for several reasons: It is the best Hanna-Barbera property in the popular animated action-adventure genre; no other animated series on TV today features realistic children characters going on intricate, life-like adventures; not only did research indicate a hidden demand for the show, but Quest gets the second most calls on the Hanna-Barbera hotline (The Flintstones are first), according to Stephanie Sperber, executive director of marketing at Hanna-Barbera.

In the first quarter of 1994, Sperber was named to head a Jonny Quest task force comprised of key players from all Turner divisions including ad sales, consumer products, licensing and marketing, production, promotions, educational services and international. In the first meeting, each division discussed their business objectives and the time line needed to accomplish them. The decision was made to launch the series in the fall of 1996.

The new Hanna-Barbera series retains much of the scope of the original show that debuted on ABC prime time in September 1964, such as globe-trotting travel, teamwork and use of cutting-edge technology. But the production side decided to give Jonny Quest a nineties makeover. Jonny is now older (13 rather than 11) and a little more buff. A new female character, Jessie, has been added to attract female viewers. Perhaps most importantly, the series is now told from the kids’ point-of-view. ‘We didn’t want to mess with it too much, but we wanted to make it something current and something interesting that kids like,’ says Sperber.

Of most immediate concern to Turner was getting a master toy licensee. Turner identified the top five toy companies best suited for the property and how they performed in the areas of distribution, delivery, quality of product and reputation with the retail community. Armed with only a few cartoon boards, test animation and the Jonny Quest reputation, they pitched their show. In early 1995, they selected Lewis Galoob Toys. Galoob-which owns the toy licenses for such properties as Star Wars and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers-to produce action figures, role playing toys, plush and a segment of the company’s Micro Machines in support of the series. ‘There was no buying their enthusiasm,’ Sperber said. ‘We felt it would be a wise decision to go with a hot, sort of up-and-coming company, as opposed to being with a larger company that may not pay enough attention to our property.’

Galoob was equally impressed with Turner’s commitment to the series. ‘This property will translate extremely well into a great action figure line and is one of the best new properties we’ve reviewed this year, ‘ says Larry Wiesler, vice president of marketing at Galoob.

Once the master toy license came into place, the next goal was to get a fast food partner and Pizza Hut was signed on. ‘Once we had Galoob on board, it sort of legitimized everything,’ Sperber said. ‘They were committing a lot of money to Johnny Quest. . . . It made the project real in a lot of people’s eyes.’

In every pitch meeting, Turner would bring representatives from as many divisions as possible to demonstrate to potential licensees the commitment the company had to developing a successful Jonny Quest brand. Additionally, they chose partners who understood the value and would respect the integrity of that brand. To date, about 20 licensees are aboard.

hortly after Toy Fair, Turner will hold a licensee summit, at which all the Quest partners will discuss what each is doing and how they can work together to be more successful.

Sperber says that she had some concern that the confluence of the tie-in campaigns, toy launch, fast food and packaged goods promotions could overhype the program. ‘We were concerned that it would spike, and that there would be nothing to back it up and people would get sick of it.’ To prevent this market saturation, Turner has licensed only in the main categories for the first season.

The Pizza Hut fast food promotion begins two weeks prior to launch and will run for eight weeks supported by kid-targeted media. The toy line will debut at launch and will be later backed by media for the Christmas season. The cereal promotion will hit at launch, supported with media and in-store displays to give Quest an immediate retail presence. In March, Cartoon Network Video is launching digitally remastered episodes on five videos of the original 1964 Jonny Quest under the title Classic Jonny Quest. In October and November, a second packaged goods promotion begins.

If the series proves to be success, a live-action film produced by Turner Pictures will probably follow.

Jonny Quest is the top priority for Turner’s kids business in 1996 and Sperber is confident she has a hit. ‘Research and testing shows that kids love it. Aside from that, it’s a cool show. I hope it will be a huge kids phenomena and that Jonny Quest toys become the must-have products for kids.’

In 1997-98, The Jetsons are scheduled to get the ‘Quest’ treatment."

"But if production in two territories sounds difficult, try three continents. Turner International is in co-production with France’s Toon Factory and Japan’s largest animation studio, Pacific Animation Corporation on The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest. The 65 x 30-minute series, which will be broadcast in Europe by The Cartoon Network, has a British producer/director (Peter Lawrence), the special effects, digitization and compositing are French, and U.S.’s Hanna-Barbera and Japan’s Pacific are providing animation expertise.
 * MIP-TV Special report: UK warming to co-productions by Janine Gibson. April 1, 1996.

It will, apparently, result in ‘one of the most high-tech cutting-edge cartoons ever made,’ says Sherry Gunther, senior vice president, production for Hanna-Barbera."

"Four consumer powerhouses are set to launch one of the largest promotional efforts ever behind a cable TV series. The massive promotion will be launched with Campbell’s Soup Company, General Mills, Pillsbury and Pizza Hut in a promotional campaign to support The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, a production of the Turner Broadcasting System.
 * Special Report: Fall TV: The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest by Barry Hillier. September 1, 1996.

Campbell’s will run an on-package promotional program featuring six different collectibles on 20 million cans of Campbell’s Franco-American SpaghettiO’s, to be in place by late August.

General Mills will support the launch with package promotions on boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. This promotion will run from August 19 to December 31.

Beginning October 8, 20 million Pillsbury packages will contain a ‘Jonny Quest Now Available on Home Video’ rebate offer through Turner Home Entertainment’s domestic home video division. The rebate offer will be placed on 50 Pillsbury products, and is set to run through March 31, 1997.

More than 5,000 Pizza Hut restaurants will participate in an eight-week promotion for a Jonny Quest kids meal. This promotion will use posters and placemats, in addition to POP materials.

The entire promotional campaign is targeted to reach 80 percent of American kids aged six to 11, covering more than half of all retail outlets in the U.S. Each of the four promotions will be supported by in-store point-of-sale materials, in addition to on-air media buys on broadcast and Turner network outlets."

"WB’s Petrick points out that marketers have plenty of upcoming offerings to promote. ‘I’ve not heard that anyone’s numbers are down. Hasbro’s got a new Batman movie [through Kenner], Galoob is doing well with Jonny Quest and Mattel just bought Tyco and presumably they plan to do something with it.’"
 * Special Report ­ Upfront Market: Cable gains are affecting the upfront market dynamics by Eric Schmuckler. January 1, 1997.

"In another effort, Cartoon Network is launching a worldwide promotion, Quest World Adventure, on February 10. The contest offers viewers of The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest a chance to win a week-long all-expense-paid trip to a tropical island. To enter, viewers must answer specific questions based on the five new episodes of Jonny Quest airing from February 10 to 14.
 * New image and promotion for Cartoon Network by Theresa Dillon. February 1, 1997.

This marks the first time that all four sister networks Cartoon Network U.S., TNT and Cartoon Network Europe, Cartoon Network Asia and Cartoon Network Latin America have joined forces for an on-air promotion. Ten winners will be selected from the U.S. and two each from Latin America, Europe and Asia.

Cable operators can also participate, but must commit to air at least 200 cross-channel ‘tune in and win’ spots from February 3 to 16.

The contest will also be promoted in print media including Sports Illustrated for Kids, DC Comics and Marvel Comics and in radio spots on KidStar Radio."

"Galoob is discontinuing all the male action lines introduced over the last two years because it does not want to compete against itself and the profitable Star Wars franchise, which it calls its ‘most important asset.’ Discontinued lines include Dragonflyz, Jonny Quest and Sky Dancers."
 * Galoob sticks with Star Wars by Kidscreen Staff. December 1, 1997.

Others
"Jonny Quest, that adventurous cartoon kid who spent more time scaling the Himalayas than doing his homework, is coming back with a vengeance. Three networks owned by Turner Broadcasting System Inc. will fill the airwaves in the fall of 1996 with a new cartoon series called 'The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest.'
 * AND WIRE REPORTS, FROM STAFF. "TURNER REVIVING '60S `JONNY QUEST' SERIES." Plain Dealer, The (Cleveland, OH), June 21, 1995: 6E. NewsBank: Access World News. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/0F8084AA53D68BA4.

And Lewis Galoob Toys Inc. will launch a line of action figures and other toys on the new series.

The new show is based on the 1960s series 'The Adventures of Jonny Quest,' which was the first animated cartoon with realistic human characters in an action-adventure series.

'There is this great base of people who grew up on Jonny Quest and now have kids,' said Peter Van Raalte, vice president of sales for Turner Home Entertainment, the Atlanta company's nonbroadcast distribution arm. 'It has real kids doing real things.'

The Hanna-Barbera cartoon will air 21 times each week on TNT, TBS and the Cartoon Network - an unprecedented schedule for Turner Broadcasting.

Turner is spending about $35 million to promote the cartoon adventure with 'Jonny Quest Adventure Minutes' to begin nearly a year before the show is aired.

A Jonny Quest TV movie is being developed to tease the series, and a live-action movie is in development."

"Galoob stock falls on sales report
 * "BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS." Pantagraph, The (Bloomington, IL), September 20, 1997: C5. NewsBank: Access World News. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.ezproxy.lapl.org/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/0EB145E928C23186.

NEW YORK - Shares of Galoob Toys Inc. fell more than 11 percent Friday after the company, citing lower-than-expected sales, said it will not meet analysts' estimates for sales and earnings in the third quarter and full year.

The toy company said weak sales of the 'Men in Black' line worldwide, and the Dragon Flyz, Sky Dancers and Jonny Quest lines outside the United States, are generating shortfalls.

Galoob said it continues to expect sales growth throughout the year in its core brands Star Wars, Micro Machines and Pound Puppies. The South San Francisco, Calif., company declined to provide estimates of sales and earnings for third quarter and full year."

"Move over, Barbie. Turner Home Entertainment has licensed the rights to Hanna-Barbera's Jonny Quest cartoon character to Lewis Galoob Toys Inc.
 * Staff, Herald. "JONNY QUEST GETS ACTION FIGURE, NEW SHOW." Miami Herald, The (FL), July 7, 1995: 5F. NewsBank: Access World News. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/0EB4D227683371E3.

Jonny Quest -- a prime-time cartoon that followed the

globe-trotting adventures of preteen Quest, his scientist father and friends -- debuted on ABC-TV in 1964 and later aired on CBS and NBC.

The show's original episodes now run on the Cartoon Network at 4 p.m. Saturdays. In fall 1996, a new version will run simultaneously on TNT, TBS and the Cartoon Network.

So look for lots of Quest action figures and plush toys about the same time."