Franklin-Franklin Goes to School and Franklin And the Tooth Fairy

Prebook Date: July 2

Release Date: July 20

Price: US$12.95

Studio: Nelvana

Distributor: PolyGram Video

Synopsis: With worldwide sales of Franklin books numbering more than 20 million, the Nelvana-produced Franklin show has also begun to find its legs in the TV ratings game since trundling over to Nick Jr. last January. This month, PGV releases two 30-minute tapes, each featuring two episodes that have previously aired on Nick Jr.

Advertising: print (Humpty Dumpty’s Magazine, Nickelodeon Magazine, Scholastic Parent and Child, Sesame Street Parents and Turtle Magazine)

Promotions: catalogs offering discounts on other Franklin merch will be inserted in all videos.

The Official 1999 NBA Championship Video

Prebook Date: July 6

Release Date: July 16

Price: US$19.95

Studio: NBA Entertainment

Distributor: PolyGram Video

Synopsis: The lockout cut the season by half and there was no Michael, but PGV is hoping fans will still want to pick up this compilation of the 1999 NBA championship team’s journey to basketball supremacy. For die-hards who can’t comprehend a Jordan-less NBA, PGV has also pieced together His Airness, an hour-long tape that documents the life of the human highlight reel, from college phenom to NBA superstar. Currently available, HA retails for US$19.95.

Poky and Friends-Starring Poky Little Puppy, Starring Saggy Baggy Elephant and Starring Scuffy

the Tugboat.

Prebook Date: July 8

Release Date: July 27

Price: US$9.98 each

Studio: Golden Books Family Entertainment Home Video & Audio

Distributor: GBFHV&A

Synopsis: Somewhere in the Great Guide Book to Naming Preschool Properties, it is written that all successful franchises must contain a minimum of three words (see Thomas the Tank Engine and The Big Comfy Couch). The approach certainly hasn’t hurt Poky Little Puppy, which has sold over 25 million books. This month, GBFHV&A adds three new releases to the Poky video litter. Each tape features five five-minute animated episodes, some of which will be aired on The Disney Channel later this summer. This month, GBFHV&A will also release seven new Poky and Friends books.

Promotions: Poky and Friends Sweepstakes-includes prizes from Continental Airlines, discount coupons from Pizza Hut

Great Mouse Detective

Prebook Date: July 20

Release Date: August 31

Price: US$26.99

Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment

Distributor: BVHE

Synopsis: The second re-issue for this sleuthing rodent flick, which Disney first released theatrically in 1986.

Advertising: trailering on select

BVHE kidvids

Promotions: US$3 coupon with purchase A Bug’s Life, Madeline: Lost in Paris and other select BVHE titles

Displays: 24-, 48- and 96-piece prepack displays available

Wimzie’s House-

It’s Magic Time and You’re Special

Prebook Date: July 20

Release Date: August 10

Price: US$12.98 each

Studio: Cinar Corporation

Distributor: Sony Wonder

Synopsis: A preschool hit since debuting on PBS in 1997, Wimzie’s House is now looking to build a strong foundation in the kidvid marketplace with its first two video titles, featuring previously aired episodes from the TV show. Your Special also contains exclusive-to-video episode ‘Be Yourself.’ In August, Wimzie licensees Eden, Learning Curve, Simon and Schuster Interactive and Carson-Dellosa Publishing debut product in specialty market.

Advertising: ads will run in Sesame Street Parents, Parenting and Parents

Maurice Sendak’s Little Bear:

Little Goblin Bear

Prebook Date: July 20

Release Date: August 24

Price: US$9.95

Studio: Nelvana

Distributor: Paramount Home Video

Synopsis: Little Bear has been anything but a bear in the ratings – after Rugrats it is the highest rated program on kidscaster Nick Jr.’s schedule. The Halloween-themed Goblin contains four new episodes of toonco Nelvana’s preschool property.

Displays: six-, 12-,18-, and 24-piece merchandisers

Aisle Chatter…

Kidvids prebooking this month from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment include Winnie the Pooh (US$9.98); Rupert: Rupert and the Runaway Dragon (US$9.98); Secret Garden with diary and gift set (US$14.98) Intervisual Books Inc. (IBI) will start taking orders for American Champion Entertainment’s kids show Adventures with Kanga Roddy, which is currently airing on publiv TV in the U.S. IBI recently inked an exclusive video distribution deal with AEC, which will kick off with the August release of three Kanga Roddy videos… Price Check: Sony Music Video is repricing and rereleasing its entire library of Beavis and Butthead videos. The first of the B&B titles, Butt-O-Ween, features seven episodes from the TV show and will be available on video (US$9.98) and DVD (US$24.98) on August 3. The prebook date for Butt-O-Ween is July 8.