American Girl : Lea to the Rescue Arrives in June

This summer, American Girl's 2016 Girl of the Year, Lea Clark stars as the company's first-ever

action hero in the all-new adventure film American Girl: Lea to the Rescue, debuting on Blu-ray Combo Pack (pictured at right) and DVD on June 14, 2016 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

In the thrilling sequel to the original book series, Lea must face her fears as she travels deep into the Brazilian rainforest to solve the mystery of her missing brother. In her quest to find him, she befriends Amazonian tribespeople, helps save endangered animals, and must outwit ruthless animal poachers. Starring Maggie Elizabeth Jones (We Bought a Zoo) and Hallie Todd ("Lizzie McGuire"), American Girl: Lea to the Rescue is the latest in a long line of fresh, modern and family-friendly films from American Girl, that also includes Grace Stirs Up Success, Isabelle Dances Into The Spotlight, Saige Paints The Sky, and McKenna Shoots for the Stars.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to Distribute Genius Brands Kids Titles

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) and kidvid producer Genius Brands International Inc. announced a multiyear agreement for SPHE to provide marketing and distribution of GBI’s "Kid Genius" and "Baby Genius" brands throughout North America.  Also, the deal allows SPHE and GBI to co-develop, distribute and globally merchandise future animated or live-action properties derived from their respective programming libraries.

“SPHE will work with the GBI team to deliver enriching learning experiences and inspiring entertainment content to families and children across North America,” said Ben Means, SVP of third-party strategic partnerships for SPHE. “This partnership underscores our longterm commitment to provide consumers with quality product for children and families.”

This transformative, long-term commitment between our companies allows Genius Brands International to focus on what we do best; creating, producing, merchandising and acquiring commercial content for both kids and families, and enables us to expand and accelerate our growth and shareholder value,” said Andy Heyward, GBI Chairman and CEO. “SPHE’s substantial, marketing, promotion, and retail and digital distribution resources will be instrumental in the continued expansion of our brands.”

Among the brands SPHE will distribute will be "SpacePOP," an all-new music and fashion-driven brand for tween girls debuting in Fall 2016; a new original "Baby Genius" series to coincide with the brand’s expanded launch in 2016; Warren Buffett’s "Secret Millionaires Club," an animated series accessible on-air, online and at retail; and Stan Lee's "Mighty 7 (SLAM 7)." Additionally, the agreement covers catalog titles and three new as-yet unannounced properties being developed by GBI.

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE Complete Series Remastered Set and Season 7 Remastered Announced

 Relive every touching moment of the family-favorite series with Laura, Pa and the entire Ingalls family when Little House on the Prairie: The Complete Series Deluxe Remastered Edition Gift Set arrives on DVD October 6th from Lionsgate Home Entertainment.  The 48-disc set features all nine fully restored and remastered seasons, including the original broadcast-length episodes and eight hours of bonus material. A wonderful holiday gift for both new and returning fans of the timeless show, the collection is presented in an iconic “Little House” package, featuring a recreation of the Ingalls family home. In addition, Little House on the Prairie: Season Seven Deluxe Remastered

Edition makes its debut on DVD on October 6. 

Fall in love again with the classic TV series that celebrates family, faith and the human spirit, and enjoy the nine-season saga with vividly restored picture and sound. Completely uncut and remastered, this 48-disc set features all nine seasons and is packed with eight hours of bonus material, including the 96-minute original pilot movie, a cast screen test with Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, the six-part “The ‘Little House’ Phenomenon” documentary that takes a historical look back at the acclaimed series and three movie specials. Little House on the Prairie: The Complete Series Gift Set will be available on DVD for the suggested retail price of $149.98.

Inside Out Arrives on DVD and Blu-ray on November 3

From the Imaginative Minds of Disney-Pixar Comes a Major "Emotion" Picture Beyond Compare! Along with an all-new animated short "Riley's First Date?" Inside Out arrives on DVD, Blu-ray 3D and  Blu-ray Combo Pack November 3, 2015.

Do you ever look at someone and wonder what's going on inside their head? Disney-Pixar's "Inside Out" takes an exciting and hilarious journey into the mind to find the answer. Based in Headquarters, the control center of 11-year-old Riley's mind, five emotions are hard at work, led by lighthearted optimist Joy. She strives to make sure Riley stays happy as she operates alongside fellow emotions Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness. It's "an instant classic," raves Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times. Experience it like never before on Disney Blu-ray!

Spare Parts Author Visits with Librarians at ALA

 

Spare Parts author, Joshua Davis, recently joined B&T at our booth at ALA to meet with librarians and sign copies of his book and the recently released DVD (out via Lionsgate Home Entertainment).

In the film, George Lopez leads a winning cast in this inspiring movie based on an amazing true story. When four wildly different Hispanic high schoolers team up to enter a robotics competition against the nation’s top universities, no one believes they have a chance—no one but Fredi (Lopez), their new substitute teacher. As Fredi challenges his students to be the best they can be, they show him the power of never giving up, in this unforgettable tale that shines with heart, humor, and hope.

Mr Davis  is a writer, film producer and co-founder of Epic Magazine. He's currently a contributing editor at Wired magazine. In 2003, he reported from Iraq for the magazine. He's also written about genetically modified cocaine in Colombia, attempts to engineer the apocalypse in Jerusalem, and the 2007 cyberwar between Estonia and Russia.  Davis' first book, The Underdog, was published by Random House in 2005. It chronicles Davis' entry into unusual competitions around the world, including the World Armwrestling Championship in Gdynia, Poland; the US Sumo Open in Los Angeles; the World Sauna Championship in Heinol, Finland; and the Golden Shrimp, a backwards running competition in Poviglio, Italy.

Spare Parts, Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and the Battle for the American Dream was published in 2014 by MacMillian.

Care Bears:Mystery In Care-A-Lot Arrives for Halloween

Have no fear—the Care Bears are spreading Halloween cheer in the all-new Care Bears: Mystery In Care-A-Lot, arriving on DVD (plus Digital HD) September 15, 2015 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Join the Care Bears in an exciting mystery adventure filled with tricks and treats from the adorable CGI-animated series. Also a hugely successful plush toy line, don’t miss seeing your favorite Care Bears in their most spooktacular Halloween costumes! The Care Bears: Mystery In Care-A-Lot DVD is sure to bring sweet surprises to the whole family and will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.98.

Join the Care Bears for a Halloween-themed adventure packed with friendship and fun.  The Care Bears show the power of caring and sharing as they transform bad dreams into sweet ones, solve the mystery of the legendary Scare Bear, and save Care-a-Lot from turning into Grump-a-Lot in this delightful collection that kids and families will love!

 

"American Girl : Grace Stirs Up Success" Soundtrack Releasing

American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success will be released on June 23 by  ABKCO Records through its Little World Records imprint. This marks the second time time Little World has teamed up with American Girl to release a music CD soundtrack for a direct-to-video title based on its popular Girl of the Year series for girls ages 8 and up (American Girl: Isabelle Dances Into the Spotlight was released last summer). The new album features music from the live action film, which will be  available on HD Digital June 9 and on Blu-ray and DVD June 23 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Starring Virginia Madsen (“Witches of East End,” Sideways) and Olivia Rodrigo, the heartwarming film brings to life the story of Grace Thomas, an inventive, enthusiastic nine-year-old girl who is full of  big ideas. A planner at heart, Grace finds the courage to step outside her comfort zone during a trip to Paris that broadens her perspective and challenges her to try new things. Back home, Grace uses her newfound courage and culinary skills to start her own French baking business with her two best friends. When she learns her beloved grandparents’ bakery might close, Grace and her friends combine their talents to mix together some great ideas that, ultimately, lead to many sweet rewards.

Little Boy Arrives from Universal Home Entertainment in September

A heartwarming tale of a child trying to achieve the impossible and bring his father home from war, Little Boy will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on September 15, 2015 for libraries and rental retailers from Universal Pictures

Home Entertainment.

From executive producers Roma Downey (TV's The Bible, Touched by an Angel) and Mark Burnett (Son of God, TV's The Bible), Little Boy will charm and inspire the whole family with its poignant story of the indescribable love between a father and his son. Starring Academy Award nominees Emily Watson (The Theory of Everything) and Tom Wilkinson (Selma), Michael Rapaport (Boston Public) and Kevin James (Paul Blart: Mall Cop), this instant cinematic classic captures the wonder of life through the eyes of a seven-year-old child and reminds us of the power of faith, hope and love in the face of adversity. Certified and declared "a winner!" by the Dove Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting wholesome family-friendly films, Little Boy "is a movie you must not miss!" (Edwin L. Carpenter, The Dove Foundation)

The WILD KRATTS are Back on DVD with "Super Sprinters"

PBS Distribution announced the release of two stories from PBS KIDS’ popular WILD KRATTS series on the new DVD “SUPER SPRINTERS.”  The Kratt Brothers are always on the move, and in this DVD, that is never truer!  In “Cheetah Racer,” Chris and Martin think that cheetahs can travel faster than any other creature or vehicle over the rough African savannah, but Aviva and archenemy Zach Varmitech challenge this and compete to build a ground racer that can travel even faster. The speed theme continues with “Falcon City.” In this episode the brothers fly with the world’s fastest animal, the Peregrine falcon. The brothers discover that Varmitech and his Zachbots are threatening to destroy a Peregrine falcon’s nest located on a city building. Can Martin and Chris pull off a high flying rescue?

In each episode of WILD KRATTS, creature teachers Chris Kratt and Martin Kratt take kids and their families along on extraordinary animal-powered adventures. The show transforms the Kratt Brothers, creators of the award-winning KRATTS’ CREATURES and Emmy-winning ZOBOOMAFOO, into animated versions of themselves, allowing the real-life zoologists to visit wild animals in their little-seen habitats and showcase key science concepts along the way. WILD KRATTS airs weekdays on PBS KIDS (check local listings).

"The Dog Who Saved Summer" Arrives Soon on DVD

A paws-itively delightful treat for the whole family, The Dog Who Saved Summer arrives on DVD  June 2 from Anchor Bay Entertainment. Mario Lopez (“Extra” host, “Saved by the Bell”), Dean Cain (“Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”), Gary Valentine (“The King of Queens,” Paul Blart: Mall Cop 1 and 2, Jack & Jill), Elisa Donovan (Clueless, “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”), Patrick Muldoon (Starship Troopers) and Joey “Coco” Diaz (The Longest Yard) reprise their roles in the sixth installment of the popular franchise and are joined once again by director Sean Robert Olson and screenwriters Michael Ciminera and Richard Gnolfo. The hilarious fun-in-the-sun comedy also stars Martin Kove (“Cagney & Lacey,” The Karate Kid), Francesca Capaldi (“Dog with a Blog”), Cole Jensen (“Crash & Bernstein”) and the voice of William Zabka (The Karate Kid).

 

When former police K-9 Zeus (voiced by Lopez) accidentally destroys an important party, the Bannister family decides it’s time to send him to obedience school. Classes start off on the wrong paw when the no-nonsense instructor Vernon (Kove) and his Marine K-9 assistant Apollo (voiced by Zabka) fail Zeus on every lesson. Fearing the pound may be his next stop, Zeus and the Bannister children (Capaldi and Jensen) enlist help from a janitor who teaches them his unique training methods that could help Zeus win “Top Dog” at the school’s showcase. Meanwhile, a familiar trio of bumbling burglars (Cain, Muldoon and Diaz) is planning a daring diamond heist. Zeus must outsmart the thieves, as well as his hard-nosed instructor, in order to win the big tournament and foil the jewelry robbery before it’s too late.

Enter the Frog Kingdom on June 30th

Take the journey of a lifetime when Frog Kingdom arrives on DVD  June 30 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. The DOVE Family Approved film is “funny and filled with action” (DOVE Foundation) and features the voice talents of teen-favorites including Bella Thorne, Cameron Dallas, Drake Bell and Gregg Sulkin. Frog Kingdom, containing a behind-the-scenes look at how the characters are brought to life in the recording studio plus Minuscule award-winning shorts, arrives on DVD for the suggested retail price of $19.98. 

When The Frog King (Keith David) announces that the winner of the Froglympics will win his daughter’s hand in marriage, Princess Froglegs (Bella Thorne) runs away instead.  Disguised as a commoner, the Princess befriends street vendor, Freddie (Cameron Dallas), and begins training with him for the games—determined that she will win and thwart her father’s plans of marriage.  Meanwhile, the villainous serpent has ideas of his own to ruin the Froglympics and take over the kingdom.  With a little luck, and a little help from their trusty sidekick Captain One-Eye (Rob Schneider), Freddie and Princess Froglegs set out to save Frog Kingdom from the evil serpent.

GET READY TO BOOGIE WITH “PEG ROCKS,” A NEW MUSICAL PEG + CAT DVD

PBS Distribution announced today it is releasing seven stories from PBS KIDS’ popular PEG + CAT series on the new DVD “PEG + CAT:PEG ROCKS,” available March 3. Solving problems is even more AWESOME when music is involved! This new toe-tapping DVD features fun-filled musical escapades, including “The Girl Group Problem,” in which Peg’s girl group, the Pentagirls, has its biggest show ever, and “The Mega Mall Problem,” which features Peg and Cat searching the mall for the teens, so they can all enter the Zebra Guy dance contest!

 

Each PEG + CAT adventure features a story in which Peg and Cat encounter an unexpected challenge that requires them to use math and problem-solving skills in order to save the day. While it teaches specific math lessons, the series also emphasizes resilience and perseverance.

YELLOWBIRD Flies onto DVD on April 7th

Take a journey with the most unlikely hero when the adorable and heartwarming tale, Yellowbird,

flies onto DVD on April 7 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Awarded the Dove Seal of Approval, the digitally animated film is perfect for the whole family. Headlined by the voice talents of Seth Green (Austin Powers franchise), Dakota Fanning (The Twilight Saga) and Danny Glover (The Color People), Yellowbird includes a behind-the-scenes look at the voice recording for the film and a “making of” featurette and will be available on DVD for the suggested retail price of $19.98.

 

Just when it’s time to migrate to Africa, Darius (Glover), the elder of the flock, is wounded.  He will have no choice but to share all his secrets, wisdom and new flying routes with the first bird that happens to come along. The candidate is none other than Yellowbird (Green), an eccentric little fellow, super excited about the challenge, but without the slightest hint of knowledge or natural talent for migrating whatsoever.

New CAILLOU DVD Release Out This Week

PBS Distribution released seven stories from PBS KIDS’ popular CAILLOU TV series on the new DVD “CAILLOU’S FURRY FRIENDS.”  From learning wild creatures are better in their natural habitat to helping return a lost dog to its owner, “CAILLOU’S FURRY FRIENDS” features heartfelt animal adventures the entire family will enjoy!

“CAILLOU’S FURRY FRIENDS” released on DVD January 6, 2015. The DVD run time is approximately 58 minutes and its SRP is $12.99. The DVD contains special features including coloring pages and activities.

Caillou is a 4-year-old boy who delights in the small wonders of the world around him, embellishing everything he sees with his rich imagination. Thanks to his vivid imagination, ordinary, everyday events quickly become exciting adventures in which Caillou can play “make-believe.” CAILLOU is designed for preschoolers and focuses on role-playing and “make-believe.” CAILLOU is produced by DHX Media. CAILLOU airs weekdays on PBS KIDS (check local listings).