Toronto, Aug. 11 2000 - Nelvana Limited today announced production plans for two new series - Braceface and Cyberchase - and the renewal of two existing series, Redwall and Maggie and the Ferocious Beast.

Braceface, a proposed co-production between Nelvana and China's Jade Animation, features the voice of Clueless star Alicia Silverstone. Production of 26 half-hour episodes begins in August for delivery to Fox Family Channel in the U.S. and Teletoon in Canada in the Spring of 2001.

Braceface tells the story of Sharon Spitz, a 13-year old eighth grader who turns a tin grin into a winning smile. Cyberchase, a production of Nelvana and Thirteen/WNET New York, premieres nationally on PBS KIDS in the U.S. in Winter 2002. Nelvana and Thirteen are now producing 26 episodes, the majority of which will be delivered by the end of 2001.

The ground-breaking on-air and on-line animated adventure series features three Earth kids - Jackie, Matt and Inez - who are summoned into cyberspace. Their mission: to defeat the evil fiend Hacker who is on a mad quest to take over the cyberworld. In each episode, the children embark on thrilling adventures to sites as exciting as ancient Greece, a tropical paradise and Fairy Tale Land. Funding for Cyberchase is provided by the National Science Foundation, PBS, The Jeffry M. and Barbara Picower Foundation and the Kettering Family Foundation. Funding of the Cyberchase Online prototype is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Patrick Loubert, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Nelvana, says, "Our 2001 production slate is very strong at this point in the year. Cyberchase gives us a follow up program to Scholastic's The Magic School Bus in the educational entertainment category and Braceface is a unique teen-oriented comedy."

Nelvana has also commenced the third season of 13 episodes of Redwall, which will bring the total number of cumulative half-hour episodes in the epic animated mini-series to 39. The story, based on Brian Jacques' best-selling book, Martin the Warrior, is a tale of a young mouse who becomes an unlikely hero in a small English cathedral called Redwall Abbey.

Nelvana, with co- producer TMO Films, will start production of the new episodes this Fall for delivery to Teletoon in Canada. The series has already been sold to Nickelodeon U.K., Channel Five U.K. and Germany's TV Loonland, among others. Nelvana has already started production of a second season of 13 episodes of Maggie and the Ferocious Beast, which will bring the total number of cumulative half-hour episodes of the preschool series to 26. Based on the best- selling Simon and Schuster book by Betty and Mickey Paraskevas, Maggie and the Ferocious Beast is set against the backdrop of Nowhere Land, the imaginary world of five-year old Maggie. Her best friends are Hamilton Hocks and the Ferocious Beast, a bounding red and yellow polka dot creature with a heart of gold. The series is now a top-rated hit among viewers 2-5 on Nick Jr. in the U.S. and debuts on Canada's Teletoon in late August. Episodes in the second season will be delivered beginning in February, 2001. The first season of Maggie and the Ferocious Beast has already been sold to over 75 international territories, including RTV Family Entertainment in Germany, Nickelodeon in the U.K. and La Cinquieme and TPS in France, among others. RTV Family Entertainment and La Cinquieme have also committed to the second season of 13 episodes.

About: Nelvana
Nelvana is a leading integrated children's entertainment Company which develops, produces, markets and distributes high quality media content and related product to children worldwide. The Company operates through two core businesses: Production and Distribution and Branded Consumer Products. Through its production and distribution business, Nelvana has completed nearly 50 major animated productions and distributed its programming to over 160 countries worldwide. Nelvana's growing program library has nearly 1,450 cumulative half-hour episodes, including such well-known television and feature film properties as Franklin, Little Bear, Babar and Pippi Longstocking. Nelvana's Branded Consumer Products business includes operations in children's book publishing and merchandise licensing of both classic and contemporary character brands. Founded in 1971, Nelvana's head office and leading edge animation facility are located in Toronto. The Company has sales offices in Los Angeles, London, Paris and Tokyo and international distribution headquarters in Shannon, Ireland. Nelvana celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2001.


Source: Nelvana
Web Site: http://www.nelvana.com