BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 7, 2005--What to get kids this holiday season? Kids want fun gadgets. Parents want practical gifts. Why make sacrifices when both are possible?
The world's most beloved cowardly canine, Scooby-Doo, and DC Comics famed Caped Crusader, Batman, are lending their cunning crime-fighting skills to educational toys this holiday season. Warner Bros. Consumer Products has teamed up with top-notch companies including Fisher-Price, Oregon Scientific, VTech and LeapFrog to offer a line of educational toys that engage, educate and entertain children with classic characters such as Scooby-Doo and The Batman, based on Warner Bros. Animation's hit television series.
"Technology continues to make the integration of entertainment and education more and more seamless. When we pair characters like The Batman or Scooby-Doo with smart educational technology applications, we're able to offer products that appeal to both kids and their parents," said Karen McTier, Executive Vice President of Domestic Licensing. "We are thrilled to be part of a line of products for the holidays that helps kids learn so effortlessly by making education fun."
This new line of kid-friendly educational toys is currently available at retailers nationwide and includes:
-- Scooby-Doo: Mystery at Snack Factory title (MSRP $15.00, ages three and up) for InteracTV(TM) system from Fisher-Price(R). This exciting learning system enables children to interact and learn with their favorite characters from TV shows, right on their own TVs using their own home DVD players. It transforms an ordinary TV screen into an active learning experience. With the InteracTV system, kids can help Scooby-Doo and the gang solve a mystery and figure out who is trying to steal the secret recipe at the snack factory. The games and activities teach kids planning and predicting, memory skills, problem solving, money identification, numbers, subtraction, science and history.
-- The Batman Power Wing Laptop (MSRP $59.99, ages five and up) from Oregon Scientific. This educational laptop combines fun with learning and is based on Warner Bros. Animation's hit television series, The Batman. The laptop springs into action when the lid is touched and wings launch from the sides of the base as the top is raised. Inside, an easy to use QWERTY keyboard and back-lit LCD screen offer 25 action-packed learning adventures based on spelling, logic and memory and math skills. Having debuted to high praise among toy industry experts at the International Toy Fair in February 2005, The Batman Power Wing Laptop received Dr. Toy's 100 Best Vacation Products Award for 2005, as well as Creative Magazine's Preferred Choice Award.
-- The Batman, Multiply, Divide and Conquer game (MSRP $24.99, ages four and up) for LeapFrog's award-winning Leapster learning game system. The game teaches essential 3rd and 4th grade math skills and encourages exploration, deductive reasoning and problem solving while kids can join The Batman to help battle Cluemaster, Mr. Freeze, Firefly and The Joker.
The Leapster learning game system teaches in the way kids love to play, with action-packed learning games for Pre-K to fourth grade. Multiple learning levels, tailored tutorials and a wide variety of learning games ensure that children are learning essential skills while playing the video games that they love.
-- The Batman and Scooby-Doo Smartridges for the V.Smile TV Learning System and V.Smile Pocket from VTech. VTech's V.Smile, an award-winning TV learning system, has various game Smartridges (MSRP $19.99, ages four and up) that feature favorite characters including Scooby-Doo and The Batman. Children navigate each game by using a hand-held joystick with oversized buttons, which can be adapted for right- and left-handed players alike. Scooby-Doo Funland Frenzy takes kids with Scooby-Doo as he investigates the haunted happenings at Funland Amusement Park. This cartridge is geared towards kids 4 to 6 years and teaches logic, matching skills, math, numbers and vocabulary. Kids ages 6 to 8 can go on a mission with The Batman to rescue the mayor of Gotham City from The Joker, The Penguin and Mr. Freeze. This new Smartridge will teach logic, spelling, geometry, math and spatial skills.
The V.Smile Pocket is a handheld version of the V.Smile that kids can take anywhere they go -- or connect to the TV for on-screen play. An awesome screen, easy-to-use controls and exciting content make this an ideal choice for today's tech-smart kids. Plus, the unit works with the entire library of "Smartridges" for the complete V.Smile system.
"Our educational product line-up is as robust as ever. We're pleased to see interactivity applied to great products that have the added value of an educational component. It's a long way from the flash cards of days gone by," added McTier.
About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.
BATMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and (C) DC Comics.
SCOOBY-DOO and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and (C) Hanna-Barbera.
