Cabbage Patch Kids Nominated For T.O.T.Y. Award

CLEVELAND, Ga., Feb. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 4Kids Entertainment, licensing agent for the Cabbage Patch Kids, is pleased to announce that the Toy Industry Association (TIA) selected the brand owned by Original Appalachian Artworks Inc. (OAA) as a finalist in the 2005 Toy Of The Year (T.O.T.Y.) Award in the Property of the Year category.

Also, receiving honor this year as a finalist in the Girl Toy of the Year Category is the 16" Cabbage Patch Kids manufactured under license by Play Along Toys, a division of JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (Nasdaq: JAKK - News). Winners will be announced at the fifth annual T.O.T.Y. (pronounced toe-tee) Awards, to be held February 19, 2005 at the Hilton New York in New York City.

The must-have gift of the Christmas of '83, the 'Kids(TM) went on record as the most successful new doll in the history of the toy industry. They were recognized five years later as the largest licensed property in the history of children's merchandising, generating sales of more than $4 billion.

To date more than 100 million Cabbage Patch Kids have found homes throughout the world, since their introduction in 1983. If they had their own country, their population would rank twelfth between Nigeria and Mexico.

T.O.T.Y. -- "The industry's version of the Oscars -- gives toy manufacturers the recognition they deserve for producing best selling product," said Tom Conley, President of the Toy Industry Association in New York City. "In addition to honoring the year's finest in children's entertainment, T.O.T.Y. Awards acknowledge outstanding individuals, companies and team achievements. All of the winners, and all of the nominees, are truly the 'best of the best,'" Mr. Conley added.

Cabbage Patch Kids property has its roots and its headquarters in a small Appalachian community in the Georgia Mountains. The very first "adoptable" babies hand stitched to birth celebrated individuality and the differences that made each one unique. Today, the heart of the brand still focuses on the significant appreciation of individuality.

"Raising this family has been an extremely rewarding experience for me, said Cabbage Patch Kid creator Xavier Roberts, "I am honored that the toy industry has nominated Cabbage Patch Kids as a finalist for a T.O.T.Y. Award in two categories."

T.O.T.Y. Awards are presented to products in 11 toy industry categories including: Infant/Preschool Toy, Girl Toy, Boy Toy, Game, Outdoor Toy, Educational Toy, Activity Toy, Electronic Entertainment, Most Innovative Toy, and Specialty Toy. Awards are also given for the Property of the Year and Retailer of the Year.

NOMINEES FOR PROPERTY OF THE YEAR CATEGORY
Cabbage Patch Kids -- Original Appalachian Artworks
Disney Princess -- The Walt Disney Company
Dora the Explorer -- Nick Jr. division of Viacom International
Spider-Man -- Marvel Entertainment
Yu-Gi-Oh! -- 4Kids Entertainment

NOMINEES FOR GIRL TOY OF THE YEAR
Cabbage Patch Kids -- Play Along Toys division of JAKKS Pacific, Inc
Bella Dancerella Home Ballet Studio -- Spin Master Ltd.
Dora's Talking House -- Fisher-Price
FurReal Friends Luv Cubs -- Hasbro
Magic Hair Fairytale Dora -- Fisher-Price

About Original Appalachian Artworks

Original Appalachian Artworks, Inc. (OAA), founded in 1978 by Cabbage Patch Kids creator Xavier Roberts, is a privately held corporation located in Cleveland, Georgia. Headquarters to the world famous Cabbage Patch Kids brand and home to BabyLand General Hospital, one of Georgia's top tourist attractions, OAA also manages a wide range of other projects while continuing to deliver hand-stitched one-of-a-kind, soft-sculpture Cabbage Patch Kids. www.cabbagepatchkids.com

About Play Along, Inc.

Play Along, Inc., a division of JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (Nasdaq: JAKK - News), manufactures, markets and distributes some of the most recognizable and popular children's toy lines in the world, including Care Bears(TM), Cabbage Patch Kids(R), Teletubbies(TM), Sky Dancers(R) and Lord of the Rings(TM). The company's products can be found at mass merchant, specialty and gift retailers on a worldwide basis. For more information about the Play Along product line, visit www.playalongtoys.com

About JAKKS Pacific, Inc.:

JAKKS Pacific, Inc. is a multi-brand company that designs and markets a broad range of toys and consumer products. The product categories include: Action Figures, Art Activity Kits, Stationery, Writing Instruments, Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity Toys, Vehicles, Infant/Pre- School, Plush, Construction Toys, Electronics and Dolls. The products are sold under various brand names including JAKKS Pacific(R), Play Along(R), Flying Colors(R), Road Champs(R), Child Guidance(R), Pentech(R), Trendmasters(R), Toymax(R), Funnoodle(R), Go Fly a Kite(R), Color Workshop(R) and TV Games(TM). The Company also participates in a joint venture with THQ Inc. that has exclusive worldwide rights to publish and market World Wrestling Entertainment(R) video games. For further information, visit www.jakkspacific.com or www.jakkstvgames.com.

About 4Kids Entertainment

Headquartered in New York City with international offices in London, 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: KDE - News) is a global provider of children's entertainment and merchandise licensing. 4Kids, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, provides domestic and international merchandise licensing; television, film, music and home video production and distribution; media planning and buying; product development; and Web site development. 4Kids Entertainment represents all merchandise licensing rights for the CPK. For further information, please visit the company's Web site at www.4KidsEntertainment.com.

About TIA

Founded in 1916, the Toy Industry Association (TIA), formerly Toy Manufacturers of America is recognized by government, trade, media and consumers as the authoritative voice of the North American toy industry. TIA (www.toy-tia.org) represents producers of toys, games and entertainment products for the youth market. Its more than 400 members include manufacturers and importers (regular members), manufacturers' sales representatives, licensors, marketing and promotion firms, safety and/or communications consultants and related associations and trade publications (associate members). TIA also owns and operates the American International TOY FAIR(TM) to be held February 20-23rd, 2005.