PRESS RELEASE

'Angelina Ballerina' Earns New CG Treatment
April 21st, 2008 1:10 PM by Aaron H. Bynum

Computer Animated Ballerina
Angelina Ballerina, an animated television series about a girl whose passion for dance and music pulls her interest into and through a variety of new and unique cultures, will be making the increasingly popular transition from traditional two-dimensional animation over to fully-rendered computer animation. As Angelina encounters new styles of the performing arts, she engages new friends about how to best adapt and learn to the new experience. Angelina Ballerina, a franchise managed in part by HiT Entertainment (Shaun the Sheep, Fifi and the Flowertots), will kick off with a slightly newer look next Fall season.

Marking the Angelina Ballerina property's 25th year in publishing, based on the books by Katherine Holabird and Helen Craig; the transition to computer animation will find young Angelina still eager to burst into new interests of music and dance. Airing on PBS Kids programming in the States and Nick Jr. in the UK, the new series, entitled Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps, will be produced by SD Entertainment (My Little Pony, Care Bears) with Executive Producer Karen Barnes from HiT Entertainment. The computer animation is schedule to hit airwaves in Fall 2009 packaged into two formats: 40x30 minute episodes for PBS, and 80x12 episodes for Nick Jr. UK..

"After 25 successful years in publishing, we are excited to be celebrating Angelina Ballerina's Anniversary with a fresh, new CGI animated look," Lenora Hume, Executive Vice President, Production & Programming, HIT Entertainment, commented.

"This style of animation allows us to move Angelina in a much more fluid way so that young fans can follow Angelina's steps in many more genres of dance, as well as traditional ballet," Hume continued.

"We are delighted to be working with such experienced, distinguished partners as Thirteen/WNET, Nick Jr. UK and SD Entertainment -- leaders in their field -- to create the debut series which we are sure will delight young fans around the world."

Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps introduces viewers to Angelina's new home in a neighborhood on the other side of Chipping Cheddar. The series will also feature a new performing arts school, called Camembert Academy, new friends, a new teacher named Miss Mimi, and much more.

Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps promises to retain the core concepts of the original program and the readings it is based on, by incorporating new forms of dance for Angelina including modern, tap, jazz, classic and ethnic. The new series will also be supported by a full licensing and merchandising program.

"We're delighted to take Angelina, an adorable classic character, into a new era," Sandra Sheppard, Executive Producer and Director of Children's Programming, Thirteen/WNET, stated. "The series, with its strengthening focus on music and dance, is an important part of public television's mission to extend the arts to young viewers, and one we at Thirteen embrace."

About HIT Entertainment: HIT Entertainment is one of the world's leading independent children's entertainment producers and rights-owners. HIT's portfolio includes properties, such as Bob the Builder, Thomas & Friends, Fireman Sam, Angelina Ballerina and Rainbow Magic. HIT represents Fifi and the Flowertots in North America and Japan and acts as a worldwide representative for The Jim Henson Company's library of family brands and as representative for The Wiggles in the UK. Launched in 1989, HIT's lines of business span television and video production (including studios in the US and the UK), publishing, consumer products licensing and live events.