Leaping Lemurs! ``Zoboomafoo'' Bounds Into Video Stores This Fall; Titles Based on PBS' Emmy-Nominated Children's Series.

Entertainment Editors

BURBANK, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--June 29, 2000

America's favorite leaping lemur, Zoboomafoo, is joining his animal pals to launch a brand new video collection from PBS Home Video and Warner Home Video (WHV).

The premiere titles, "Zoboo's Little Pals" and "Play Day at Animal Junction," will arrive in stores on Sept. 19 for $14.95 SRP. Each video, in addition, will contain a free "Zoboomafoo" animal sticker play set.

Based on the Emmy-nominated PBS KIDS preschool series "Zoboomafoo," these exclusive-to-video titles celebrate the wonder of wildlife and are just plain fun for everyone. Like the series, the videos feature a refreshing mix of live-action, puppetry, animation and clay animation.

Zoboomafoo (pronounced zah-BOO-mah-foo and nicknamed Zoboo) talks, sings and exhibits the same wide-eyed curiosity as the show's young viewers. Brothers Chris and Martin Kratt of "Kratts' Creatures" are on hand to identify the animals that drop by and to facilitate the fun.

"Chris and Martin's show is fun, fascinating, exciting and informative -- everything parents expect from PBS' programming for young people," said Dan Hamby, vice president of PBS Home Video. "We're proud to be adding the high-energy, kid-tested 'Zoboomafoo' to our home video lineup."

"WHV is excited to announce the home video release of PBS' 'Zoboomafoo,'" said Clare Lukasik, WHV director, marketing. "This popular series makes a terrific addition to our ever-expanding library of family titles."

Parents looking for videos that offer an exciting blend of education and entertainment will be thrilled to add the "Zoboomafoo" titles to their video libraries.

In "Zoboo's Little Pals," Zoboo, Chris and Martin meet a Belgian horse and her foal, some baby chicks who mistake the lemur for their mom, a black bear cub who climbs as well as Zoboo, a black jaguar cub that likes to wrestle, a pack of mischievous puppies and other young creatures.

The fun continues in "Play Day at Animal Junction" as Zoboo is so full of energy that he is ready to frolic all day long. In their quest for the ultimate playmate, Zoboo and the Kratt Brothers kick around a soccer ball with a baby elephant, swim with ducklings, play catch with a white-fronted capuchin and lose a game of tug-of-war to a pair of lion cubs.

"Zoboomafoo," which debuted on PBS in January 1999, was created for preschoolers following the Kratt Brothers' highly successful PBS wildlife series for school-age kids, "Kratts' Creatures."

Airing Monday through Friday on the PBS KIDS Ready to Learn block of programming (check local listings), "Zoboomafoo" is watched by nearly 3 million loyal children and adults each week. Its Web site (PBS.org/zoboo) has been selected as a Yahoo! Pick and a Netscape Pick of the Day. The program was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in March 2000.

PBS Home Video furthers PBS' mission of lifelong learning by expanding the availability of PBS' top-quality programs. PBS, with headquarters in Alexandria, Va., is a private, nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation's 347 public television stations.

A trusted community resource, PBS uses the power of noncommercial television, the Internet and other media to enrich the lives of all Americans through programs and education services that inform, inspire and delight. More information is available at PBS.org.

PBS Home Video titles are distributed by Warner Home Video, a division of Time Warner Entertainment Company L.P.

With operations in 78 international territories -- more than the video division of any other studio -- Warner Home Video commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace.

WHV's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top-quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment Company, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Video.