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Pop Icon Hello Kitty Readies for Her Close-Up in Universal Studios Hollywood’s All-New Animation Studio Store Featuring Exclusive Merchandise Created for The Entertainment Capital of L.A.

3/1/2018

 
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Now Open, New Retail Store Also Debuts Items from Illumination Entertainment,
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DreamWorks Animation and Other Favorite Animated Properties
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Universal City, CA, March 1, 2018 – Donning her signature red bow, global pop phenom Hello Kitty joins Universal Studios Hollywood, taking up residence at The Entertainment Capital of L.A. in the theme park’s all-new, and now open, Animation Studio Store.

​In true Hollywood fashion, the spotlight shines brightly on Hello Kitty and her friends from Sanrio, including My Melody, Keroppi and Chococat, as they star in a selection of park-exclusive merchandise, including accessories, apparel, stationery, souvenirs and collectibles.

An array of delectable confectionery—prepared fresh daily—is also available, including such tasty treats as Hello Kitty, Chococat and Keroppi themed s’mores, and a variety of Hello Kitty themed fudge, cupcakes and caramel apples.

Highlights of the exclusive product offerings feature designs incorporating Sanrio characters into classic Universal titles such as Jaws, E.T. The Extra -Terrestrial, Back to the Future and more, as well as the group enjoying a variety of Universal Studios Hollywood theme park attractions, from the world-famous Studio Tour to “Jurassic Park—The Ride” and “King Kong 360 3D.”  New park-exclusive merchandise will be released regularly.

The shop also features the popular Hello Kitty Build-A-Bow display, inviting guests to customize their design from a selection of colorful bow options. Guests purchasing any Sanrio item will also receive a complimentary Hello Kitty Hollywood-themed temporary tattoo, which mirrors Sanrio’s ‘small gift, big smile’ philosophy that is demonstrated globally across all Sanrio’s retail stores and special events.

Hello Kitty will also make special appearances just outside the entrance of the Animation Studio Store.  Making her Hollywood debut in a red pleated dress embellished with film strips, Hello Kitty will meet and greet fans near a collection of Sanrio-themed topiaries, including My Melody, Keroppi and Chococat, and window displays featuring the characters making movies and enjoying the Universal Studios Hollywood experience.

In addition to Hello Kitty, the Animation Studio Store will feature an array of merchandise from Illumination Entertainment films, including Minions from the blockbuster Despicable Me film franchise, and DreamWorks Animation, including memorable items from Kung Fu Panda. A selection of products from other favorite animations will also be available, including Dr. Seuss, Scooby-Doo, Curious George, SpongeBob SquarePants and “The Simpsons.”

The Animation Studio Store sits at the heart of Universal Studios Hollywood in a new 6,000 square foot structure that draws its inspiration from California Mission revival architecture reminiscent of the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1930s. Fusing style with whimsy, the retail environment weaves nimble animated characters into the fabric of the Spanish architectural design from the wood detailing to the stucco, wrought iron and painted tiles.

The Carl Laemmle outdoor courtyard situated adjacent to the Animation Studio Store pays homage to the filmmaking pioneer and founder of the Universal movie studio inviting guests to dine or relax amid a decorative fountain surrounded by luscious greenery.

More information is available at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com. Like Universal Studios Hollywood on Facebook and follow @UniStudios on Instagram and Twitter.
 
Sanrio® is the global lifestyle brand best known for pop icon Hello Kitty®, and home to many beloved characters including Chococat®, My Melody®, Badtz-Maru®, Keroppi® and Gudetama.  Sanrio was founded on the ‘small gift, big smile®’ philosophy – that a small gift can bring happiness and friendship to people of all ages. Since 1960, this philosophy has served as the inspiration to offer quality products, services and activities that inspire unique consumer experiences across the world. Today, Hello Kitty’s legendary breadth of products is available in over 130 countries and in retail locations including department, specialty, national chain retailers and Sanrio boutique stores. To learn more about Sanrio, please visit www.sanrio.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter - @sanrio, @hello kitty.
 
Universal Studios Hollywood is The Entertainment Capital of L.A. and includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour. As a leading global entertainment destination, Universal Studios Hollywood delivers highly themed immersive lands that translate to real-life interpretations of iconic movie and television shows. Recent additions include “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter ™” which features a bustling Hogsmeade village and such critically-acclaimed rides as “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” and “Flight of the Hippogriff™,” Universal Studios Hollywood’s first outdoor rollercoaster.  Other immersive lands include “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” and “Super Silly Fun Land” as well as “Springfield,” hometown of America’s favorite TV family, located adjacent to the award-winning “The Simpsons RideTM” and the “The Walking Dead” daytime attraction. The world-renowned Studio Tour is Universal Studios Hollywood’s signature attraction, inviting guests behind-the-scenes of the world’s biggest and busiest movie and television studio where they can also experience such authentic and immersive thrill rides as “Fast & Furious—Supercharged.” The adjacent Universal CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex also includes the all-new multi-million dollar, redesigned Universal CityWalk Cinema, featuring deluxe recliner seating in screening room quality theatres, and the “5 Towers” state-of-the-art outdoor concert stage.

MIDSUMMER SCREAM 2018 – TICKETS NOW ON SALE

3/1/2018

 
The World’s Largest Halloween and Horror Fan Convention Returns to Long Beach July 28-29 for a Weekend of Artisans, Live Entertainment Panel Presentations and More
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LONG BEACH, CA – Midsummer Scream, the largest Halloween and horror fan convention in the world, returns to Southern California July 28-29 for an unforgettable weekend of thrills, chills, and frightful fun all under one roof at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.

Tickets for Midsummer Scream 2018 are now on sale at MidsummerScream.org including single-day General Admission passes to the brand-new, limited-edition Gold Bat Weekend Pass, which enables guests to access the show floor and other aspects of Midsummer Scream an hour early each day before the convention opens to the general public; front of line priority access to panel presentations and attractions throughout the venue; a collectible lanyard and credential; and a Gold Bat enamel pin.

Marking its third year, Midsummer Scream is expected to draw nearly 25,000 fans of all things Halloween and horror to Long Beach, where they will find a huge show floor featuring more than 200 unique vendors, a children’s activity area, a wide variety of live entertainment performances, celebrity appearances, a black cat adoption lounge, educational classes and programs, thousands of cosplayers in amazing costumes; world-class panels and presentations; and more than a dozen haunted attractions and elaborate displays for guests to experience.

Midsummer Scream is thrilled to announce the return of industry giants Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights, Knott’s Scary Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest, and Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor. These cornerstone presentations will take place throughout the weekend on the main stage, attended by thousands of hard core fans ready for the latest and greatest season announcements from these juggernauts of Halloween!

The vendor floor and Hall of Shadows will now each have their own individual halls at the Long Beach Convention Center. Featuring more than a dozen walk-through haunts and attractions, as well as creepy displays, roaming monsters, billowing fog, dark vendors, and a large performance stage, Hall of Shadows is once again the home of the Decayed Brigade sliders team, which will perform several shows daily throughout the weekend.

Tickets are now on sale at MidsummerScream.org! More news and information regarding Midsummer Scream 2018 will be announced in the weeks and months ahead!

About Midsmmer Scream
Midsummer Scream is presented by Black Cat Orange (formerly CreepyLA Productions), Gary Baker, and Theme Park Adventure. Its goal is to showcase the diversity of Southern California’s haunt and horror community as a welcoming beacon for fans around the world to converge on Los Angeles for a weekend of excitement, networking and non-stop spookery! Be sure to follow Midsummer Scream on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Periscope for breaking updates and information.

DISNEY CELEBRATES 90 YEARS OF MICKEY MOUSE WITH WORLDWIDE FESTIVITIES

3/1/2018

 
The Party Begins Next Week with a Fashion Show Inside Disneyland, Inspired by Mickey’s “True Original” Personality, Featuring the Spring 2018 Collection from the Fashion Brand Opening Ceremony®

ABC to Air Primetime Mickey Mouse Special This Fall; Disney Channel to Debut Season Five of the Emmy® Award-Winning Mickey Mouse Shorts; Disney Parks Around the World to Host the World’s Biggest Mouse Party; and Much More
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BURBANK, Calif., March 1, 2018 – Today Disney announced the launch of a world-wide celebration honoring 90 years of Mickey Mouse. Since his big-screen debut in Steamboat Willie on November 18, 1928, Mickey has been the global ambassador for The Walt Disney Company. From the beloved Mickey Mouse Club to today’s Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts, Mickey’s optimistic outlook and endearing personality continue to delight fans around the world every day. The cross-company festivities will continue through 2018 and beyond and will include an exclusive fashion show, a new television special, a celebration at Disney parks and resorts and much more.
 
The party kicks off on March 7 with “The Happiest Show on Earth”—a runway fashion event featuring a Mickey-inspired collection designed by couture brand Opening Ceremony founders Carol Lim and Humberto Leon. The show will also serve as Opening Ceremony’s Spring 2018 runway show and close out fashion week celebrations around the world. Select items from the Mickey collaboration will be immediately available for sale following the runway show at shopDisney.com, OpeningCeremony.com and Opening Ceremony stores, while the remaining ready-to-wear looks will hit stores in November. The iconic story of Minnie Mouse, who shares this milestone anniversary with Mickey and recently received her official star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, will also be celebrated at the fashion show.
 
Disney’s collaboration with Opening Ceremony will serve as the launch of “Mickey the True Original”—a global celebration of Mickey’s heritage, personality and status as a pop-culture icon. The campaign will come to life through fashion collaborations with other true original brands, as well as engaging content and events that embrace Mickey’s impact on the past, present and future.
 
The celebration continues throughout 2018 and beyond:
 
  • This fall, ABC will air a star-studded celebration of Mickey in honor of his birthday, with special guests, musical performances and more.
  • Disney Channel will debut season five of the Mickey Mouse animated shorts, taking the series total to more than 90 shorts, including a special seven-minute extended-length birthday episode that will air later this year.
  • Walt Disney Parks and Resorts around the world will celebrate Mickey’s 90th on November 18, marking the day with commemorative merchandise, photo locations and more.
  • Beginning in late 2018 and into 2019 the World’s Biggest Mouse Party, saluting Mickey and Minnie, will take place at Disney Parks worldwide.
  • Disney On Ice will salute Mickey as the “True Original” host of Disney On Ice since its inception in 1981 by creating Mickey’s 90th pre-shows for productions touring the United States, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
  • Disney On Ice presents Mickey’s Special Celebration, a new production showcasing Mickey Mouse’s memories throughout the years, will launch in Japan in July 2018 and continue touring throughout the Asia-Pacific region until August 2019.
  • In France, 38 design and art schools will take part in “Mickey Is Art,” a unique contest in which students will craft works of Mickey, inspired by their favorite artistic movement. The winning designs will be displayed this summer in 12 major train stations in France and for sale this September at Galerie Glénat in Paris.
  • Disney store will continue to celebrate milestone moments for Mickey Mouse with the Mickey Mouse Memories Collection (launched Jan. 2018), a monthly, limited-release series of 12 collectible plush, mugs and cloisonné pins inspired by Mickey’s most memorable movie roles.
  • Disney Publishing Worldwide will introduce more than 30 titles globally as part of Mickey’s 90th, including books, arts & crafts and comics.
 
In addition, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will be celebrating Mickey’s 90th throughout 2018:
 
  • D23 and the Walt Disney Archives, in partnership with Walt Disney Animation Studios, have commissioned legendary Disney animator Mark Henn to paint Mickey’s official 90th birthday portrait. Henn follows in the footsteps of artists such as Disney Legend John Hench, who crafted five of Mickey’s official portraits. Henn animated Mickey for Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983) and is currently at work on Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 (2018). The new portrait will debut on the cover of the fall issue of Disney twenty-three, a quarterly publication from D23.
  • This November, D23 will present Destination D: Celebrating Mickey Mouse, a two-day event at Walt Disney World Resort featuring panels, presentations and fun-filled entertainment.
  • This year’s annual D23 Gold Member gift is an exclusive box set of 23 special Mickey Mouse mementos—authentic reproductions of such treasured keepsakes as pages from the script of Steamboat Willie and a miniature animation cel from Parade of the Award Nominees (1932).
 
To join the conversation on social, fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #Mickey90.
 
Mickey’s birthday is celebrated in honor of the release of his first theatrical film, Steamboat Willie, on November 18, 1928, at the Colony Theatre in New York City. Since then, he has starred in more than 100 cartoons and can currently be seen on Disney Channel in theMickey Mouse cartoon series and on Disney Junior in Mickey and the Roadster Racers.

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