For
Immediate Release
PREZIOSI, PANGEA & ZORRO
RIDE INTO ACTION!
Giant toymaker and creative
development salon saddle up for world’s largest single offering of Zorro
licensed toy product!
________________________________________________________
BERKELEY,
CA — February 18, 2005 -- Zorro Productions, Inc., licensor and owner of the 86
year-old elite branded Zorro entertainment franchise, announced today that the
master toy licensee, Giochi Preziosi, Europe’s premier toy manufacturer and
distributor, selected PANGEA Corporation to conceive, design and sculpt the
world’s largest toy line for the property and to further assist in strategic
marketing and toy entertainment development for Zorro.
“We
are pleased to be working with PANGEA,” stated Dario Berte, Managing Director
of Giochi Preziosi. “They understand the driving emotion behind Zorro and with
our direction have conjured up product that reflects the actions and passions
of Zorro.”
“Zorro
is perhaps the most iconic character of our times, hiding his duality behind a
black mask while brazenly emblazoning his alter ego’s “Z” in defiance of
injustice everywhere,” said John Schulte, one of three principals of PANGEA.
“Our goal in creating evocative and provocative product is to capture the
essence and spirit of Zorro. With his majestic steed, Tornado, and his grand
sweeping cape, Zorro delivers operatic power and commands tremendous heroic
stature. The trick is – can we do
that with 6 inches?”
If
the buzz of the Hong Kong and Nuremburg Toy Shows this year is any indication,
the answer is – an unequivocal yes. Touting over 25 unique designs of figures,
play sets and accessories, the Zorro toy line is the largest commitment any toy
company has ever made to the entertainment property. A particular favorite so
far is the Mounting Action Zorro and Tornado, a cleverly engineered feat where
Zorro jumps and flips head over heels to land squarely on Tornado’s saddle.
“Giochi
Preziosi’s Beatrice Broggi, their R&D Director, has provided inspiration
and keen insight while directing the toy line,” Schulte said. “We continue to
be impressed with the speed, quality and refinement that Giochi Preziosi and
Beatrice’s team exhibited as the Zorro toy line developed,” declared John C.
Besmehn, one of the principals of PANGEA. “They have effectively engineered and
honed mechanisms and maintained exquisite sculpting detail from our original
working prototypes. It’s quite remarkable!”
“We
are expecting huge results from our property – and from the toy line,” declared
John Gertz, president of Zorro Productions. “In addition to big budget feature
film later this year, we’re excited about the new origin novel penned by famous
author Isabelle Allende. We look at the impressive toy line as the biggest
gallop forward for our merchandising plans.”
“We
know with Giochi Preziosi’s expert marketing, quality manufacturing and solid
distribution power, and a rich and creatively fun toy line from PANGEA, kids
and collectors alike will shout the praises of Zorro,” Gertz added. The toy
line shows at the New York Toy Fair, February 2005.
“The
Legend of Zorro,” the follow-up feature film to 1998’s “The Mask of Zorro,”
stars the same stellar cast from the first blockbuster: Antonio Banderas and
Catherine Zeta-Jones reprise their roles, and director Martin Campbell lensed
the action-packed adventure film, due for release in November, 2005.
Zorro
Productions Inc. controls the
worldwide trademarks and copyrights in the name, visual likeness and the
character of Zorro, the Spanish California hero created in 1919 by Johnston
McCulley. John Gertz, President,
and Sandra Curtis, Senior Vice President, have been guiding the brand for over
twenty years through major films, television, stage productions, publishing
projects and promotions in addition to hundreds of licensed products. The
corporate offices are located in Berkeley, California. www.zorro.com
Giochi Preziosi S.p.A. is one of the largest European toy companies, headquarted in
Milano, Italy. Formed in 1978, GP has one of the most sophisticated
distribution networks in all of Europe, representing brands from many other toy
manufacturers as well as their own in-house brands and directly-held licenses. www.giochipreziosi.it
PANGEA
Corporation is a
unique privately-held creative salon, which provides intellectual development
and a full array of creative services for entertainment, toy and licensing
companies. The company and the principals, John C. Besmehn, John Schulte and
Cheryl Ann Wong are based in Dana Point, CA. www.PangeaCorp.com
Media
Contact:
Cheryl Ann
Wong
949.633.8665
