Sony Wonder Releases D.W. Blows the Whistle and Arthur Loses His Marbles to DVD November 1

Sony Wonder Releases D.W. Blows the Whistle and Arthur Loses His Marbles to DVD November 1

(And I said) HEY! Two New Arthur Episodes on the Way ...

- Sibling Tattles and Generational Battles Teach Valuable Lessons About Judging Others -

NEW YORK, Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Never underestimate the power of Grandma Thora. When Arthur did, he almost lost his marbles and his sense of sportsmanship. Conversely, overestimate the power of a Junior Safety Officer and risk becoming a tattletale, like D.W.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051101/NYTU053 )

Tattles and battles among friends and family are the focus of two new ARTHUR new-to-DVD releases from Sony Wonder.

Taken from the sixth season of the award-winning PBS series, Arthur Loses His Marbles features America's favorite third-grader learning the consequences of judging by appearance. When Arthur discovers that Grandma Thora is a marbles champion, he trains with her so he can beat all his friends. Though Thora teaches him everything he knows about playing marbles, she doesn't teach him everything she knows. It's Read vs. Read in the first-ever Elwood City Marbles Tournament!

D.W. Blows the Whistle stars Arthur's little sister D.W., whose head gets a bit too big upon becoming Junior Safety Officer. Her reputation for strict rule enforcement turns into a tale of tattling. D.W. soon finds judging others to be hazardous to friendship ... and her ability to accomplish her real safety responsibilities.

The new ARTHUR DVD releases arrive at retail on November 1. Both DVDs include three adventures, as well as Kid-Friendly Instant Play, a convenient feature in which the program starts automatically and plays continuously.

Kid Sis Kim Brown -- "The Real D.W." -- Tells All

Arthur -- ripped from the headlines? "I admit, like all little sisters, I had my tattletale moments," said Kim Brown, sis to author and illustrator Marc Brown and the inspiration behind D.W. "Mark wants to bring to life real issues kids face everyday in school, with friends and family."

According to Brown, most of the Arthur characters and storylines are based on her family, friends and childhood haunts and jaunts in Millcreek, PA. "Our grandmother was really named Thora, Mr. Rathbun was a teacher at our school and Binky Barnes was inspired by one of Marc's friends."

Says Brown, "I never imagined my creative big brother would one day model a character as wonderful as D.W. after me. Though sometimes I don't know if I should even admit I'm the real D.W., who can be a tad sassy at times, I am truly honored to be an assertive aardvark that millions of children learn lessons from every day."

Arthur Arthur Everywhere: Videos, Toys and a Full-Length Movie in '06

One of the top-rated PBS children's series since it premiered in 1996, ARTHUR has won numerous awards, including five Emmy Awards (three for Outstanding Animated Children's Program), a George Foster Peabody Award and the prestigious BAFTA Award. More than ten and a half million viewers tune in each week to the program, which reaches 98 percent of all U.S. TV households.

With 34 licensed partners worldwide, the ARTHUR brand has several upcoming brand expansions, including:

* A line of plush toys created by Commonwealth Toy and Novelty launching
in Toys "R" Us this fall

* Arthur Pixter learning ROM by Fisher-Price to be released with mass
retailers beginning November 2005

* Full-length, direct-to-video movie, Arthur's Missing Pal, slated for
release in fall of 2006. Produced by Lions Gate Family Entertainment,
the movie features 3-D CGI animation - a first for Arthur and his
friends.

Sony Wonder is the children's and family division of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.

About SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT is a global recorded music joint venture with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars, as well as a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT is 50% owned by Bertelsmann A.G. and 50% owned by Sony Corporation of America.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051101/NYTU053
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN3
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Sony Wonder

CONTACT: Tamara Jacobs of Element Six, +1-770-971-0677,
tamarajacobs@elsix.com for Sony Wonder

Web site: http://www.sonybmg.com/

-------
Profile: intent