A Fun and Enchanting Instant Classic for the Entire Family!

A Fun and Enchanting Instant Classic for the Entire Family!

'THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX'

MARCH 17, 2009 ON DVD AND BLU-RAY(TM) HI-DEF FROM UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- OVERVIEW: Get ready for an all-new animated classic that families will enjoy together for years to come! In "The Tale of Despereaux," the world's bravest mouse embarks on a noble quest that leads to discovery, courage, honor and ultimately redemption. Journey along with Despereaux as he encounters an unforgettable group of colorful characters and learns about life's important messages in this charming and fun-filled story. Based on the heartwarming children's best selling book and featuring the incredible voice talents of Matthew Broderick, Emma Watson, Dustin Hoffman, Sigourney Weaver, Kevin Kline, William H. Macy, Tracy Ullman, and Stanley Tucci, "The Tale of Despereaux" has something for everyone - excitement, adventure, and a hero for boys, a princess and a love story for girls, fun and entertainment for adults and kids alike! For people of all ages, this is a timeless story about finding one's place in the world.

Consumers will also receive a free Kodak Gallery pocket photo book (a $9.99 value) with the purchase of the DVD (on specially marked packages, while supplies last)!

BONUS FEATURES:
-- THE TALE OF THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX: A (MOSTLY) NON-FICTIONAL
MAKING-OF: In this behind-the-scenes featurette we see how a modern
animated film is made from beginning to end - starting with the
story's initial conception and taking us through all the various
animation steps. The piece will showcase all of the amazing talent
behind the creation of this film.
-- TOP TEN USES FOR OVERSIZED EARS: Our hero and role model for the
child with similar physical anomalies demonstrates with enthusiasm and
creativity the exemplary benefits of having oversized ears, in a top
ten countdown.
-- SNEAK PEEK OF CURIOUS GEORGE 2: FOLLOW THAT MONKEY: Only on the "Tale
of Despereaux" DVD, be the first to see an exclusive sneak peek of the
all-new movie, Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey!

BONUS FEATURES (Exclusive to the DVD):
-- INTERACTIVE MAP OF THE KINGDOM OF DOR: From this interactive map,
viewers can explore the world of Despereaux, learning more about The
Kingdom of Dor with each click.
-- DESPEREAUX'S QUEST GAME: From fleeing past a crowd of rats to
hurtling through a gauntlet of mousetraps, this multi-level game
stands as the true test for Despereaux's courage, bravery and honor as
he has to deliver the gold necklace to the King.
-- BUILD-A-BOLDO GAME: After falling into Chef Andre's delicious soup,
Boldo must be put back together. Viewers can collect the missing parts
and bring him back to life.
-- DVD-ROM: Card Creator, Fairy Tale Fantasy, Coloring pages,
Wallpapers, Screensavers, Printable Activities are available to the
viewer.

BONUS FEATURES (Exclusive to Blu-ray(TM) Hi-Def):
-- TWO ALL-NEW SONGS: Listen to 2 never-before-heard songs from the
movie!
-- U-CONTROL: Universal's exclusive signature feature U-Control allows
viewers to delve into the making of the film with the click of the
remote without ever leaving the movie.
-- PICTURE-IN-PICTURE LIVE ACTION: Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at
the making of the film while watching the feature.
-- PICTURE-IN-PICTURE ANIMATIC: Watch the entire feature-length
animatic on screen as it plays simultaneously with the film.
-- SCENE PROGRESSIONS WITH FILMMAKER COMMENTARIES: See how animated
scenes come together - from script to final animation.
-- MAKE YOUR OWN SOUP GAME: Mix two of four different ingredients, stir
them up into the soup, and watch as The King samples and gives
different reactions to the final concoction.
-- CARD CREATOR: Upload your own photos and combine the images to create
unique and personal greeting cards with a Despereaux theme.
-- BD-LIVE FEATURES: Beginning on March 31, Universal brings you even
more great content on BD-Live! Access exclusive interactive
applications through your internet-connected player and communicate
with friends and family while watching the film and access the latest
trailers, exclusive content and more!
-- MY SCENES SHARING: Bookmark your favorite scenes then share with
your friends.
-- CARD CREATOR SHARING: Upload your own photos and combine the
images to create unique and personal greeting cards with a
Despereaux theme can send to their family and friends!

SYNOPSIS: Once upon a time ...

In the far away kingdom of Dor ... lived a brave and virtuous mouse with comically oversized ears who dreamt of becoming a Knight. Banished from his home for having such lofty ambitions, Despereaux sets off on an amazing adventure with his good-hearted rat friend, Roscuro, who leads him, at long last, on a very noble quest to rescue an endangered princess and save an entire kingdom from darkness.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION - DVD:
Street Date: March 17, 2009
Copyright: 2008 Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 61032294
Price: $29.98 SRP
Running time: 1 Hour 34 Minutes
Layers: Dual layer
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1
Rating: G
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1

TECHNICAL INFORMATION - BLU-RAY(TM):
Selection Number: 61106210
Price: $39.98 SRP
Running Time: 1 Hour 34 Minutes
Layers: BD-50
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 2.35:1
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles
Sound: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and DTS Surround 5.1

CAST AND FILMMAKERS

Cast: Matthew Broderick, Robbie Coltrane, Frances Conroy, Tony Hale, Ciaran Hinds, Dustin Hoffman, Richard Jenkins, Kevin Kline, Frank Langella, Christopher Lloyd, William H. Macy, Charles Shaughnessy, Stanley Tucci, Tracey Ulman, Emma Watson, and Sigourney Weaver.

Directed By: Sam Fell and Rob Stevenhagen
Produced By: Gary Ross and Allison Thomas
Based on the Book "The Tale of Despereaux" By: Kate DiCamillo
Screenplay By: Gary Ross
Screen Story By: Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi

Executive Producers: William Sargent, Ryan Kavanaugh, David Lipman, and Robin Bissell

Co-Producer: Tracy Shaw
Production Designer: Evgeni Tomov
Supervising Art Director: Olivier Adam
Animation Supervisor: Gabrielle Zucchelli
Visual Effects Supervisor: Barry Armour
Director of Photography: Brad Blackbourn
Edited By: Mark Soloman
Music By: William Ross
Casting By: Debra Zane, CSA

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.

Contacts: Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Evan Fong
Vice President, Publicity
818.777.5540
Evan.Fong@nbcuni.com

Lea Porteneuve
Vice President, Publicity & Communications
818 777-1391
Lea.Porteneuve@nbcuni.com

Source: Universal Studios Home Entertainment

CONTACT: Evan Fong, Vice President, Publicity, +1-818-777-5540,
Evan.Fong@nbcuni.com, or Lea Porteneuve, Vice President, Publicity &
Communications, +1-818-777-1391, Lea.Porteneuve@nbcuni.com, both for Universal
Studios Home Entertainment

Web Site: http://www.universalstudios.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: For artwork, please log on to our website at www.ushepublicity.com

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