THQ, Dis Interactive and Pixar Announce Strategic Multi-Property Publishing Agreement

THQ, Disney Interactive and Pixar Animation Studios Announce Strategic Multi-Property Publishing Agreement
Interactive Rights to Next Three Animated Disney/Pixar Films Included

THQ Inc. has announced a strategic, multi-property publishing agreement with award-winning interactive entertainment publisher Disney Interactive and Academy Award®-winning Pixar Animation Studios, granting THQ exclusive interactive rights to the next three Disney/Pixar animated feature films, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Cars. The worldwide deal extends through 2008 and includes all game systems manufactured by Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft as well as PC/MAC.

Finding Nemo, Walt Disney Pictures presentation of a Pixar Animation Studios Film and the first property scheduled for release under this new agreement, will make its theatrical debut summer 2003. Written and directed by Academy Award®-nominee Andrew Stanton, Finding Nemo is a visually stunning underwater adventure, following the eventful journeys of two fish - a father and his son Nemo - who become separated in the Great Barrier Reef.

Next in the agreement is Pixar's production The Incredibles, which is scheduled for release holiday 2004. An action-adventure comedy from acclaimed director Brad Bird (The Iron Giant), this clever comedy depicts a family of undercover superheroes struggling to live a quiet suburban life while surreptitiously saving the world.

Cars, scheduled for release holiday 2005, will complete THQs publishing agreement with Disney Interactive and Pixar. Pixar's two-time Academy Award®-winning director John Lasseter (Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2) returns to the director's chair for this high-octane adventure comedy featuring a wide assortment of cars as characters that get their kicks on Route 66.

Disney and Pixar have a legacy of creating blockbuster animated motion pictures including Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2 and, most recently, Monsters, Inc. said Brian Farrell, president and CEO, THQ. Our handheld adaptations of each of those properties have been top-performers at retail. We now look forward to a cross-platform approach to our Disney/ Pixar business as we integrate these properties into our product portfolio, strategically managing each brand across every viable game system.

Steve Jobs, chairman and CEO of Pixar Animation Studios added, "Pixar is excited to have entered into this long-term publishing partnership with THQ. This agreement will allow THQs film inspired games to benefit from longer development lead times and a growing creative dialogue with Pixar on each film release. Pixar is committed to creating the highest quality animated films for the enjoyment of families around the world. Additionally, we want the entertainment products inspired by our films to appropriately capture their magic, which our new agreement with THQ moves us all closer to achieving in the interactive arena."

Andy Mooney, president of Disney Consumer Products Worldwide said, "We look forward to Disney Interactives expansion of its strategic relationships with Pixar and THQ, and are confident this alliance will strengthen the successful position of the Disney/ Pixar brand across all interactive platforms."

About Pixar Animation Studios

Pixar Animation Studios (Nasdaq: PIXR, www.pixar.com) combines creative and technical artistry to create original stories in the medium of computer animation. In partnership with Disney, Pixar has created four of the most successful and beloved animated films of all time: Academy Award®-winning Toy Story (1995); A Bugs Life (1998); Golden Globe-winner Toy Story 2 (1999); and the Academy Award®-winning Monsters, Inc. (2001). Pixars four films have earned more than $1.7 billion at the worldwide box office to date. The Northern California studios next three film releases are Finding Nemo (summer 2003), The Incredibles (holiday 2004) and Cars (holiday 2005).

About Disney Interactive

Disney Interactive, Inc. is a worldwide leader in the creation of innovative interactive entertainment, developing, marketing and globally distributing a wide variety of interactive family-oriented entertainment, educational and sports CD-ROMs and video games. Disney Interactive is the multimedia division of The Walt Disney Companys Consumer Products unit. For more information visit www.disneyinteractive.com

About THQ

THQ Inc. develops and publishes interactive entertainment software worldwide for a variety of hardware platforms including PC CD-ROM, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Sony Computer Entertainment, Nintendo and Microsoft. The THQ Web site is located at www.thq.com

--Posted May 8, 2002

Source: THQ / Pixar Press Release
Formatted: LaughingPlace.com