Walmart gets exclusive on Madagascar special
PHYSICAL: DreamWorks Animation's program to premiere on NBC Nov. 17, DVD next day
By Samantha Clark -- Video Business, 11/3/2009
NOV. 3 | PHYSICAL: The Madagascar penguins will be celebrating Christmas at Walmart this year.
The DVD will be priced at $5,
or $8 for a deluxe edition.
DreamWorks Animation is releasing a new title in the franchise, Merry Madagascar, on DVD exclusively at Walmart on Nov. 18, one day after the 30-minute animated special premieres on NBC.
The program will be priced at $5 for a vanilla DVD or $8 for a deluxe DVD with additional content.
The partnership represents the first time Walmart has collaborated with a major studio on a holiday-specific campaign celebrating family time around a TV-movie night, a Walmart statement said. The retailer also said this is the first time DreamWorks Animation is partnering with a retailer exclusively on a TV property and new DVD.
DreamWorks and Walmart are promoting Merry Madagascar with a special Web site that includes a game, sneaks peeks of the program and holiday movie night recipes from co-sponsors Kraft and Kellogg’s.
“DreamWorks Animation’s Madagascar continues to be a phenomenal entertainment property, and this TV movie is a wonderful opportunity for Walmart to help families create memorable family moments in very affordable ways,” said Greg Hall, VP of media services at Walmart. “We are proud that our exclusive, kid-friendly products for Merry Madagascar offer customers another great value to enjoy this holiday season.”
Walmart also will sell Merry Madagascar-licensed products, including plush animals, puzzles, games and apparel.
“The creative team at DreamWorks Animation who brought the world of Madagascar to life on the big screen has produced an all-new holiday adventure for family audiences to enjoy at home this season and for many years to come,” said Ann Daly, chief operation officer of DreamWorks Animation. “We are thrilled to unveil Merry Madagascar to TV audiences on NBC Nov. 17 and to audiences across the country in Walmart stores the very next day.”
In Merry Madagascar, Santa gets amnesia after his sleigh crashes on the island, and the characters from the original Madagascar movies—Alex, Marty, Melman, Gloria and the penguins—must save Christmas by delivering presents.
