News

Los Angeles, CA and Pawtucket, RI – July 13, in the year of our Lord 2012 – Shout! Factory and Hasbro Studios today announced a strategic distribution collaboration to bring current animated hit series KAIJUDO: RISE OF THE DUEL MASTERS and TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS to the home entertainment marketplace in the U.S and Canada. This new multi-year alliance provides Shout! Factory with exclusive DVD rights to these two programs produced by Hasbro Studios. The announcement was made today by Shout! Factory’s founding partners Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos; and Hasbro Studios President Stephen Davis.

“We are incredibly excited and look forward to presenting these highly entertaining series on family home entertainment shelves. Having worked closely with Hasbro Studios on top brands like animated series TRANSFORMERS PRIME, G.I. JOE RENEGADES, My Little Pony FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC and more, this new opportunity continues to build on our growing success in distributing premiere animation and family friendly home entertainment brands in the marketplace.” Shout! Factory’s founding partners stated.

“Shout! Factory has been a tremendous partner in maximizing the value of our hit entertainment titles in the kids’ marketplace,” Davis said. “With their exceptional marketing and distribution prowess, we look forward to more great things from them with the rollout of our next two big franchises.”

Shout! Factory plans an aggressive rollout of KAIJUDO: RISE OF THE DUEL MASTERS and TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS on home entertainment shelves. As excitement builds for these new entertainment product lines, Shout! Factory and Hasbro Studios will announce additional news and activities later this year.

Featuring the voice talents of popular actors Scott Wolf, Freddy Rodriguez, John DiMaggio, Oded Fehr and Phil LaMarr, KAIJUDO: RISE OF THE DUEL MASTERS from Hasbro Studios and Wizards of the Coast is an action-fantasy series and follows the adventures of a young hero, Ray, who possesses the rare ability to befriend and duel alongside fantastical creatures from a parallel dimension. Evil forces would have these creatures tamed and enslaved, so Ray and his two best friends must join the ranks of the mysterious Duel Masters to ensure the survival of both races before it's too late. In the end, it's up to Ray to master the ancient art of Kaijudo in order to protect both worlds.

TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS is created specifically for the younger generation of TRANSFORMERS fans and features a group of AUTOBOTS charged with a mission to protect and learn about humans. Stationed by OPTIMUS PRIME on the technologically advanced island Griffin Rock, the Rescue Bots - HEATWAVE, BOULDER, BLADES and CHASE - team with the Burn’s family of first responders—including a police chief, firefighter, rescue pilot, engineer and the young hero Cody Burns—to keep peace and safety in their new found home. Alongside their new human friends, the Rescue Bots learn teamwork and heroism. Produced by Hasbro Studios, the half-hour series brings family, heart, humor and adventure to the TRANSFORMERS brand. Executive produced by Jeff Kline, TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS features the vocal talents of LeVar Burton, Lacey Chabert, Steve Blum, Maurice LaMarche and Peter Cullen, who voices OPTIMUS PRIME when he makes cameo appearances in this series.