MEDIASET TO AIR SHOPRO ENTERTAINMENT’S MIRMO

Italy’s Broadcast Powerhouse Picks Up 104 Episodes of ShoPro Entertainment’s Hit International Animation Property

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (January 30, 2004) — Move over boys, Mirmo is coming! Mirmo, ShoPro Entertainment’s internationally loved girls animation property, is heading to Italian TV sets with Mediaset, Italy’s leading private TV network group. Mediaset has optioned 104 episodes of Mirmo, the popular character from the girl’s manga “Ciao,” which debuted in Japan in 2001. ShoPro Entertainment, a leading creator, developer and marketer of global entertainment brands with such renowned animation properties as MegaMan NT Warrior and Hamtaro to its credit, believes Mirmo’s combination of offbeat humor and action will capture the imagination of youth worldwide.

The acquisition of such a large number of shows is testament to Mirmo’s popularity in Japan and Mediaset’s belief in the strength of the property. Since Mirmo’s TV launch on Japanese TV in April 2002, it has won the Children’s Group prize in the 27th annual Kodansha Manga Awards as well as a special award from TV Tokyo as the best new program.

Mediaset is a media powerhouse in Italy with three commercial broadcasting television stations, whose audience share exceeds 40% of all TV viewers in the country. Mediaset is a multi-faceted media conglomerate with advertising, publishing, merchandising, video, and music groups in its portfolio and recently teamed up with ShoPro Japan to bring Italy Hamtaro.

“What an opportunity,” said Daniel Marks, ShoPro Entertainment’s director of international licensing and sales. “Mediaset, with its wonderful history of making the best in Japanese animation accessible to the children of Italy, is the perfect platform for Mirmo.”

Directed at girls ages 4-12 and boys ages 4-9, Mirmo is a comedy about a Muglox (fairy) and his human friend, the lovelorn Kaede.

Mediaset To Air Mirmo News
A prince in his homeland, Mirmo runs away from Rirumu, his betrothed by parental arrangement, and wanders into a mysterious cave in which there are hundreds of Magic mugs. All of sudden he is sucked into one of them, and ends up in the human world! It just so happens that in the human world Kaede holds the mug he lands in. Mirmo is as cute as he is obstinate, but offer him a little chocolate, and he may just play his magic maracas.

About Mediaset
Mediaset, Italy's #1 private TV network operator, has a share of more than 40% of the Italian viewing audience. Its TV holdings include networks Canale 5, Italia 1, and Rete 4. Mediaset also owns advertising firm Publitalia '80.