Lampson Elementary School In Garden Grove Wins World Premiere Of “Kids’ WB! Presents Pokémon 3 The Movie”

(March, 27, 2001 – Burbank, CA) – On March 29, one thousand lucky students at Lampson Elementary School in Garden Grove, Southern California, will be the first to see the latest big-screen Pokémon adventure before it opens nationally in theaters on April 6th, thanks to their participation in The Premiere Kids’ WB! Poké-Read-A-Rama Challenge. Lampson Elementary, one of 65,000 schools across the country invited to participate in the reading initiative sponsored by Nintendo of America and Kids’ WB!, was selected by a random drawing for the national sweepstakes world premiere prize, among all schools that registered. Teen star David Gallagher of “7th Heaven” will host the celebration, beginning in the school’s courtyard at 10:45 AM and featuring musical surprises from the movie’s soundtrack. Pikachu will be on campus, along with the famous fleet of custom-made yellow Pikachu VW Beetles and Lugia P.T. Cruisers. Following the morning festivities, the students will be escorted to a nearby AMC Theater for the 1:00 PM screening of “Pokémon 3 The Movie,” the much-anticipated sequel to the first two popular Pokémon feature films. Additionally, Lampson Elementary School will receive a donation for their student library. The Premiere Kids’ WB! Poké-Read-A-Rama Challenge is an in-school literacy program to encourage kids to read, developed under the direction and guidance of Youth Media International Ltd., an organization of educators, award-winning veterans in the field of education and YMI’s Educational Advisory Board. The program, sponsored by Nintendo of America and Kids’ WB!, was launched in January as a direct-mail outreach supported by a national on-air Public Service Announcement campaign featuring the voices of beloved Pokémon trainer Ash Ketchum and his colorful Pokémon friends, actively encouraging kids to read. “Pokémon 3 The Movie” takes Ash and his friends to the beautiful mountain town of Greenfield, where they will encounter the Unown, the most mysterious of all Pokémon, that have the power to bring human thoughts and dreams into reality. Many of the more than 100 new Pokémon that were introduced for the first time in October of last year in the Gold and Silver edition Pokémon Game Boy games will make their animated debut in “Pokémon 3 The Movie.” Warner Bros. is again collaborating with Nintendo of America, which manages the Pokémon franchise, acquired from the original creators in Japan, in all territories outside of Asia; and 4Kids Entertainment, which adapted the film and is Nintendo of America’s exclusive agent for licensing the property. Kids’ WB! Presents a 4Kids Entertainment Production, “Pokémon 3 The Movie,” produced by Norman J. Grossfeld, President of 4Kids Productions. Grossfeld and Michael Haigney adapted the script from the original screenplay written by Takeshi Shudo and Hideki Sonoda, based on characters created by Satoshi Tajiri. The director of the Japanese production is Kunihiko Yuyama and the American director is Michael Haigney. Fans of the hit TV show will recognize the starring voice talents of Veronica Taylor, Eric Stuart, Rachael Lillis, Maddie Blaustein, Ikue Otani, Ken Gates, Dan Green and Stan Hart. The voice cast also features Peter R. Bird, Lisa Ortiz, Kathy Pilon, Lee Quick, Ed Paul, Kayzie Rogers, Tara Jayne and Roger Kay. “Pokémon 3 The Movie” is distributed by Warner Bros. Family Entertainment, an AOL Time Warner Company. www.pokemon.com [2] / AOL Keyword: Pokémon This film has been rated G by the Motion Picture Association of America. # # #