Boxoffice-July.1997

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SUMMER '97 PROMO GUIDE
Promotional tie-ins to the biggest summer movies
Here and Megara from Buena Vista's "Hercules."
BUENA VISTA
Buena Vista has launched another of its
famed Mega Mall tours to tout "Hercules,"
Disney's summer animation event for '97. The
five-month, 20-city tour highlights the art of
animation through live demonstrations, stage
performances and interactive games. There's a
live stage show; a miniature carousel themed
to Baby Pegasus; a workshop where particip)ants
can draw Hercules; and Hercules-themed
game booths and prizes. Sponsored by Chevy
Venture, the event also includes a Chevy Venture
minivan giveaway in each market. Mattel
is manufacturing such action figures as Hydra-
Slaying Hercules; Head-Butting Phil; Lightning
Bolt Zeus; Fireball-Shooting Hades; a
Cyclops; and a Hydra that sprouts new heads
when you chop one off. "Hercules" will also
be promoted from here to Mt. Olympus
through a tie-in with McDonald's, with the
fast-food chain offering figurines of the heroic
demigod, his cohorts and his nemeses.
McDonald's will also promote Buena
Vista's "George of the Jungle," a live-action
version of Jay Ward's '60s cartoon parody of
Tarzan. Customers will be invited to "Swing
into McDonald's and Watch Out For That
Treeeeat...". The merchandise safari also includes
children's apparel from Allison Manufacturing;
sportswear from Jerry Leigh;
neckwear and boxers from MJC; trading cards
fiiom Upper Deck; T-shirts from Stanley De
Santis; footwear from Pagoda; and jungle
blankets and throws from Beacon Manufacturing.
COLUMBIA
"ID4" star Will Smith will again tussle with
aliens this fourth of July weekend, this time in
"Men In Black," in which he co-stars as J
opposite Tommy Lee Jones, who plays K.
They're both MIBs-special agents who monitor
extraterrestrial activity and keep it under
control-which isn't always easy, judging from
some ofthe toys being offered by Galoob. First
there's Alien Ambush J vs. Tree Tmnk Alien.
"There's a secret alien hidden inside the tree
tmnk.. .Pose J to blast 'em out!" Then there's
Slime Fighting K vs. Edgar. "K's being slimed
by the hidden alien!" And Steel Striker K vs.
Manhole Cover Alien-well, that doesn't even
require an explanation, does it? Galoob will
also release MIB Micro Machine scale miniatures.
Over 30 other licensees are on board for
this event picture, including Aladdin Industries
(lunch boxes); American Needle (baseball
Slippers featuring characters from
Buena Vista's "George of the Jungle."
Slime-Fighting K of Columbia's "Men In Black.
caps); Changes Inc. (T-shirts, sweatshirts and
tank tops); Disguise Inc. (costumes, masks,
make-up and Halloween accessories); Ero Industries
Inc. (sleeping bags and play tents);
Foot-Tec Industries Inc. (children's footwear);
GTE Entertainment (CD-ROM games); Impact
(backpacks and wallets); Inkworks (trading
cards and stickers); Jay Franco & Soas Inc.
(beach towels); Marvel Comics (comic
books); Microgames of America (walkie-talkies);
OSP Publishing Inc. (posters); Party Professionals
(masks); Revell-Monograin (model
kits); and Tiger Electronics (LCD hand-held
games). For MIB wanna-bes, there will be an
"Official Men In Black Agent's Manual"
from Newmarket Press.
FOX
20th Centiuy Fox will be pulling out all the
stops to promote "Ana.stasia" the first film
from the studio's new animation division. Meg
Ryan voices the tide character in this animated
musical about an amnesiac girl who might be
the daughter of Russia's last czar. Galoob Toys
has designed a fashion doll with a rags-toriches
wardrobe, from a tattered blouse and
skirt outfit to a gorgeously ornate ball
gown. Burger King will offer premiums
based on the film's characters, and Pizza
Hut, Nabisco, Kraft Foods, PepsiCo and
Coca-Cola will also have tie-ins. Other companies
Fox has pacted with for "Anastasia"
include Applause (plush dolls); Disguise Inc.
(costumes and masks); ERO Industries Inc.
(sleeping bags and play tents); Fruit of the
Loom (children's underwear); Harper Collins
(storybooks); Kid Duds (sleepwear); Tiger
Electronics (hand-held games); Tyco/
ViewMaster(3-D ViewMaster reel cards); and
Warren Industries (board games and jigsaw
puzzles). And the music box Anastasia treasures
will be recreated in several sizes by SF
Music Box, and will play the film's haunting
melody "Once Upon a Etecember."
NEW LINE
"Spawn," a sci-fi action film based on the
popular Image Comics superhero, will be promoted
by a Sony Playstation tie-in and a
sweepstakes in Wizard Magazine. Starring
Martin Sheen, John Leguizamo and
Michael Jai White, "Spawn" is "the story
of the ultimate war between good and
evil." McFarlane Toys is the toy licensee.
The heroine of Fox's "Anastasia" in her tmll gown.