Learning Curve's® Highly-Anticipated Dinosaur Train™ Product Line Arrives at all Major Retailers

OAK BROOK, Ill., Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- After months of growing consumer anticipation, RC2's (Nasdaq: RCRC) Learning Curve® brand (www.learningcurve.com), a leader in creating innovative toys for children of all ages, announces the arrival of its newest line of preschool toys, Dinosaur Train. Directly inspired by the familiar sights, sounds and iconic characters of the popular preschool series from The Jim Henson Company seen daily on PBS KIDS® (check local listings), Learning Curve's new Dinosaur Train product line brings dinosaur play to life like never before. The innovative preschool product line includes interactive dinosaur action figures, collectible dinosaurs, plush and train sets, and is available at major retailers across the country.

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Learning Curve's Dinosaur Train line utilizes Smart Talk Technology that brings the dinosaur characters to life and incorporates educational elements from the series for interactive and engaging play. The Dinosaur Train InterAction Figures combine imaginative play with this unique built-in technology, enabling the characters to recognize and react to one another (www.learningcurve.com/dinosaurtrain/video). The result is a fun-filled, entertaining and educational experience! In addition to being able to recognize and respond to other Dinosaur Train InterAction Figures, each character is fully articulated and is packed with one-of-a-kind dinosaur features, including a minimum of 40 dinosaur sounds, facts and character phrases.  With multiple activation touch points that trigger a signature dinosaur feature, such as stomping or chomping, Dinosaur Train InterAction Figures provide hours of interactive and imaginative fun all by themselves or alongside the other dinosaur friends in Learning Curve's line.

In addition to the Dinosaur Train InterAction Figures, key items in the Dinosaur Train line making their debut at retailers nationwide include Dinosaur Train Dinosaur and Train Car 2-packs, a detailed collectible dinosaur figure and a train car decorated to match the specific character; and Lights and Sounds Dinosaur Train, a colorful prehistoric train set that expands to fit additional dinosaur friends and their special train cars.

"The excitement leading up to the introduction of Learning Curve's line of Dinosaur Train toys and has been outstanding," said Peter Henseler, President of Learning Curve. "We have been receiving inquiries from parents for months wondering when they'll be able to purchase Dinosaur Train products for their children. We are pleased to launch our line of exciting and innovative Dinosaur Train toys that will be fun for kids, as well as reasonably priced for parents."

"Learning Curve is the perfect partner to help us bring the Dinosaur Train experience beyond the television screen and into the realm of imaginative play," said Melissa Segal, Sr. Vice President of Global Consumer Product for The Jim Henson Company.  "These fun and affordable toys offer the show's fans a great way to extend their learning and play at home as Buddy's world is realized with detailed and imaginative products."

Created for 3-6 year olds, Dinosaur Train has become one of the top rated shows in on the PBS Kids network's hosted preschool block. The series features a world of dinosaurs and prehistoric lands, all connected by a colorful train line known as the Dinosaur Train. Each episode is seen through the eyes of Buddy, a preschool-aged Tyrannosaurus Rex, and his adoptive family of Pteranodons. Together, they go for adventures on the Dinosaur Train to discover and visit with all kinds of dinosaurs in different eras while learning the basic concepts of natural science, natural history and paleontology.

For more information on Learning Curve's Dinosaur Train product line, visit www.learningcurve.com/dinosaurtrain.

About The Jim Henson Company

The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family entertainment for over 50 years and is recognized worldwide as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation. Best known as creators of the world famous Muppets, Henson has received over 50 Emmy Awards and nine Grammy Awards. Recent credits include the Emmy® nominated "Sid the Science Kid," "Dinosaur Train," "Wilson & Ditch: Digging America" and "Pajanimals."  Features include "The Dark Crystal," "Labyrinth," "MirrorMask," and "Unstable Fables." Television productions include "Fraggle Rock" and the sci-fi cult series "Farscape."

With additional locations in New York and London, The Jim Henson Company is headquartered in Los Angeles on the historic Charlie Chaplin lot, complete with soundstage and postproduction facilities. Independently owned and operated by the five adult children of founder Jim Henson, the Company is also home to Jim Henson's Creature Shop™, a pre-eminent character-building and visual effects group with international film, television and advertising clients, as well as Henson Recording Studios, one of the music industry's top recording facilities known for its world-class blend of state-of-the-art and vintage equipment.

The Company's Henson Alternative brand recently launched the New York run of "Stuffed and Unstrung," a live puppet improvisational show at the Union Square Theatre.http://www.henson.com

About Learning Curve® Brands, Inc.

Learning Curve Brands, Inc. (www.learningcurve.com) is a wholly owned subsidiary of RC2 Corporation (NASDAQ: RCRC, www.rc2.com) and is a leading designer, producer and marketer of a broad range of innovative, high-quality products for mothers, infants, and toddlers, as well as toys and collectible products sold to preschoolers, youths and adults.  Learning Curve Brands, Inc. markets its infant, toddler and preschool products under its Learning Curve® family of brands which includes The First Years® and Lamaze brands, as well as popular and classic licensed properties such as Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder, Super WHY!, Chuggington, Dinosaur Train, John Deere, Disney's Winnie the Pooh, Princesses, Cars, Fairies and Toy Story, and other well-known properties.  The Company's youth and adult products are marketed under the Johnny Lightning® (www.johnnylightning.com) and Ertl®, (www.ertl.com) brands. Learning Curve Brands, Inc. reaches its target consumers through multiple channels of distribution supporting more than 25,000 retail outlets throughout North America, Europe, Australia, Asia Pacific and South America.

SOURCE Learning Curve Brands, Inc.