Panini Revs Up Summer Moviegoers With the Official Disney*Pixar "Cars 2" Sticker & Album Collection

IRVING, Texas, July 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Panini America (www.paniniamerica.net), the leading global publisher of sports and entertainment collectibles, has launched the Official Disney*Pixar Cars 2 Sticker and Album Collection to celebrate the release of the animated international blockbuster – now showing, presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D in select theaters.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110701/DA29593)

The new collection features 216 unique stickers (including 18 Special Holographic stickers and 18 Metallized stickers) dedicated to beloved returning characters such as Lightning McQueen and Mater as well as new audience favorites, including Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell.

Eight-sticker packets will retail for $1.00, while the 32-page album, which includes a free poster and eight stickers, will retail for $2.00. The Official "Cars 2" Sticker & Album Collection is available at retailers nationwide including Target, Walmart, Michaels, Toys R Us, Shopko, Learning Express, K-mart and Dollar Tree. The collection is also available at the Panini America Online store (http://icollectpanini.com).

"We are truly honored to collaborate with Disney and Pixar in commemorating one of the greatest animated franchises in entertainment history," said Panini America CEO Mark Warsop. "Much like the trendsetting original film, Cars 2 appeals to countless fans worldwide, regardless of age. Likewise, so does the Official Cars 2 Sticker and Album Collection. We're excited to share this new collectible with those fans."

In honor of the movie's launch, Panini America beginning Friday will begin airing its "Cars 2" commercial in movie theaters nationwide and will work with more than 100 movie theaters across the United States to distribute more than 130,000 free "Cars 2" sticker albums to moviegoers over the next month.

For more information, including the full list of theaters participating in the month-long free-album promotion, visit www.paniniamerica.wordpress.com.

ABOUT PANINI:

The Panini Group, established almost 50 years ago in Modena, Italy, has subsidiaries throughout Europe, Latin America and the United States.  Panini is the world leader in officially licensed collectibles and is the most significant publisher of collectibles in the U.S., with official licenses for NBA, NFL, NHL, FIFA, Disney, DreamWorks, Warner Bros. and other key properties from many other licensors. Panini has distribution channels in more than 100 countries and employs a staff of over 800. For more information visit us at www.paniniamerica.net, www.paninigroup.com or www.paniniamerica.wordpress.com. You can also follow Panini America on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and on YouTube.

ABOUT THE MOVIE

Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in "Cars 2" when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world's fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Mater finds himself torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret mission orchestrated by master British super spy Finn McMissile (voice of Michael Caine) and the stunning rookie field spy Holley Shiftwell (voice of Emily Mortimer). Mater's action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. The fast-paced fun includes a colorful new all-car cast, complete with menacing villains and international racing competitors. John Lasseter returns to the driver's seat to direct this follow-up to his 2006 Golden Globe®-winning "Cars." "Cars 2" is co-directed by Brad Lewis, producer of the Oscar®-winning film "Ratatouille," and produced by visual effects industry veteran Denise Ream (associate producer, "Up"; visual effects executive producer, "Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith"). The film is in theaters now, presented in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D in select theaters. For more information about the movie, visit Disney.com/cars, like us on Facebook: facebook.com/pixarcars, and follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/disneypixar.

For More Information Contact:  
Tracy Hackler, Panini America
214-552-3475
[email protected]

SOURCE Panini America