Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Acquires Worldwide Home Entertainment Rights to Angry Birds Toons

CULVER CITY, Calif., Sept. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) announced today that they have acquired worldwide home entertainment Blu-ray and DVD rights to Angry Birds Toons, Rovio Entertainment's inaugural animated series. 

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This marks the first-ever release of the Angry Birds Toons series on Blu-ray or DVD and comes in anticipation of Rovio's theatrical 3D Angry Birds film to be released by Sony Pictures in 2016.

"Angry Birds is one of the most recognizable franchises in the world, and we're thrilled to be the first to partner with Rovio to expand their product offering at retail through our category," said Lexine Wong, Senior Executive Vice President, Worldwide Marketing, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.  "Fans of all ages will enjoy the animated adventures as an extension of the popular game."

"With over a billion views of our cartoons through our games, we've been blown away by our fans' response to our first animated series," said Rachel Webber, Vice President of Video, Rovio Entertainment. "We're excited to bring even more content to our fans on DVD and deepen our partnership with Sony."

Angry Birds Toons brings to life the characters and adventures from one of the most beloved games in history as 52 short episodes for the whole family to enjoy.  The series is set on Piggie Island, where the Red Bird and his fearless feathered companions, must band together to protect their eggs – and their futures – from the wily plotting of the Bad Piggies.

The Angry Birds franchise has been praised for its successful combination of addictive gameplay, beloved comical characters, and quality storytelling.  With over 1.7 billion downloads across all platforms, Angry Birds popularity has led to versions of the game being created for personal computers and gaming consoles.  The first volume of Angry Birds Toons will be available in stores worldwide on Blu-ray and DVD starting in December 2013.

SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) company.  Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com.

ROVIO ENTERTAINMENT LTD.
Rovio Entertainment Ltd is an industry-changing entertainment media company headquartered in Finland, and the creator of the globally successful Angry Birds™ characters franchise. Angry Birds, a casual puzzle game, became an international phenomenon within a few months of its release. Angry Birds has expanded rapidly into multifaceted entertainment, publishing, and licensing company to become a beloved international brand. Rovio's animated Angry Birds feature film is slated for July 1, 2016. www.rovio.com

SOURCE Sony Pictures Home Entertainment