The Jim Henson Company And Amtrak Partner On "PAJANIMALS Pack Your Pajamas" National Sweepstakes

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., July 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Pack your pajamas and prepare for a chance to win a fun, family train trip courtesy of Amtrak and The Jim Henson Company, a leader in family entertainment for over 50 years, as part of the "PAJANIMALS Pack Your Pajamas Sweepstakes."  The new promotion and the Company's ongoing partnership with Amtrak were announced today by Melissa Segal, Executive Vice President of Global Consumer Products for The Jim Henson Company.

Families can enter the "PAJANIMALS Pack Your Pajamas Sweepstakes" beginning July 1^st and ending July 31^st  by logging onto www.henson.com/PJsweepstakes/ and following the sweepstakes entry directions.  The "PAJANIMALS Pack Your Pajamas Sweepstakes" will award one Grand Prize of four round-trip coach tickets on Amtrak, a Flip video camera and a 4-piece large plush set of PAJANIMALS from Tomy.  Five First Prize winners will receive HeysUSA Amtrak luggage and a PAJANIMALS Adventure Game from Briarpatch and 10 Second Prize winners will receive an Amtrak branded hoodie and the "PAJANIMALS Playdate" DVD from NCircle Entertainment.  The sweepstakes ends July 31, 2013, just in time to take the family on an exciting vacation adventure via Amtrak.

As part of the national summer promotion, Amtrak will promote the "PAJANIMALS Pack Your Pajamas Sweepstakes" and entry details through counter cards and seatbacks in over 100 Amtrak stations nationwide.  Amtrak will also distribute free PAJANIMALS themed activity booklets to young travelers and PAJANIMALS will be featured on placemats for use in Amtrak's dining cars.  Sweepstakes details will be posted on the websites of Amtrak and The Jim Henson Company.

"Youngsters and their parents have grown to trust PAJANIMALS, especially when it comes to feeling safe while discovering the fun and independence that comes with new experiences and adventures," said Segal.  "The PAJANIMALS sweepstakes with Amtrak is an enjoyable way to engage preschoolers and their parents while reminding everyone that taking a train trip to someplace new can be a wonderful time for family togetherness and discovery, especially sleeping on a train!   Additionally, the response to our Dinosaur Train promotions with Amtrak over the past two summers were so exceptional, we're all very enthusiastic about extending our partnership with Amtrak to include PAJANIMALS."

PAJANIMALS currently airs daily on Sprout, the 24-hour preschool channel parents and kids share together, and on Saturday mornings on NBC Kids.  The series follows the adventures of four cuddly musical puppets -- Sweet Pea Sue, Squacky, Cowbella and Apollo. These Journeys celebrate imagination and tackle typical toddler issues such as the fear of the first day of school, making new friends and learning how to share.  The PAJANIMALS, end their day of play with a relaxing return to their cozy bedroom and familiar night time routines, including bathing, brushing teeth and story time, to develop a feeling of safety and structure.

About PAJANIMALS
PAJANIMALS follows the amazing adventures of four sweet and gentle characters—Sweetpea Sue the pony, the excitable duck Squacky, the creative cow Cowbella and the optimistic puppy Apollo—who were designed and built by the world-famous Oscar® and Emmy® Award-winning Jim Henson's Creature Shop™ from original concepts by Los Angeles-based toy and clothing designer, artist Jeff Muncy. Through their imaginary journeys, these cuddly musical puppets venture out on adventures of discovery, modeling the skills preschoolers need to move through their days successfully.

Produced in Northern Ireland as a co-production between The Jim Henson Company, Sprout and Northern Ireland's Sixteen South Television, PAJANIMALS has obtained funding assistance from Northern Ireland Screen.  The Jim Henson Company's Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford serve as Executive Producers for the series, along with co-creators Jeff Muncy and Alex Rockwell. Serving as Executive Producer for Sprout is Andrew Beecham, while Lisa O'Brien, serves as Executive in Charge of Production. Sixteen South's Colin Williams serves as producer for the series, with Michael and Patty Silversher composing the music. The Jim Henson Company is handling all ancillary use of the property including licensing, video and merchandising.

About Amtrak®
Amtrak is America's Railroad®, the nation's intercity passenger rail service and its high-speed rail operator.  A record 31.2 million passengers traveled on Amtrak in FY 2012 on more than 300 daily trains – at speeds up to 150 mph (241 kph) – that connect 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian Provinces. Amtrak operates intercity trains in partnership with 15 states and contracts with 13 commuter rail agencies to provide a variety of services.  Enjoy the journey® at Amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL for schedules, fares and more information.  Join us on facebook.com/Amtrak and follow us at twitter.com/Amtrak.

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" as well as "Wilson & Ditch: Digging America" and "Pajanimals." Features include "The Dark Crystal," "Labyrinth," "MirrorMask," and "Unstable Fables" and television productions include "Fraggle Rock" and the sci-fi cult series "Farscape." For more information, visit the Henson website at http://www.henson.com/ 

SOURCE The Jim Henson Company