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MALIBU, Calif., May 13 -- JAKKS Pacific, Inc. announced today that it has signed a licensing agreement with DIC Entertainment and American Greetings to produce Tongue Tape(TM) candy tongue strips based on the classic American Greetings children's property Strawberry Shortcake. JAKKS will debut the Strawberry Shortcake line of Tongue Tape(TM) candy-flavored tongue strips at the National Confectioners Association Candy Expo in Chicago this week.

JAKKS Pacific's Flying Colors division will produce an assortment of the new candy-flavored tongue strips in flavors representing Strawberry Shortcake and her friends from the magical world of Strawberryland, including Apple Dumplin', Huckleberry, Ginger Snap, Orange Blossom, Angel Cake, and her pets Honey Pie, Custard and Pupcake. The Company expects to begin shipping this new assortment of Tongue Tape(TM) to toy, convenient, mass merchant and other retail stores nationwide in Fall 2003. JAKKS will also create a line of activity toys based on Strawberry Shortcake to be sold at Target stores beginning in August 2003.

"Tongue tape is an entirely new category for our industry and a perfect vehicle for the Strawberry Shortcake brand," said Nancy Bassett, senior vice president, consumer brand products, DIC Entertainment. "From its inception, Strawberry Shortcake has been strongly linked to the signature berry scents associated with each character. Tongue Tape(TM) tastes great and will likely help to further increase the property's exposure at retail."

"Strong demand for Tongue Tape(TM) indicates that kids seem to love the product and Strawberry Shortcake is a perfect fit with this popular new candy category," commented Jennifer Richmond, vice president licensing, JAKKS Pacific. "We believe that Strawberry, Apple Dumplin', Huckleberry and their friends will make great Tongue Tape(TM) flavors that will have strong appeal at retail."

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment released two Strawberry Shortcake movies on VHS and DVD, "Meet Strawberry Shortcake" and "Spring for Strawberry Shortcake," the first of which debuted at number one and two on the DVD/VHS Best Selling Children's Chart according to Neilson Videoscan.

Strawberry Shortcake currently has merchandise in the marketplace and more is slated to debut in 2003-from dolls and books to PC games, fashion tops and furniture. "Get Well Adventure" and "Berry Merry Christmas" will be released on DVD/VHS from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment in the fall and a live-action mall tour will kick-off the summer season.

The Strawberry Shortcake stories follow the good-hearted and lovable adventures of Strawberry Shortcake and her friends who live together in the magical world of Strawberryland. With darling and mischievous characters like her sister Apple Dumplin', her friends Huckleberry, Ginger Snap, Orange Blossom, Angel Cake, and her pets Honey Pie, Custard and Pupcake, Strawberry Shortcake finds herself exploring magical lands while learning valuable lessons.

DIC Entertainment is a leading children's entertainment company with more than 3,000 half-hours of programming in its prolific library, ranked as the largest independent library of animation. DIC has also amassed a family of domestic and international broadcasters who air DIC programming in Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and Australia. Some of DIC's popular properties include "Sailor Moon(TM)," and "Madeline(TM)" as well as new shows such as "Strawberry Shortcake(TM)," "Super Duper Sumos(TM)," "Liberty's Kids(TM)" and "Mary-Kate and Ashley, In Action!(TM)." More than 25 million children watch DIC's popular programs each week. DIC is a full service studio with production, development, distribution, home video, marketing and licensing departments.

American Greetings Corporation is the world's largest publicly held creator, manufacturer and distributor of greeting cards and social expression products. Its staff of artists, designers and writers comprises one of the largest creative departments in the world and helps consumers "say it best" by supplying more than 15,000 greeting card designs to retail outlets in nearly every English-speaking country. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings generates annual net sales of approximately $2 billion. For more information on the Corporation, visit http://corporate.americangreetings.com on the World Wide Web.

JAKKS Pacific, Inc. is a multi-brand company that designs and markets a broad range of toys and leisure products. The product categories include: Action Figures, Arts & Crafts Activity Kits, Stationery, Writing Instruments, Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity Toys, Vehicles, Infant/Pre- School, Plush and Dolls. The products are sold under various brand names including Flying Colors(R), Road Champs(R), Remco(R), Child Guidance(R), Pentech(R), Trendmasters(R), Toymax(R), Funnoodle(R) and Go Fly a Kite(R). The Company also participates in a joint venture with THQ Inc. that has exclusive worldwide rights to publish and market World Wrestling Entertainment(TM) video games. For further information, visit www.jakkspacific.com.

Check out JAKKS Pacific's Tongue Tape(TM) candy strips at Candy Expo booth #2524.

Candy Expo 2003 -- McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60616

MALIBU, Calif., May 13 -- JAKKS Pacific will introduce exciting new varieties of its breakthrough candy-flavored tongue strips, Tongue Tape(TM), at the National Confectioners Association Candy Expo. The Company will show buyers new assortments of Tongue Tape, including multi-vitamin, vitamin C and electrolyte-infused assortments for active kids and adults, fun blended flavors for teen and adult taste buds and a tongue-twisting Sour Tongue Tape line. Tongue Tape accessories, such as belt clips, rings and zipper pulls, will all be showcased at the Candy Expo in Chicago.

JAKKS also plans to introduce an assortment of Tongue Tape products based on licensed properties including Hello Kitty®, Strawberry Shortcake(TM) and NASCAR®, and expects the Tongue Tape licensed assortment to begin hitting retailers nationwide as early as Fall 2003.

"As a newcomer to the candy category, we are thrilled at how successful Tongue Tape has performed at retail," comments Michael Bianco, chief merchandising officer, JAKKS Pacific, Inc. "The new assortments and accessories slated for 2004 are just the beginning of how far this great- tasting candy tongue strip can take us. Moving forward we plan on working hard toward securing placement in virtually every type of retail channel in the United States, as well as in many countries throughout the world."

Tongue Tape is a line of dissolvable candy-flavored tongue strips housed in fun tongue-shaped containers. The first assortment is available now in six yummy flavors -- Blue Ratsberry(TM), Lip Lemony Lemon(TM), Cherry Pit Stop(TM), Ooh Ooh Orange(TM), Growlin' Grape(TM) and Howlin' Hot. The Company will introduce new flavors, including watermelon, blueberry, fruit punch and apple for summer 2003, with the vitamin enriched and other line extensions expected to launch in 2004.

JAKKS Pacific, Inc. is a multi-brand company that designs and markets a broad range of toys and leisure products. The product categories include: Action Figures, Arts & Crafts Activity Kits, Stationery, Writing Instruments, Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity Toys, Vehicles, Infant/Pre- School, Plush and Dolls. The products are sold under various brand names including Flying Colors®, Road Champs®, Remco®, Child Guidance®, Pentech®, Trendmasters®, Toymax®, Funnoodle®, and Go Fly a Kite®. The Company also participates in a joint venture with THQ Inc. that has exclusive worldwide rights to publish and market World Wrestling Entertainment(TM) video games. For further information, visit www.jakkspacific.com.

Check out JAKKS Pacific's Tongue Tape(TM) candy strips at Candy Expo booth #2524.

Candy Expo 2003 -- McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60616