"Bandai has consistently topped the sales chart with its Gundam brand in the model kit category, and Power Rangers has been the best selling male action brand of the 1990s, 2000 and 2001," said Sean McGowan, veteran toy industry analyst with New York investment bank Gerard Klauer Mattison. "Bandai is known for their boy brands, but with their great success with the Hello Kitty and Strawberry Shortcake doll lines, the company has also become a dominant player in the girls' toy category."

To date, the Strawberry Shortcake doll and toy line has been very well-received by fans and collectors of all ages. According to market information company The NPD Group, Bandai America's Strawberry Shortcake was the number three ranked brand in the mini dolls category based on sales through the first three months of 2003 (January-March 2003).

"Given the initial retail response, Strawberry Shortcake has proven to be a very successful expansion for us in the girls' toy category, demonstrating our strength to move into new aisles and enter into a category," said Michael Riley, vice president of marketing, Bandai America Inc. "However, Bandai America's contribution in making this product a phenomenon once again is truly due to the support of the Strawberry Shortcake collector community, moms who grew up with the property, and today's little girls who represent a whole new generation of fans."

Bandai America will continue to support its Strawberry Shortcake product line and drive awareness for the brand with national television and print advertising, as well as a comprehensive marketing campaign that includes promotions, meet and greet events, a mall tour, outreach to the collector community, and participation in the first-ever Strawberry Shortcake convention to be held in July 2003 in Cleveland, Ohio.

"Since Bandai introduced Strawberry Shortcake to the mini doll segment in December 2002, the license has continued to post higher sales than the previous month, showing she is here to stay," said Michael Redmond, senior account manager, The NPD Group.

The Fall lineup includes new fashions, accessories, pets and characters, including:

• Collectibles: Berry Sweet Wearables, scented 1.5-inch miniatures that girls can now wear on a fashionable bracelet.
• The World of Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Cute Girls, 2.5-inch scented dolls that feature new fashions and carrying purses; Berry Cute Mini-Lands, mini-playsets that feature unique action; Berry Cute Houses, themed houses with fun moving features that can be interlocked to bring the magical world of Strawberryland to life.
• Fashion and Hair Play: Berry Best Friends, the premiere dolls in the collection, these scented 5.5-inch dolls come with new, removable fashions; Berry Special Parties, 5.5-inch scented dolls with themed accessories; Berry Sweet Sisters, packaged with a scented 5.5-inch Strawberry Shortcake and Apple Dumplin' doll, as well as an introductory DVD.
• New Fall Products: Berry Mini-Friends, scented, collectible plush dolls; Berry Soft Friends,10-inch scented rag dolls that come with new fashions; Berry Happy Home, the Strawberry Shortcake Berry Bungalow is an interactive playset that doubles as a carrying case; Berry Talkin' Friend, an interactive 15-inch scented Strawberry Shortcake doll that speaks and sings more than 100 different phrases.
• Activities Line: B*Stylin' offers a unique twist on traditional activity toys, and creates a brand new category called "Arts and Style." The B*Stylin' Button Designer is an easy-to-use system that allows tweens to customize, personalize and stylize their own unique buttons, crafts and jewelry accessories. B*Stylin' Refill Packs will feature images of Strawberry Shortcake, as well as other licensed characters.

Almost 20 years after the initial retail phenomenon, the classic girls' property has been re-introduced in the States with direct-to-video/DVD movies and a comprehensive licensing and merchandising roll-out at retail. 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 Pie, Ginger Snap, Orange Blossom, Angel Cake, and her pets Honey Pie Pony, Custard and Pupcake, Strawberry Shortcake finds herself exploring magical lands while learning valuable lessons. For more information, visit StrawberryShortcake.com.

About Bandai America

Bandai America Inc. is a subsidiary of Bandai Co. Ltd., the third largest toy company in the world, with 27 subsidiaries in 8 countries worldwide. Global interests include toys and children's entertainment, video game software, multimedia, music, full-length feature films, vending machines, trading cards, candies and licensed apparel.

Bandai America Inc. is celebrating its 25th anniversary as the master toy licensee of some of the most popular properties and brands in children's toys and entertainment, including the Power Rangers, Gundam, Digimon, Strawberry Shortcake and Hello Kitty product lines. Bandai America is headquartered in Cypress, California and company information is available at Bandai.com.

BURBANK, Calif., June 10, 2003 - Re-launched a few months ago with a fresh new look, early estimates demonstrate that Strawberry Shortcake is on track to exceed expectations, DIC Entertainment and American Greetings announced today, compared to her introduction in 1980 when she went on to make $100 million in sales in her first year, and more than $1.2 billion after five years.

"There are 45 licensees either in-market experiencing double-digit sell-though ratios or in development for the big fourth quarter push," said Nancy Bassett, senior vice president, worldwide consumer products, DIC Entertainment. "We've been careful not to over saturate the market with product during this critical launch year and are only signing additional licensees for 2004 who offer innovative and appropriate extensions to the program. Our focus has now shifted to broadening our domestic marketing and retail initiatives as we plan our international launches in Mexico this Christmas and Europe early next year."

"There's no doubt about it - Strawberry Shortcake is back," said Mike Brown, vice president of licensing, American Greetings. "We're thrilled with the momentum this brand is building and are strategically managing it as a new girls' brand with longevity. Already Strawberry Shortcake is exceeding our expectations. It's clear we hit a sweet spot on the timing."

A further indicator that Strawberry Shortcake is poised to repeat her success is the recent selection of the brand as one of the top toys to contend with for the season. Toy Wishes, a leading publication that watches and predicts trends within the toy industry, selected Bandai America's line of scented dolls and toys for the coveted "Hot Dozen" (Spring/Summer issue). The publication also included the scented phenomenon on both the "Top 10 Toys for Girls" and "Top 10 Travel Toys" lists.

Strawberry Shortcake's contemporary look debuted at the beginning of the year as master toy licensee Bandai America Incorporated introduced its spring line filled with scented dolls of all sizes, collectible miniatures, plush and other toys.

"We're thrilled by the fan frenzy that is surrounding Strawberry Shortcake as our new line of scented dolls and toys are flying off retailer shelves across the country," said Bill Beebe, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Bandai America Inc. "Young girls who are new to the property as well as the moms that grew up with Strawberry Shortcake just can't get enough of our dolls and toys, and we're extremely excited to be growing our lineup for future collections with new characters, pet and a variety of other items to meet that demand."

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment also released two Strawberry Shortcake movies in March on VHS and DVD, "Meet Strawberry Shortcake" and "Spring for Strawberry Shortcake," which debuted at number one and two on the DVD/VHS Best Selling Children's Chart according to Nielsen Videoscan. The videos have experienced higher than anticipated sales with an elevated number of re-orders.

"We are very pleased with the results so far," said Todd Rowan, vice president of marketing, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. "Not only have our retail partners gotten behind the property, but consumers have also shown their support. Sell-through numbers are very strong which paves the way for our next two titles coming out this fall."

Strawberry Shortcake currently has merchandise in the marketplace and other retailers are slated to debut in 2003-from new dolls and books to PC games, children's apparel and furniture. Two new titles, "Get Well Adventure" and "Berry Merry Christmas," will be released on DVD/VHS from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment in the fall. In addition, DIC Entertainment has plans to continue to support the re-launch of the brand with national promotions, print and television advertising, meet and greet events, and a live-action mall tour that will kick-off this summer.

About Strawberry Shortcake

Almost 20 years after the initial retail phenomenon, the classic girls' property has been re-introduced in the States with direct-to-video/DVD movies and a comprehensive licensing and merchandising roll-out at retail. 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 Pie, Ginger Snap, Orange Blossom, Angel Cake, and her pets Honey Pie Pony, Custard and Pupcake, Strawberry Shortcake finds herself exploring magical lands while learning valuable lessons. For more information, visit www.StrawberryShortcake.com.

About DIC Entertainment

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™," and such new shows as "Strawberry Shortcake™," "Super Duper Sumos™," "Liberty's Kids™," and "Mary-Kate and Ashley, In Action!™." 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.

About American Greetings, Inc.

American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) 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.

About Bandai America

Bandai America Inc. is a subsidiary of Bandai Co. Ltd., the third largest toy company in the world, with 27 subsidiaries in 8 countries worldwide. Global interests include toys and children's entertainment, video game software, multimedia, music, full-length feature films, vending machines, trading cards, candies and licensed apparel.

Bandai America Inc. is celebrating its 25th anniversary as the master toy licensee of some of the most popular properties and brands in children's toys and entertainment, including the Power Rangers, Gundam, Digimon, Strawberry Shortcake and Hello Kitty product lines. Bandai America is headquartered in Cypress, California and company information is available at Bandai.com.

About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

A recognized industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is the marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming on VHS and DVD as well as video acquisitions and original productions for the U.S. and Canada. Each year the Company introduces hundreds of new and newly repackaged products, which it services to more than 70,000 retail outlets - from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce - throughout North America. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is a unit of Fox Filmed Entertainment, a Fox Entertainment Group company.