Cardcaptors, produced by Kodansha, one of Japan's leading book and multi-media publishers, is a high-quality half-hour adventure program targeted at the U.S. $1.5 billion youth market of girls aged six to 11. The series is now airing on Japan's public television network, NHK.

Michael Hirsh, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Nelvana Limited said:``Cardcaptors has all the elements of a highly-visible and successful merchandising brand. Nelvana believes the series promises to generate substantial ancillary revenue from related game products. Like Pokemon,Cardcaptors is filled with an unlimited cast of collectible card, toy and magazine characters that appeal to children and pre-teens. We are optimistic the series has strong potential to build our merchandising revenues and profits.''

Each Cardcaptor episode follows the lead character, a precocious young girl who discovers a powerful and ominous deck of 70 playing cards in her dusty cellar. When she opens the deck, the cards are unleashed on the world. With the help of Kero, the card master and able assistant who comes to lifefrom the deck, the young moppet is swept up in a flurry of action and adventure as she gains extraordinary powers to capture each card.

Nelvana's acquisition of Cardcaptors is the Company's first foray into the exciting world of ``anime'' (Japanese for animation), which has generated such well-received and profitable productions as Pokemon and Sailor Moon.

RTM has learned that Trendmasters, makers of toys based on properties such as Voltron, the Power Puff Girls and Battlefield Earth, holds a license for Cardcaptors. The company is currently in the initial development stage. More information will become available as Trendmasters firms up their plans for the line.

[Updated 4/28/2000]