EL SEGUNDO, CA (February 8, 2005) - Mattel, Inc.'s Matchbox® brand charts a new course in 2005 with a great new toy line that allows kids to act out their very own pirate adventures. The is the anchor of the 2005 line, with fun sound effects and adventurous twists and turns that will keep kid pirates hooked on the action. Plus, with the Matchbox® Buried Treasure™ "Instant Win" promotion, everyone is a winner with two lucky fans winning the ultimate pirates' booty, a Caribbean cruise!

"This is an adventurous time for Matchbox® as we embark on exciting new activities and launch the 2005 Matchbox® vehicles and playsets," remarks John Coyne, Director of Matchbox® Marketing for Mattel, Inc. "We know that kids love pirates and we're excited to send two lucky Matchbox® fans and their family to the Caribbean for the ultimate Matchbox® Buried Treasure™ experience."

The Matchbox® Buried Treasure™ Playset includes a wrecked pirate ship, buried treasure, a drive-through skull with light-up eyes, and a special waterfall where Matchbox® cars plunge toward adventure. For added fun, there's an ultra-cool dynamite plunger that allows kids to "blow up" the rocks and dirt that surround the hidden treasure. A sound chip with cool pirate themed phrases like "Hands off me gold" and "There is no escape" bring the playset to life for kids.

The Buried Treasure™ Playset from Matchbox® is available now, for $19.99 and is recommended for children ages 3 and up. It's the perfect playset to accompany Matchbox® vehicles, $.99 each.

The Matchbox® Buried Treasure™ "Instant Win" promotion begins where the vehicle line begins, the Matchbox® 1-75 Collection of die-cast cars, each of which will feature an "Instant Win" sticker on packaging. Everybody is a winner, with a chartered cruise to the Caribbean as grand prize, other "Instant Win" prizes include pirate-themed stickers, lenticulars and tattoos.

About Mattel

Mattel, Inc., (NYSE: MAT, www.mattel.com) is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products, including Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever created. The Mattel family is comprised of such best-selling brands as Hot Wheels®, Matchbox®, American Girl® and Tyco® R/C, as well as Fisher-Price brands (www.fisher-price.com), including Little People®, Rescue Heroes®, Power Wheels® and a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs more than 25,000 people in 42 countries and sells products in more than 150 nations throughout the world. The Mattel vision is to be the world's premier toy brands -- today and tomorrow.