NARUTO: NINJA RANKS PREMIUM TRADING CARDS FROM PANINI AND INKWORKS

MORRISVILLE, NC - March, 2006 - The Ninjas are here! The number one animated cartoon for teens, NARUTO, is coming to trading cards for the first time in an all-new set from the world leaders in entertainment trading cards, Panini and Inkworks. The new Panini premium trading card series NARUTO: NINJA RANKS offers anime fans in-depth information about NARUTO and all their favorite characters as seen on the popular television series. The base set for the premiere collection is 72 cards. In addition, fans will have the opportunity to find several levels of randomly inserted bonus cards including:

- "Ninja Warriors" - Nine cards printed on premium foil board that feature the stealthiest ninja in the land: Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, Kakashi, Haku, Gaara, Neji, Orochimaru and Lee. (9 cards - inserted approximately 1:7 packs).

- "Friends and Foes" - Six cards that are printed on premium foil board and stamped with holographic foil. These amazing cards feature the dual-relationships of Naruto: Guy/Kakashi, Naruto/Fox Spirit, Naruto/Saruka, Sasuke/Naruto, Sakura/Ino, and Itachi/Sasuke. (6 cards - inserted approximately 1:11 packs).

- "Super Deformed" - Six cards that are printed on premium foil board and die-cut. These special cards feature your favorite characters, SUPER-DEFORMED! Look for Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, Kakashi, Forth Hokage, and Shikamaru. (6 cards - inserted approximately 1:11 packs).

- "Group 7" - Three box loader cards (3 different cards - 1 per box).

Each pack of Panini NARUTO: NINJA RANKS cards contains nine premium trading cards and has a suggested retail price of $1.99. Display boxes contain 24 packs. Cases contain 10 display boxes. A Panini NARUTO: NINJA RANKS collector album has been specially created to hold the trading cards (SRP $19.95).

NARUTO: NINJA RANKS is produced by Panini in the U.S. It is distributed in the United States exclusively by Inkworks.

Inkworks is the award-winning entertainment trading card manufacturer based in Morrisville, North Carolina. Current Inkworks licenses include LOST, ANGEL, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, SMALLVILLE, ALIAS, FAMILY GUY, THE SOPRANOS, VERONICA MARS, CHARMED, THE 4400, and others. For a complete product release schedule, more information on Inkworks products or to find out how to get free collector cards, please visit the Inkworks web site at www.inkworks.com.

Upcoming products from Inkworks include FAMILY GUY: SEASON TWO (April, 2006), FIREFLY: THE COMPLETE SERIES (May, 2006) and CHARMED: DESTINY (May, 2006).

Panini Information:
Panini is one of the world's largest and most prestigious producers of collectable products. Naruto: Ninja Ranks will be the first of several card series to be published and distributed in the US market to satisfy the huge and growing demand for Naruto knowledge and imagery.

The Panini Group, based in Modena, Italy, is the world leader in the collectable sticker and trading card market, is the fourth largest publisher in Europe of juvenile titles, and is currently developing a series of initiatives in the multimedia sector, both on and off-line, under the trademark Panini Interactive. The Group has 630 employees, had sales in 2005 of over �400 million, and has subsidiaries in the UK, Spain, France, Germany, Holland, Brazil, Chile and Mexico, and Panini distributes its products in more than 110 countries.

Further information can be obtained on http://www.paninigroup.com.