robbalvey Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/six-flags-sony-pictures-entertainment-announce-advertising--promotion-campaign-for-the-smurfs-118000909.html GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas, March 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second consecutive season, Sony Pictures Entertainment is teaming up with Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE: SIX), to help launch one of its summer blockbuster films. The highly anticipated movie, "The Smurfs®," will be promoted during Spring Break events at all domestic parks in conjunction with an in-store promotion debuting Smurf-branded merchandise at Hot Topic stores nationwide. "The Smurfs" will be released in theaters nationwide on August 3, 2011. "Six Flags is thrilled to be working alongside Sony Pictures Entertainment again this season to innovatively showcase the film via our in-park media assets as well as execute a very unique experiential sweepstakes," said David McKillips, senior vice president, Corporate Alliances for Six Flags. "This campaign demonstrates our ability to strategically target specific demographics with a multi-medium, hands-on approach." "After a successful pairing with Six Flags last summer on our worldwide hit film The Karate Kid, we're very pleased to reprise our relationship and add leading teen retailer, Hot Topic, to this creative, collaborative Spring Break promotion," said Gregory Economos, senior vice president, Global Consumer Products, Sony Pictures Entertainment. In support of "The Smurfs," Sony is bringing Six Flags and Hot Topic stores together to offer customers a retail incentive this spring. With the purchase of Smurf-branded t-shirts at 200 participating Hot Topic stores across the country, from March 12 to April 25, 2011, customers will receive a $20 discount off general admission to all domestic Six Flags parks. Additionally, Six Flags will sponsor a sweepstakes at sixflags.com/smurfs, providing Smurf fans the chance to win a 3-day/2-night adventure for two to New York City, Six Flags tickets, plus cash and other prizes. The sweepstakes, which begins March 12 and ends April 25, 2011 will be open to legal residents of 47 of the 48 contiguous U.S. states and D.C. (FL excluded), 13 years of age or older. The promotion and ticket discount will be supported with a co-branded campaign in all Hot Topic stores and Six Flags using Six Flags Media Networks, which includes Six Flags TV, digital billboards, signage and online inventory. Sony will also run advertising on Six Flags Media Networks to promote the movie release date, August 3, 2011, later in the summer. The Smurfs make their first 3D trip to the big screen in Columbia Pictures'/Sony Pictures Animation's hybrid live-action and animated family comedy, The Smurfs. When the evil wizard Gargamel chases the Smurfs out of their village, through a magical portal, and into our world, they land in the middle of New York's Central Park. Just three apples high and stuck in the Big Apple, the Smurfs must find a way to get back to their village before Gargamel tracks them down. Directed by Raja Gosnell. The producer is Jordan Kerner. The screenplay is by J. David Stem & David N. Weiss and Jay Scherick & David Ronn from a story by J. David Stem & David N. Weiss, based on the Characters and Works of Peyo. About Six Flags Entertainment Corporation Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world's largest regional theme park company with 19 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Six Flags Over Texas, the company's flagship location, is celebrating its 50th anniversary season in 2011. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/sixflags Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/sixflags About Six Flags Media Networks Six Flags Media Networks provides the advertising community with comprehensive, multi-platform media opportunities via its media touch points that go far and beyond that of traditional advertising. For its local, regional and national advertising partners it offers: Six Flags Television Network, Six Flags Radio, Six Flags Print, Six Flags Outdoor, Six Flags Outdoor Spectacular, Six Flags Attraction Integration, Six Flags Experiential Marketing and Six Flags Online. Six Flags Television Network is part of Six Flags Media Networks' recently-launched digital out-of-home offering that combines a collection of digital assets to deliver nearly 100 million annual impressions, or approximately 20 million per month during peak operating season. About the Smurfs The story of the Smurfs - a property created by Peyo - started in 1958 with the creation of comic books which were later brought to both the big and small screen. Over the years, the little blue characters haven't just limited themselves to the page and the screen. They have inspired records and CDs that have sold millions of copies, entire collections of figurines and toys, and many more products. In all, more than 3,000 derived products have been produced and leading brands and companies have spread their messages worldwide with the help of the Smurfs. A multitude of new projects appear regularly, thus making the success of the Smurfs planetary! About Sony Pictures Entertainment Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in more than 130 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at www.sonypictures.com. About Sony Pictures Animation Sony Pictures Animation produces a variety of animated entertainment for audiences around the world. The studio is following its 2009 worldwide hit, the mouth-watering 3D comedy Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and the 2007 Academy Award®-nominated Surf's Up with a full slate of feature films including the live-action/animation hybrid film The Smurfs (3D) and the family comedy, Hotel Transylvania (3D). The division is also in production with Aardman Animations on two feature films, the CG-animated family comedy Arthur Christmas (3D) and the stop-frame animated high-seas adventure, The Pirates! Band of Misfits (3D). Open Season 3, the third adventure in Sony Pictures Animation's successful Open Season franchise, was released on DVD and Blu-Ray January 2011. Sony Pictures Animation is an operating unit of Sony Pictures Digital Productions. About Lafig Belgium S.A. Lafig Belgium is the owner of the rights to produce audio-visual works based on the Smurf universe and of the Smurf worldwide licensing rights (together with IMPS). Lafig Belgium is controlled by the heirs of Pierre Culliford, better known under his pseudonym Peyo, the author/creator of the Smurfs. For 50 years, the Culliford family has controlled the Smurf characters and all licenses worldwide. SOURCE Six Flags Entertainment Corporation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueerRudie Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Ahem... W-T-F? I mean, REALLY? The SMURFS? I can picture it now "Smurf Mountain: the RIDE" R.D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downunder Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Maybe negotiations with Six Fags fell through and this was a backup deal. I didn't even like Smurfs when I was young, are they going to modernise them perhaps, turn them into gangstas? I only liked the Smurfs on Robot Chicken - that would be cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Smurf-yeah!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KirvNW8gPVs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 ^ LOL! That episode is on Adult Swim RIGHT NOW!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I can't wait to see Smurf Wrapped Trains! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Ahem... W-T-F? I mean, REALLY? The SMURFS? I can picture it now "Smurf Mountain: the RIDE" R.D. Be careful what you wish for--they might come back! From the old Smurf Mountain ride at Kings Dominion (now home to Volcano). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Clinksalot Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I wonder what trains will get the Smurf treatment. I say go for Scream!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDcoasterMAN Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 ^With our luck, Ninja, El Toro... same ones as last year. I can see the nicknames now... "EL SMORO!" "SMINJA" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utahTPR Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Very timely, what with the Smurf nostalgia going on at the KD thread right now and all. Guess KD's never getting Smurf stuff back now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjaco Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 If it means I can ride Katy Perry, I'm all in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j3llysham Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 The Smurfs? Really?!? Oooooooooooookay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeemerBoy Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I can think of much worse things than the Smurfs to promote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
signaltwo Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Should we expect to see a bunch of smurfs climbing all over the front of Kingda Ka's blue and teal trains? I wouldn't be surprised with the Karate Kid wrap that was on the orange train last season. I guess there had to be something that would get heavily advertised around the parks, now we know what. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSiRockin Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Well, I just found out by reading that article that Sony is working with Aardman, awesome! But is anybody suprised by this? It's Six Flags, c'mon... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ccron10 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 ^^I'd only agree with this if it looks one got embedded into the front hood of the trains. If this happens, it would make the Karate Kid wraps look like a lot better. Let's see... Smurf Toro Blue Lantern Smurfman: the Ride Superman:Escape from Smurf Kingda Smurf This should be interesting to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryH Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I can see it now...Smurfs hypercoaster! Hey wait...FL is excluded from the sweepstakes? Whaaaa...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Clinksalot Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 Anybody think Six Flags may have missed out on possibly doing a temporary Smurfs overlay in the Thomas Town's? Would seem like a no-brainer to me, and probably not a whole lot of work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fire2box Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 Anybody think Six Flags may have missed out on possibly doing a temporary Smurfs overlay in the Thomas Town's? Would seem like a no-brainer to me, and probably not a whole lot of work. I actually prefer Thomas then the smurfs. However. I would love to see a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic kids area. After watching the video Ponycraft 2 I decided to check out the show due to the animation style. I loved Powerpuff girls and Fosters Home and what do you know. The woman behind this worked on both AND is married to Craig McCraken. So the stories on this new my little pony are decent enough to watch. Also who can't love Derpy Hooves. so cute... so derpy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 Didn't the new owners of Six Flags specifically cite the failure of the "corporate partnership" program as one of the reasons for firing Mark Shapiro? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Knotts Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 ^ Yeah, but I think that was just a nice way of saying that they just didn't *like* Shapiro's choices of "partnerships". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freefallXL Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 Oh,.. thanks, for this information. I loved the smurfs as i was a kid. I´m excited how the attraction will be turning out. (btw,.. an adult "Barbie - The *Ride* attraction would be nice, too!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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