New friends Vexy and Hackus, direct from Paris, join Smurfette for
the release of Columbia Pictures / Sony Pictures Animation’s “THE SMURFS
2,” in theaters July 31
ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 8, 2013--
Build-A-Bear
Workshop®, the interactive entertainment retailer
of customized stuffed animals, is introducing its second collection of
Smurf characters in honor of Columbia Pictures / Sony Pictures
Animation’s “THE SMURFS™ 2,” set to hit theaters July 31. Find
the newest friends from the film, Vexy and Hackus, joining Smurfette on
their latest adventure at Build-A-Bear Workshop and online at buildabear.com®
beginning July 5.
To celebrate the Smurfs’ arrival, Build-A-Bear Workshop is holding an
#IlovemySmurf Instagram contest. Guests are invited to take a picture of
their Smurfs plush from Build-A-Bear Workshop and share it on Instagram
using the hashtag #IlovemySmurf in their Instagram photo. Images will be
judged on a set of criteria and the five (5) best photos will win.
Winners will receive a $50 Bear Buck$® gift card. The contest runs from
July 12- July 21. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.
“In 2011, Build-A-Bear Workshop launched its first ever make-your-own
Smurfs line to much success. Our Guests love the Smurfs and we are so
excited to have Vexy and Hackus joining us at Build-A-Bear Workshop,”
said Maxine Clark, Build-A-Bear Workshop founder. “We are pleased to be
working with Sony Pictures to continue sharing these fun characters with
our Guests just in time for the release of the film.”
Make-your-own Smurfette, Vexy and Hackus ($23 each) can be outfitted in
a variety of Smurfs clothing and accessories, including:
-
Smurfette dress ($10.50)
-
Smurfette & Vexy pajamas ($12.50)
-
Smurf BFF slippers ($6.50)
-
Vexy Skirt outfit ($13.50)
-
Smurf Hoodie ($8.50)
-
Smurfs theme song (La La Song) ($7.00)
“We are thrilled to be continuing our relationship with Build-A-Bear
Workshop to bring these characters to life,” said George Leon, executive
vice president, Worldwide Consumer Marketing for Sony Pictures. “Fans of
the Smurfs will be thrilled to find their favorite characters from the
new movie at Build-A-Bear Workshop.”
In The Smurfs™ 2, the sequel to Columbia Pictures/Sony
Pictures Animation’s hybrid live action/animated family blockbuster
comedy The Smurfs, the evil wizard Gargamel creates a couple of
mischievous Smurf-like creatures called the Naughties that he hopes will
let him harness the all-powerful, magical Smurf-essence. But when he
discovers that only a real Smurf can give him what he wants, and only a
secret spell that Smurfette knows can turn the Naughties into real
Smurfs, Gargamel kidnaps Smurfette and brings her to Paris, where he has
been winning the adoration of millions as the world’s greatest sorcerer.
It’s up to Papa, Clumsy, Grouchy, and Vanity to return to our time,
reunite with their human friends Patrick and Grace Winslow, and rescue
her! Will Smurfette, who has always felt different from the other
Smurfs, find a new connection with the Naughties Vexy and Hackus – or
will the Smurfs convince her that their love for her is True Blue? The
film is directed by Raja Gosnell and produced by Jordan Kerner. The
screenplay is by J. David Stem & David N. Weiss and Jay Scherick & David
Ronn and Karey Kirkpatrick with a story by J. David Stem & David N.
Weiss & Jay Scherick & David Ronn, Based on the Characters and Works of
Peyo.
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 Entertainment
Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global
operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and
distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution;
television networks; digital content creation and distribution;
operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment
products, services and technologies. For additional information, go to http://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 worldwide comedy
hits – the 2012 monster hit comedy Hotel Transylvania, the 2011
hybrid live action/animated blockbuster The Smurfs, and the 2009
mouth-watering Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs – with The
Smurfs 2 in July 2013, and Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2
in September 2013. Sony Pictures Animation, in conjunction with Aardman
Animations, has produced two critically acclaimed feature films: the
CG-animated family comedy Arthur Christmas; and the Academy
Award® nominated stop-frame animated high-seas adventure, The
Pirates! Band of Misfits. In 2007, Surf's Up also received an
Academy Award® nomination for Best Animated Feature Film. The division,
whose first feature film Open Season led to a very successful movie
franchise, turned 10 in 2012. Sony Pictures Animation is an operating
unit of Sony Pictures Digital Productions.
* Website: http://www.sonypicturesanimation.com/
* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SONYPicturesAnimation
* Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/sonyanimation
* Tumblr: http://sonyanimation.tumblr.com/
* YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/SonyAnimation
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.
About Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is the only global company that offers an
interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment
experience. There are more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores
worldwide, including company-owned stores in the U.S., Puerto
Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and franchise stores
in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, Mexico and South
America. Founded in St. Louis in 1997, Build-A-Bear Workshop is the
leader in interactive retail. Brands include make-your-own Major League
Baseball® mascot in-stadium locations, and Build-A-Dino® stores. Build-A-Bear
Workshop extends its in-store interactive experience online with its
award winning virtual world website at bearville.com™.
The company was named to the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® list
for the fifth year in a row in 2013. Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW)
posted total revenue of $380.9 million in fiscal 2012. For more
information, call 888.560.BEAR (2327) or visit the company’s
award-winning website at buildabear.com®.
Trademarks
We would like to thank you for your interest in covering our business.
As you write your story, we would ask that you use our full
name: Build-A-Bear Workshop® and that when referencing
the process of making stuffed animals you use the word “make” not
“build.”
Build-A-Bear Workshop is our well-known trade name and our registered
trademark of Build-A-Bear Retail Management, Inc. Build-A-Bear Workshop® should
only be used in capital letters to refer to our products and services
and should not be used as a verb.
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Source: Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.
Shannon Lammert, 314-423-8000 ext. 5379
Cell:
314-556-8841
shannonl@buildabear.com
or
Jill
Saunders, 314-423-8000 ext. 5293
Cell: 314-422-4523
jills@buildabear.com
