Unique Program Includes Free Child's Ticket
Offer in Select Build-A-Bear Workshops and Film-Inspired
Experiences in Key Cinemark Theaters to Promote the Animated Family
Friendly Movie
ST. LOUIS ,
Sept. 27,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a first-time deal of its kind
for the company, Build-A-Bear Entertainment, a subsidiary of
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW), with Foundation Media
Partners, announces a collaboration with Cinemark Holdings, Inc.
(NYSE: CNK) to exclusively release the company's new animated
feature film Glisten and the Merry Mission in Cinemark
theaters across the country starting November 3. The first trailer for Glisten and
the Merry Mission, which can be seen at
Build-A-Bear® | Merry Mission Movie (buildabear.com)
highlights the heartfelt and exciting story reminding everyone that
"Christmas is all about believing."
The heartfelt and exciting story reminds
everyone that "Christmas is all about believing."
This agreement with Cinemark, one of the largest and most
influential theatrical exhibition companies in the world, is
enhanced by a unique program that includes a special promotion,
offering a free child's ticket to see the movie at a Cinemark
theater for guests who visit a Build-A-Bear Workshop and make a
furry friend during the film's theatrical run. Build-A-Bear
and Cinemark will also be hosting Glisten and the Merry
Mission special events at select theaters with appearances by
Glisten the mascot featuring unique bear building experiences with
plush versions of characters from the movie.
"Cinemark is excited to work with Build-A-Bear Entertainment on
this special theatrical film release for Glisten and the Merry
Mission," said Wanda Gierhart
Fearing, Cinemark Chief Marketing and Content Officer.
"There is nothing like seeing a film through a child's eyes, and we
can't wait for families everywhere to get to partake in this unique
multi-faceted event which is sure to spread holiday joy as an
iconic furry friend comes to the big screen for the first
time."
This is the first animated theatrical film release for
Build-A-Bear Entertainment and is positioned to be a new,
family-favorite holiday classic with a variety of award-winning
celebrity voice talent including Grammy nominated Julia Michaels and multi-Grammy Award winner
Dionne Warwick plus Freddie Prinze Jr., Chevy Chase, Billy Ray
Cyrus and recent Avatar star, Trinity Bliss. The feature is enhanced with
original music including a special holiday song by Ms. Warwick
produced by Grammy winner Damon
Elliot.
The film is based on a storyline inspired by Build-A-Bear
Workshop's multi-year best-selling plush, the Merry Mission
collection, which includes the enchanted snow deer, Glisten. The
new film, rated "G" for General Audiences, is expected to have a
multi-generational appeal, as a visit to Build-A-Bear Workshop has
become a holiday tradition for both kids and 'kids at heart' to
create special memories.
"The mission for our Build-A-Bear Entertainment division is to
create engaging and heartwarming content that extends our appeal
and resonates with our fans, and this collaboration with Cinemark
to theatrically debut Glisten and the Merry Mission,
furthers this commitment," said Sharon
Price John, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Build-A-Bear. "Our guests have loved this popular plush collection
for years, and we believe they will be thrilled to see their
favorite Merry Mission characters come to life on the big screen.
We are delighted to partner with Cinemark and to have worked with
this incredible team to bring our magical story to life."
Glisten and the Merry Mission follows a young elfling,
Marzipan, and her mother Cinnameg, the newly minted manager of
Santa's troubled North Pole workshop. Marzipan must believe in the
magic of the season to help save Christmas which leads to the
adventure of a lifetime and the search to rediscover the enchanted
snow deer, Glisten. The pursuit of their merry mission is aided by
Santa and a colorful cadre of reindeer and elves, including a big
bear on the "naughty list" named Grizz, and the wise elf Sage
Evergreen.
"Glisten and the Merry Mission is the type of heartfelt,
feel-good family film that a theatrical experience was made for,
and Cinemark is the best at delivering that to audiences. We
can't wait for families to enjoy this movie together on the
big screen to see some of their favorite Merry Mission characters
come to life," said Patrick Hughes,
President of Foundation Media Partners. "With this direct
theatrical debut, Foundation Media Partners and Build-A-Bear
Entertainment continue to expand our entertainment footprint with a
value-enhancing approach to developing, producing and releasing
content as we evolve our innovative model."
Guests can visit the Glisten and the Merry Mission
website to learn more about the movie release, watch the trailer,
and sign up for special promotions and upcoming events at
Build-A-Bear® | Merry Mission Movie (buildabear.com).
Tickets for the film will be available starting October 12 at Cinemark.com and on the Cinemark
app.
Ms. John is the executive producer of the film and joins Hughes
as producer. In addition to Glisten and the Merry Mission,
Ms. John has executive produced several feature-length
films in conjunction with Foundation Media Partners,
including Unstuffed: A Build-A-Bear Story, Honey
Girls, Deliver by
Christmas and Christmas CEO. Hughes has
separately produced films including the family comedy, Bad
Guys for DreamWorks Animation, and is currently producing
Thelma The Unicorn for Netflix. Both companies are working
together on a number of projects, including the reimagination of
the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears with Hello
Sunshine.
About Build-A-Bear Entertainment
Build-A-Bear
Entertainment, a division of Build-A-Bear Workshop,
the IP-based company best known for
its memorable and unique
'build-your-own' retail concept, has been actively
creating a variety of content while cultivating the right
relationships to bring this content to guests. The company has
produced several feature-length films in conjunction with
Foundation Media Partners, including Honey
Girls, Deliver By
Christmas and Christmas CEO. Both
companies are working together on a number of projects, including
the reimagination of the story of Goldilocks and the Three
Bears with Hello Sunshine. In addition, the highly
anticipated documentary, Unstuffed: A Build-A-Bear Story,
from award-winning director Taylor Morden, which chronicles the
compelling journey of Build-A-Bear's rise from a 1997
retail-tainment start-up, to a successful multi-million dollar
public company, will debut this October.
About Build-A-Bear
Build-A-Bear is a
multi-generational global brand focused on its mission to "add a
little more heart to life" appealing to a wide array of consumer
groups who enjoy the personal expression in making their own "furry
friends" to celebrate and commemorate life moments. Nearly 500
interactive brick-and-mortar experience locations operated through
a variety of formats provide guests of all ages a hands-on
entertaining experience, which often fosters a lasting and
emotional brand connection. The company also offers engaging
e-commerce/digital purchasing experiences on buildabear.com
including its online "Bear-Builder", the animated "Bear Builder 3D
Workshop" and its age-gated, adult-focused "Bear Cave". In
addition, extending its brand power beyond retail, Build-A-Bear
Entertainment, a subsidiary of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., is
dedicated to creating engaging content for kids and adults that
fulfills the company's mission, while the company also offers
products at wholesale and in non-plush consumer categories via
licensing agreements with leading manufacturers. Build-A-Bear
Workshop, Inc. posted total revenue of $467.9 million in fiscal 2022. For more
information, visit the Investor Relations section of
buildabear.com.
About Cinemark Holdings, Inc.
Headquartered in
Plano, TX, Cinemark (NYSE: CNK) is
one of the largest and most influential movie theater companies in
the world. Cinemark's circuit, comprised of various brands that
also include Century, Tinseltown and Rave, operates 514 theaters
(315 U.S.; 199 South and Central
America) with 5,812 screens (4,370 U.S.; 1,442 South and
Central America) in 42 states
domestically and 14 countries throughout South and Central America. Cinemark consistently
provides an extraordinary guest experience from the initial ticket
purchase to the closing credits, including Movie Club, the first
U.S. exhibitor-launched subscription program and the first to reach
the one-million-member milestone; the highest Luxury Lounger
recliner seat penetration among the major players; XD - the No. 1
exhibitor-brand premium large format; and expansive food and
beverage options to further enhance the moviegoing experience. For
more information go to https://ir.cinemark.com.
About Foundation Media
Foundation's clients and
executive team have produced a number of commercially successful
and award-winning films for major studios and independent
financiers. Foundation's slate includes movies from some of the
most prolific filmmakers in the world, cultivating some of today's
most dynamic and cutting-edge new voices. Recent titles include THE
BAD GUYS, based on the best-selling book franchise by Aaron Blabey, which was released earlier this
year by Dreamworks Animation and Universal Pictures; THELMA THE
UNICORN, based on another best-selling book franchise by Blabey, is
currently in PRODUCTION with director Jared
Hess (Napoleon Dynamite) for Netflix; DELIVER BY CHRISTMAS,
which was Build-A-Bear Entertainment's first film with Hallmark
released in Fall of 2020; and HONEY GIRLS, the first Build-A-Bear
Entertainment feature film for Sony Pictures Worldwide
Acquisitions, based on Build-A-Bear Workshop's pop music trio and
released in 2021.
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SOURCE Build-A-Bear Workshop