Mattel, Inc. Captures Toy License to 'The Secret Saturdays'

Zak Saturday's weekend family jaunt to the Alps, the Amazon, an African plain, or underwater cavern are often all too unreal. The kid star of the PorchLight Entertainment-produced animated television series The Secret Saturdays, which airs weekly on cable channel Cartoon Network, Zak's globetrotting adventures bring boys of a similar age into contact with a world they can only dream of. Fortunately for fans of the series, they won't be too far off from having a piece of the action as Cartoon Network has come into an agreement with worldwide toy giant Mattel, Inc. to develop and manufacture a line of Secret Saturdays action figures.

The Saturday family, a family of scientists/researchers/philanthropists that specialize in exotic if not mythological animals called cryptids, has been the focus of the Cartoon Network series for several weeks now, apparently drawing the young male demographics they hope to retool their network for in the near future. Plotting out frequently explosive and dynamic encounters between a family of heroes and an evil as evil can get villain, The Secret Saturdays is a clever cartoon with plenty of potential, perhaps a toyline will boost not only viewer interest, but network confidence as well

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"The network's new original series has all the elements for a successful toy line including compelling characters, lots of action and an engaging storyline," Doug Wadleigh, Vice President of Action Play Marketing, Mattel Brands, commented.

He continued: "It provides Mattel a unique opportunity to create a fun and innovative line of toys that brings the series' adventure and fantasy to life."

Although viewers can expect the typical array of figures of the main cast of characters--Doc Saturday, Drew, Zack, and ever-present villain V.V. Argost--Mattel, Inc. is sure to work on the fantastical nature of the cryptid creatures as well. The mysterious, mythological, and altogether marvelous creatures that populate The Secret Saturdays; from flesh-eating wolf beasts to volcano-dwelling cannibal giants of Chile, the cartoon has plenty of unique animals to offer.

The toyline based on The Secret Saturdays is currently slated for release in Fall 2009. Playsets and role-play items are also on tap for development by Mattel, Inc. The adventure animation, which debuted on Cartoon Network this past October, is likely to see production through that period as well.

on Mattel, Inc.: Mattel, Inc. (www.Mattel.com), is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products. The Mattel family is comprised of such best-selling brands as Barbie, the most popular fashion doll ever introduced, Hot Wheels, Matchbox, American Girl, Radica and Tyco R/C.

Additional properties include Fisher-Price brands, including Little People, Power Wheels and a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. Mattel is recognized as one of 2008's "100 Best Companies to Work For" by FORTUNE Magazine.