Disney Consumer Products and Bandai America Unleash Largest Power Rangers Role Play Offering to Date

Disney Consumer Products and Bandai America Unleash Largest Power Rangers Role Play Offering to Date

New 'Delta Enforcer' Debuts on the Power Rangers Space Patrol Delta TV Series and on Toy Shelves

CYPRESS, Calif., June 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Showcasing the unique synergy between the development of the Power Rangers television series and the toy line, Disney Consumer Products and Bandai America Incorporated, respectively, will debut the new Delta Enforcer item on the show and in stores this August. As the new licensee for Power Rangers in the role-play category, Bandai America has produced its largest Power Rangers role-play toy line to date.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050620/LAM031 )

This year's theme Power Rangers Space Patrol Delta (SPD) brings together five teenage heroes who fight evil space aliens to protect the earth. The Power Rangers team uses the Delta Enforcer as their ultimate tool in saving the earth. The Delta Enforcer will make its television debut in August this year. At the same time, Bandai America will launch the Delta Enforcer role- play toy including missile firing action and a card-swiping feature that activates unique sounds. The simultaneous introduction of this item with the series debut exemplifies the strategic relationship between Disney and Bandai America aimed at creating a seamless brand story for Power Rangers both in the television series and on toy shelves at retail.

"Role-play toys are an extremely integral part of the Power Rangers brand in letting kids become their favorite Power Rangers hero," said Bill Beebe, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Bandai America. "The Delta Enforcer is one example of the Power Rangers role-play toys that will be launching this fall that bring the action and the excitement of the television series to life."

"For this season of Power Rangers, we looked at how we could creatively integrate elements from the television show into our toy line. Power Rangers is one of the only television properties with the resources to design an item that can successfully translate both to entertainment and product," said Joe Lawandus, vice president of toys, Disney Consumer Products. "The Delta Enforcer is an integral part of the show that combines this season's police and space themes and will be a definite must-have for any Power Rangers fan."

Known for protecting the Earth from evil space aliens, a new team of Power Rangers is back to stop a mysterious wave of crime that has engulfed the world. This time, the Interplanetary Chief of Police has hired five top-notch teenage police officers to take on the case as Power Rangers Space Patrol Delta. With a reach far greater than other kids' TV franchises, Power Rangers is seen in 29 timeslots each week, mornings and evenings during the JETIX action/adventure block on both ABC Family and Toon Disney, and on the ABC Television Network every Saturday morning.

Bandai America has introduced a complete, expanded line of innovative and interactive toys for Power Rangers SPD, ranging in suggested retail price from $1.00 to $39.99. In addition to role-play items, other Power Rangers toys include:

* Action Figures, featuring three different items throughout the year of this most popular category, including Light Patrol, Cyber Arm and Sound Patrol Power Rangers.

* Megazords, including the Supreme Megazord, which is comprised of five SPD vehicles and features lights and sounds.

* Vehicle Playsets, like the Power Rangers SWAT Command Truck, which serves as the Power Rangers headquarters when they are on the road. The cab of the truck morphs into a jet, while the truck's trailer morphs into a vehicle station that can launch SPD vehicles.

* Vehicles, such as the SPD Patrol Cycles debuting in the Fall. For extra collectibility, the Uni-Force Cycles can morph with any of the SPD Patrol Cycles to create an even bigger vehicle. And back after much success in 2004, the Delta ATVs can transform into powerful jets.

About Power Rangers

Over the past thirteen years, the Power Rangers have been on Earth, in space, on the moon, under water, traveling through time, in the jungle and anywhere evil lurks. They've battled Rita Repulsa, Divatox, Master Org, Dark Spector, Toxica, Jindrax and many more evil-doers -- villains who have been shrunk to miniatures, tossed in jail, reduced to ooze or banished. Over time, the brand has maintained its themes of teamwork, honesty, loyalty, courage, family, friends and above all, the victory of good over evil.

About Disney Consumer Products

Disney Consumer Products (DCP) is the business segment of The Walt Disney Company (DIS) that extends the Disney brand to merchandise ranging from apparel, toys, home decor and books to interactive games, food and beverages, electronics and animation art. This is accomplished through the work of DCP's various lines of business: Disney Toys, Disney Softlines, Disney Hardlines, Disney Publishing, Buena Vista Games and Baby Einstein. The Disney Store, which debuted in 1987, also falls under DCP, through stores currently owned and operated by unaffiliated third parties under licensing agreements in North America and Japan, and wholly owned by Disney in Europe.

About Bandai America Incorporated

Bandai America Incorporated is a subsidiary of Bandai Co. Ltd., the third largest toy company in the world, with 30 subsidiaries in 13 countries worldwide. Global interests include toys and children's entertainment, video game software, multimedia, music, full-length feature films, vending machines, trading cards, candies and licensed apparel.

Bandai America Incorporated is the master toy licensee of some of the most popular properties and brands in children's toys and entertainment, including the Power Rangers, D.I.C.E., Teen Titans, Strawberry Shortcake and Tamagotchi product lines. Bandai America is headquartered in Cypress, California and company information is available at www.Bandai.com.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050620/LAM031 AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN2 PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: Bandai America Incorporated

CONTACT: Angela Fernandez, +1-310-552-4154, afernandez@rogersassoc.com, or Lisa White, +1-310-552-4163, lwhite@rogersassoc.com, both of Rogers & Associates, for Bandai America; or Clint Hayashi of Disney Consumer Products, +1-818-567-5947, clint.hayashi@disney.com

Web site: http://www.bandai.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Visuals available upon request.

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