[Jonular]

Critics are lauding the newest VeggieTales® release, Sumo of the Opera, which will be available in CBA market stores tomorrow, Aug. 28, and in general market stores, Tuesday, Aug. 31. With laughs, music and wrestlers galore, Sumo of the Opera is Rocky meets the Mikado and the WWE when the Italian Scallion takes on Apollo Gourd for the World Veggie-Weight title. Here is how the critics are responding:

"Classic VeggieTales. Classic fun!" – Charisma (Sept. issue)

"Don't worry; kids won't have to know about Sumo wrestling or The Phantom of the Opera to enjoy the new VeggieTales VHS/DVD release, Sumo of the Opera… should be a hefty hit, indeed…Sumo of the Opera is sharply written and vividly animated" – www.Crosswalk.com

"VeggieTales goes Gilbert & Sullivan with a wrestling twist thrown into the Mikado mood, in Sumo of the Opera." – Dallas Morning News

"'Sumo of the Opera' is an animated lesson in perseverance that will keep the little ones enthralled - if you can get it away from your teenagers long enough to let them watch it." – Today's Christian Magazine (Nov./Dec. Issue)

The first project to be launched from Big Idea's new Tennessee headquarters, VeggieTales: Sumo of the Opera is a fun-filled lesson in perseverance based on Hebrews 10:36. Starring as The Italian Scallion, Larry the Cucumber has his eye on the Tiger Bike he so desperately wants to win. Unfortunately, he is a much better jokester than wrestler.

"We like to do shows that help teach great lessons to kids," says Larry the Cucumber in an interview with Christianbook.com. "I think it's really important to teach kids to 'keep on keeping on' even when things get tough." Read the full exclusive interview with "Larry the Cucumber" and Big Idea's creative genius, Mike Nawrocki, at http://www.christianbook.com/Christi...nt?page=787925.

Nawrocki also heads to New York City Tuesday to complete numerous live television appearances via Satellite in support of the release of VeggieTales: Sumo of the Opera. The satellite media tour takes him to markets such as Dallas/Fort Worth (KTVT CBS 11 Early Show, WFAA ABC News 8 Daybreak), Denver (KUSA 9 News), Indianapolis (WXIN Fox 59 AM News), Baltimore (WBFF Fox 45 Morning News), Birmingham (WBRC FOX Good Day Alabama), Cincinnati (WCPO ABC Good Morning Tri-State), Pittsburgh (KDKA CBS Pittsburgh Today Live), and more. Additionally, Nawrocki will be featured on Philadelphia-based CN8 Comcast Network's Your Morning on CN8 seen throughout the Eastern seaboard, from Washington, DC to the New England area, broadcasting to 6.2 million viewers every day.

VeggieTales: Sumo of the Opera also includes "Going Up!" – A VeggieTales short that follows the Slapstick adventures of the Three Veggie Stooges as they try to deliver a very grand piano to the top floor of a mansion, as well as "Schoolhouse Polka," an all-new silly song about weather, whether, planes and plains! Another special segment of the DVD features Lutfi (Bob the Tomato's new assistant) telling the story behind St. Patrick's Day.

VeggieTales: Sumo of the Opera further includes such great bonuses as a Persistence Maze game, Veggie Karaoke, Director's Cut of Going Up!, DVD-ROM links and a Behind the Scenes feature. Kids will also find an exciting new Sumo of the Opera game on www.BigIdeaFun.com

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

Behind the scenes video
Trivia Game
Persistence Maze with random setbacks
Director's Cut of Going Up!
Audio commentary by Mike Nawrocki ("Larry") and David Pitts, producer
Concept Art Gallery
Veggie Karaoke (Schoolhouse Polka)
How to Draw Potato
How to Draw Maewyn
Family Fun Activity
How to make a sock puppet video
Interactive Storybook
Progression Reel
Easter Eggs
DVD-ROM fun (coloring pages, script, links to Big Idea websites)
5.1 surround
English subtitling

About Big Idea, Inc.

Big Idea Inc., a subsidiary of Classic Media LLC, is committed to providing entertaining stories that help parents teach children important life lessons in a delightfully wacky way. Big Idea is best known for its award-winning VeggieTales animated series, which has sold over 35 million videos and over three million albums of chart-topping audio since 1993. In addition to extending the property into licensing, publishing and live entertainment arenas, the company released its first-ever feature film, Jonah - A VeggieTales Movie, in 2002 grossing over $25 million at the domestic box office. Big Idea is recognized as the leading producer and creator of values-based product reflecting a Judeo-Christian worldview in the family entertainment industry. For more information on Big Idea, visit www.bigidea.com.