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The first project to be launched from Big Idea's new Tennessee headquarters, VeggieTales: Sumo of the Opera, has already scanned more than 63,000 units in just 15 days in the CBA market alone and tops the SoundScan Top Children's Videos chart for the third consecutive week. Released Aug. 28 and 31 in the CBA and general markets respectively, the critically acclaimed project is described as Rocky meets the Mikado and the WWE when the Italian Scallion takes on Apollo Gourd for the World Veggie-Weight title.

Following the successful launch of VeggieTales: Sumo of the Opera, Larry the Cucumber, starring as the Italian Scallion, takes center ring again in the compelling new VeggieTales Special Edition: Sumo Of The Opera Magazine. Releasing this week through Word Distribution, 375,000 copies of the full-color, 24-page magazine have already been ordered by retailers. Featuring a coupon for Sumo, the magazine is also available through 1,200 churches nationwide and through 1,300 Big Idea Ambassadors. With one million copies in print, the FREE magazine includes tons of fun activities for kids, including the Mystery of the Sumo, School House Polka and Perseverance games, as well as coloring pages, Word Search, How to Draw instruction, Collector Character Cards and an Autographed Sumo Poster.

"We have done newsletters, but never anything at this level before," says Leslie Ferrell, Big Idea vice president of sales. "This is a real magazine! It's designed to not only be entertaining for kids, but for retailers to use as a marketing tool from their store. Retailers are encouraged to drop them off at their local schools, daycares, churches, etc., with the coupon in the magazine driving customers back to retail."

As VeggieTales: Sumo of the Opera continues to be wrestled off retail shelves, the DVD/VHS is teaching kids a fun-filled lesson in perseverance based on Hebrews 10:36. In the story, The Italian Scallion has his eye on the Tiger Bike he so desperately wants to win. Unfortunately, he is a much better jokester than wrestler.

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.