Nickelodeon Announces First-Ever SLIME! Product Line, Plus Innovative New Partnerships and Products for Kids' Favorites including Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, The Wonder Pets!, SpongeBob SquarePants and The Naked Brothers Band

New Products Capture Current Toy Trends Including Music, Technology, Environmental and Basic Play

NEW YORK, Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids, comes to Toy Fair 2008 with a selection of items that combine the magic of kids' favorite characters with today's top toy trends. Leading the playtime news is the launch of the first-ever complete SLIME! product line, which puts Nickelodeon's coveted green goo directly in kids' hands. 

"2008 is going to be an exciting year for Nickelodeon and the millions of families globally that turn to our products to help supply the imagination and creativity their kids thrive on," said Leigh Anne Brodsky, President, Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products. "Kids can finally experience the gooey joy of slime in their own backyard with our Nickelodeon SLIME! launch, and we are taking our leading properties including Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, The Wonder Pets!, SpongeBob SquarePants and The Naked Brothers Band in new and innovative directions around the world."

All key Nickelodeon properties will launch new products that take advantage of global playtime trends including music, technology, role play, the environment and basic play. Dora the Explorer, the reigning leader in licensed preschool toys, will be featured in new products that take advantage of both time-tested play patterns and emerging toy aisle trends including music and technology. Go, Diego, Go!, television's interactive adventure series and the toy aisles' only preschool action-hero for boys, continues to take on new product categories including science. Nick Jr.'s hit preschool music series The Wonder Pets! makes its toy premiere with a new line from Fisher Price. SpongeBob Squarepants, a licensing legend, continues to grow in toys with an innovative new plush line from Play Along, a division of JAKKS Pacific, Inc. The first music-inspired toys from First Act for TEENick hit, The Naked Brothers Band also make their debut in New York.

NICKELODEON TOY FAIR 2008 HIGHLIGHTS:* SLIME!: It's green, and oozie and expected to hit retail shelves forfall 2008. Created by JAKKS Pacific, the new line of products is basedon Nick's coveted green stuff, and allows kids to bestow the honor ofsliming upon their friends, family and loved ones. Slime wasintroduced on Nickelodeon in 1982 and getting slimed has since become abadge of honor for both kids and celebrities worldwide. The JAKKS lineincludes: SLIME! Super Slimer Blaster that shoots slime as far as 25feet (SRP: $19.99); SLIME! Time Splatter a not-so-ordinary ball forgames of catch with an explosive ending (SRP: $14.99); SLIME! Ball agooey sphere that oozes its way down walls in metallic and glitterizedshades of green (SRP: $4.99); SLIME! Can containers and SLIME! Bucketcontainers that hold up to 20 ounces of the legendary goo(SRP: $7.99/$12.99).* DORA THE EXPLORER: Dora continues to dominate toy aisles worldwide.According to the NPD Group, Dora is the number-one toy license forgirls of all ages in the U.S. (January-December 2007.) Dora has alsobeen the number-one license across all categories for the last twoyears in France. New Dora products will roll out in electroniclearning, role-play, dress-up, dolls, doll houses, mini play-sets,environmental, basics and for the first time ever, real musicalinstruments from First Act.

In the U.S. and Canada from Fisher Price comes a great line based on the upcoming "Dora Saves the Snow Princess" television movie on Nick Jr.: Dora's Prance & Fly Pegasus (SRP: $39.99) -- magically opens its beautiful wings and really walks for a range of adventures. Pegasus contains three modes of play, including storytelling and a variety of motions. The Dora Saves the Snow Princess Doll Line (SRP: $12.99) includes four unique 11" preschool fashion dolls that have luxurious outfits and a special charm that unlocks special adventures on Pegasus. The doll line follows the success of last year's "Dora Saves the Mermaids" collection, which paved Dora the Explorer's entry into fashion dolls. The Dora Deluxe Designer Dollhouse (SRP: $79.99) follows up on the success of the original Dora's Talking Dollhouse, launched in 2004, which is the top-selling Fisher Price dollhouse of all-time. The brand-new dollhouse combines technology and pop-open design to allow girls to decorate and personalize eight spacious rooms, and activate a series of hotspots that magically light lamps, start appliances and more.

Game leader Hasbro unveils Scrabble Junior, Dora the Explorer Edition (SRP: $10.99) which leverages Dora's multicultural appeal into the first-ever bilingual Scrabble game. Featuring English and Spanish game play on a two- sided board, the new edition is perfect for kids ages five years and up.

For the first-time, Dora's musical heritage takes the stage with real musical instruments from First Act, including a Dora Six-Piece Percussion Pack (SRP: $19.99) that includes a kazoo, klick klock, tambourine, jingle tap, egg shaker and ocarina. The set comes packaged in a transparent back pack.

Dora the Explorer is the new star of the Ravensburger line in the UK, France and Benelux. What's in my Backpack? scheduled for fall 2008 release, hones children's sense of touch and introduces the concept of taking turns as they search for one of the 12 different items. In France, Goliath Games will roll out Dora The Explorer Triominos in Fall 2008. One of the best selling licensed toy products in France in 2007 (January-December, 2007), Triominos is the classic triangular dominos game that perfectly compliments Dora's play-to- learn elements.

* GO, DIEGO, GO!: Diego is the toy world's only preschool-targetedaction-hero! Focused on non-violent, eco-friendly fun, recent Diegoproducts have been recognized with Parents' Choice and Toy Wishes' All-Star List awards. New Diego products will be launched at Toy Fair,including basic play items as well as environmentally themed toys. Anew line of musical instruments debuts from First Act.

Fisher Price launches in the U.S. and Canada include: Diego's Animal Rescue Railway (SRP: $49.99) -- which features a completely new and innovative flexible track system that puts kids fully in control of track configurations and variations. The railway comes with seven feet of track and a motorized Diego engine plus figures, rescue cars and animals. Based on the Nick Jr. episode "Diego's Great Dinosaur Rescue," Dinosaur Rescue Mountain (SRP: $44.99) is shaped like a T-Rex fossil but opens up to reveal a full dinosaur rescue outpost. The toy is packed with play features, sound effects, bilingual phrases and 110 rescue missions. Also included are an all-terrain vehicle and two dinosaur figures. Specially engineered for little hands are brand new six-inch Diego Extreme Rescue Figures (SRP: $7.99) and Extreme Rescue Deluxe Figures (SRP: $12.99), which also come to retail this fall. Fisher Price will introduce the first Go, Diego, Go! line in Australia in Summer 2008.

Hasbro's Chutes & Ladders, Go, Diego, Go! Edition (SRP: $10.99), combines the classic up and down game with the bilingual focus and action-packed adventures of Go, Diego, Go!. Choose your Animal Rescuer -- Diego, Alicia, Baby Jaguar or Rescue Pack to move along the game board. Players will meet many interesting animals along the way, but they need to watch out for those chutes!

Mega Brands introduces new Go, Diego, Go! preschool construction sets that are perfect for supporting imaginary and basic play in kids three years of age and up.

* THE WONDER PETS!: Making its Toy Fair debut is the hit animatedpreschool music series, The Wonder Pets! Launched on Nick Jr. in 2006,the show was the second highest-rated preschool show on commercialtelevision for the most recent quarter. Featuring three courageousclassroom pets, Ming-Ming Duckling, Turtle Tuck and Linny the GuineaPig, who each transform into superhero animal rescuers, new productsare poised to generate holiday 2008 excitement.

"This is Serious!" Ming Ming (SRP: $34.99) from Fisher Price, brings to life signature phrases, songs and dance moves from The Wonder Pets!' heroic and adorable duck. Featuring two modes of play, Ming Ming answers the shows iconic 'can phone', strikes a save-the-day pose and then dances. She also asks kids to join her in teamwork and teaches her one-of-a-kind dance.

* SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: SpongeBob, a true global phenomenon and one ofthe most successful names in licensing history, continues to break newground. With a brand-new line from Play Along, SpongeBob is slated tohave a big presence at retail in fall 2008.

Play Along has developed the Silly Talk SpongeBob (SRP: $24.99) toy that is full of super silly phrases, tricky tongue-twisters and jolly jokes. Grab SpongeBob's tongue or nose and you'll hear some silly sayings that sound simply screwy!; Brand-new SpongeBob Plush, all themed to the most popular SpongeBob SquarePants episodes ever, comes in beanbag-size (SRP: $6.99) and in a larger-size (SRP: $14.99) which is packaged with a special collectors card and a companion episode on DVD!

In Mexico, Famosa combines kid's favorite Nicktoon with one of their favorite toys, rolling out a new line of SpongeBob SquarePants battery powered ride-ons in Fall 2008.

* THE NAKED BROTHERS BAND: TEENick's musical heartthrobs meet the worldof toys with new products that take full advantage of the series' rock'n' roll roots.

First Act has developed a full line of real musical instruments that let kids six and over jam with The Naked Brothers Band. The product assortment includes an electronic keyboard (SRP: $49.99), electronic drum pad (SRP: $39.99); electric guitar (SRP: $99.99); acoustic guitar (SRP: $59.99) and a karaoke microphone (SRP: $14.99.) All items feature band graphics and designs.

Hasbro has created The Naked Brothers Band: North American Tour Game (SRP: $14.99), for a brand-new way to play along with the band. Kids are on the move trying to catch up to the band as they go on their North American Tour and prove they are the ultimate fan. Players criss-cross North America on a tour bus collecting tickets to all the concerts, and scoring points in an effort to win the best seats possible. Watch out for the pitfalls along the way, as well as other fans who want your tickets!

TOY AISLE TRENDS:* Music: Always a key part of Nickelodeon's programming, music is makingits way to the toy department. Nickelodeon's new partnership withFirst Act, a leader in quality musical instruments, will bring a mix ofstrings, percussion, woodwinds and keyboards to toy shelves -- tied toNick hits, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Naked Brothers Band, Go, Diego,Go! and Dora the Explorer. In addition to picking up an instrument,kids can also play Hasbro's new music-inspired board game created forThe Naked Brothers Band. While sold primarily in the consumerelectronics aisle, Nickelodeon's Npower line of digital imaging andmultimedia products will continue to expand at retail in fall 2008.* Technology: Continuing to become an essential ingredient in toys, anumber of new Nickelodeon products use new technology to provide kidswith new play experiences. Standouts include: Silly Talk SpongeBobfrom Play Along, which includes smart-processor technology thatallows the toy to recognize when kids are holding its nose or pullingits tongue and responding with an appropriate reaction. Dora'sDeluxe Designer Dollhouse features both pop-open and built in hotspottechnology that allows the house to both turn inside-out and alsoenables functions like turning on a desk lamp, radio or computer inrooms throughout the house. Diego's Animal Rescue Railway features anew technology in non-powered flexible track that allows trains torun in any direction with any kid-designed track configuration. Alsofrom Fisher Price, Dora's Style Your Own Digital Adventures Laptop isa new interactive learning toy that can be used as an on-the-golaptop or as a hand-held game play unit. The unit connects to sevenfun websites with bilingual learning. New from The Backyardigans,one of Nickelodeon's fastest growing properties in Latin America withmore than 50 new licensees, is an FM/AM radio with MP3 capabilitieslaunching in Brazil in Fall 2008.* Environmental: Nickelodeon has a number of new environmentallyfocused products from partners Elmer's, DuneCraft and Summit thatleverage the popularity of Dora the Explorer, Go! Diego, Go!, TheBackyardigans and SpongeBob SquarePants. Elmer's science activitykits, for each of the shows, allow kids to learn about weather,crystals, rock collecting and prehistoric excavation. A brand newline of Dora and Diego terrariums from DuneCraft allows kids to learnabout and cultivate plants, flowers and vegetables. Summit's outdoorexplorer toys tied to Dora the Explorer and Go! Diego, Go!, let kidsexplore nature in their own backyards with butterflies, bugs andfrogs.* Basic Play: Nickelodeon continues to emphasize the value of basicplay with partners including Mega Brands and Lego. Mega Brands isadding to its successful Nick Jr. construction and basic buildingtoys with new products for Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go!. Forolder kids, Lego is adding to its imaginative and popular SpongeBobSquarePants product with new sets that include the Bikini BottomExpress and The Rocket Ride.

New Nickelodeon partnerships at Toy Fair 2008 include: First Act (Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, SpongeBob SquarePants and The Naked Brothers Band musical instruments), Play Along (SpongeBob SquarePants plush and toys), and JAKKS Pacific (SLIME!)

Established Nickelodeon licensees showing at Toy Fair 2008 include: Basic Fun; Big Time Toys; Cardinal; CDI; Dunecraft; Elmer's; Fisher Price; Franklin Sports; Hasbro; Kiddieland; Leap Frog; Learning Curve; Lego; Little Kids; Mega Brands; Ohio Art; Playhut; PTI Sports; Rand International; Rubies Costume Co.; Spinmaster; Ty, Inc.; United States Playing Cards; VTech.