Archive for the ‘Press announcement’ Category

Inspiring Kids and Families to Connect with Animals and the Natural World

Posted by ruckusholly on January 17th, 2012

It’s another exciting day here at Ruckus Media.  We told you that we had a lot in store for 2012 and today we want to tell you about our partnership with SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.  Together, we are launching a multi-year licensing deal to create digital storybooks that will inspire kids and families to connect with animals and the natural world. The stories will be based on SeaWorld’s animals, attractions and education and conservation efforts.

With this partnership, we’re growing our list of brands and favorite characters — adding to Hasbro and Crayola — but branching into a subject that kids and families love — science, nature, the environment.

We are also continuing to expand our emphasis on Social Good, following up our campaign with St. Jude Children’s Hospital.  Reflecting SeaWorld’s commitment to conservation, a portion of all the proceeds from the digital interactive books will be donated to the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. The Fund is a non-profit charitable foundation that supports wildlife research, habitat protection, animal rescue and conservation education around the world.

The first three books in the SeaWorld series will launch this spring, including three interactive storybooks for kids ages 3 to 8 thatSeaWorld appeal to emerging, beginning and independent readers. The interactive storybooks will connect kids with SeaWorld’s killer whales, penguins and sharks and will be available at the App store for Apple mobile devices. New children’s storybook apps will be released throughout the year.

For more information about our partnership with SeaWorld, read the press release that went out earlier.

Free Classic Story App to Kick Off Your Holiday Season

Posted by ruckusholly on December 16th, 2011

Velveteen RabbitIt is our pleasure to announce that The Velveteen Rabbit, as told by Meryl Streep, our interactive storybook application produced with our friends at Rabbit Ears, is now available FREE of charge via the App store (regularly $3.99) until Christmas Day, December 25th, 2011.  It’s our way of showing our gratitude for your support and to welcome in the new year by bringing this classic story into the life of your children.

While you’re downloading your free app, don’t forget that from December 26th through the end of the year, you can download all of our classic Read-Play-and-Record Along Rabbit Ears interactive storybooks apps at the special price of $1.99 and we will donate 100% of the net proceeds ($1.39) to dying children at St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Saving lives has never been so easy and this much fun.

The apps that are on sale to benefit St. Jude include Pecos Bill told by Robin Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit  and The Night Before Christmas told by Meryl Streep, John Henry told by Denzel Washington, Tom Thumb told by John Cleese, Goldilocks told by Meg Ryan, Johnny Appleseed told by Garrison Keillor, The Steadfast Tin Soldier told by Jeremy Irons and Three Little Pigs told by Holly Hunter.  In addition we are releasing two NEW stories during this time period, as well, both launching today: Thumbelina told by Kelly McGillis and Paul Bunyan told by Jonathan Winters.

Happy holidays, friends.  Now get to iTunes and start downloading apps to stuff into your child’s stocking this Christmas or to give on one of the eight nights of Hanukkah!

 

Inspiring a Whole New Generation with Crayola

Posted by ruckusholly on December 12th, 2011

Crayloa

This is an announcement we have been waiting to make and we can’t hold it in any longer!

We are thrilled to announce our latest partnership with Crayola, the market leader in children’s creative expression products, and a brand that all children and parents know and love.  With them, we’ll be developing interactive Crayola storybook applications that will build creative thinking and literacy skills, two sets of skills that are important to the development of every child.   Each story will be told with the child’s choice of object and color, and will lead to multiple stories.

The first three titles, to be available for iPhone, iTouch and iPad will be Color Me Early Concepts: Caterpillar’s Colors, Color-Me Adventures: Find that Dragon and Color-Me Stories: Picture Day will launch in January. Yes, that soon! Android releases will follow later in the year.

Together, we’re going to continue to inspire a whole new generation of digital natives.  Read more about our partnership with Crayloa here and stay tuned to this blog for more news and announcements.

Black Friday Shopping to Support a Cause

Posted by ruckusholly on November 22nd, 2011

Ruckus Media St. Jude promotionThis Thanksgiving, we are giving back.  With EVERY Ruckus app sold, we are donating 100% of the net proceeds to the children of St. Jude Children’s Hospital®.  Not only can you get a head start on your holiday shopping  (apps do make great stocking stuffers!), but you will support a wonderful cause.  In addition, we are dropping the price of all our apps to $1.99 each.  It’s truly Black Friday Shopping to support a cause.

It’s the eighth annual Thanks and Giving campaign, a holiday campaign that asks shoppers to “Give thanks for the healthy kids in your life, and give to those who are not,” and we’re proud to be a partner to help make a difference in these children’s lives.

Beginning today and running over Black Friday and through Monday, November 28th, 2011, we  will donate to St. Jude 100% of the net proceeds ($1.39) of the company’s entire digital library including the iTunes bestseller MY LITTLE PONY: TWILIGHT SPARKLE, TEACHER FOR A DAY and Moms’ Choice award winner CHUCK AND FRIENDS: FRIENDS FOR THE LONG HAUL, both featuring beloved Hasbro characters; holiday Read-Play-and-Record-Along classics THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS and THE VELEVETEEN RABBIT, both told by Meryl Streep; among many other interactive storybooks. You will be supporting the hospital’s lifesaving mission of finding cures and saving children with cancer and other deadly diseases.

To learn more about the Thanks and Giving campaign and its partners, please visit www.stjude.org or call 1-800-4STJUDE. To purchase Ruckus’ interactive storybooks for iOS mobile devices and help support this campaign during the holiday season, visit the Ruckus Media Group page at iTunes.

Happy shopping!

 

Thanks and Giving All Week on The Today Show

Posted by ruckusholly on November 21st, 2011

Today Marlo Thomas appreared on NBC’s TODAY Show to ask the public to help save the lives of children stricken with cancer and other deadly diseases.  Watch the clip here:

 

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Thomas, the national outreach director of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, is appearing on the top-rated morning show to raise awareness of the St. Jude mission of finding cures and saving children during the hospital’s annual Thanks and Giving campaign.

Thanks and Giving is a holiday campaign that unites shoppers, celebrities and national corporate partners to help find cures and save children.   We are thrilled to be joining forces with St. Jude this holiday season  to “give thanks for the healthy kids in your life, and give to those who are not.”

Between now and December 31, we will donate 100% ($1.39) of the net proceeds of our classic Read-Play-and-Record Along Rabbit Ears interactive storybooks to the St. Jude cause. Buying an app will give you, the consumer, a dual purpose. For example, when you pick up a copy of The Velveteen Rabbit told by Meryl Streep, not only will you be providing quality story-telling to your child, but you will also be supporting the lifesaving work of finding cures and saving children with deadly diseases. Plus, for a limited time, all of our Rabbit Ears apps will be priced at $1.99.  Not only are our apps on sale, but you can feel good about making a donation to this important charity, knowing that $1.39 of each download goes to help save a child’s life.

The apps that are on sale include: Pecos Bill told by Robin Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit  and The Night Before Christmas told by Meryl Streep, John Henry told by Denzel Washington, Tom Thumb told by John Cleese, Goldilockstold by Meg Ryan, Johnny Appleseed told by Garrison Keillor, The Steadfast Tin Soldier told by Jeremy Irons andThree Little Bears told by Holly Hunter.  In addition we are releasing two NEW stories during this time period, as well, both launching today: Thumbelina told by Kelly McGillis and Paul Bunyan told by Jonathan Winters.

We are so honored to be amongst a prestigious group of partners teaming up with St. Jude during this fabulous, important campaign (check out the list here), and we hope that you head to  iTunes today to purchase our interactive storybooks.  To learn more about the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign or to make a donation, go here.

We’ll have more big news tomorrow about this partnership, so stay tuned.

 

Buy an App, Help Save Lives

Posted by ruckusholly on November 15th, 2011

A few years ago, our CEO, Rick Richter, worked on a book at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers with Marlo Thomas titled Thanks and Giving.  It was a collection of stories, poems, and written music about helping others and appreciating what we have. He never forgot this project, and it gives our current partnership even more meaning.

We are working with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, the hospital that Marlo Thomas’ father founded, this holiday season on the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign, a holiday program that asks shoppers to “Give thanks for the healthy kids in your life, and give to those who are not,” while shopping this holiday season.

Between now and December 31, we will donate 100% ($1.39) of the net proceeds of our classic Read-Play-and-Record Along Rabbit Ears interactive storybooks to the St. Jude cause. Buying an app will give you, the consumer, a dual purpose. For example, when you pick up a copy of The Velveteen Rabbit told by Meryl Streep, not only will you be providing quality story-telling to your child, but you will also be supporting the lifesaving work of finding cures and saving children with deadly diseases. Plus, for a limited time, all of our Rabbit Ears apps will be priced at $1.99.  Not only are our apps on sale, but you can feel good about making a donation to this important charity, knowing that $1.39 of each download goes to help save a child’s life.

The apps that are on sale include: Pecos Bill told by Robin Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit  and The Night Before Christmas told by Meryl Streep, John Henry told by Denzel Washington, Tom Thumb told by John Cleese, Goldilocks told by Meg Ryan, Johnny Appleseed told by Garrison Keillor, The Steadfast Tin Soldier told by Jeremy Irons and Three Little Bears told by Holly Hunter.  In addition we are releasing two NEW stories during this time period, as well, both launching today: Thumbelina told by Kelly McGillis and Paul Bunyan told by Jonathan Winters.

We are so honored to be amongst a prestigious group of partners teaming up with St. Jude during this fabulous, important campaign (check out the list here), and we hope that you head to  iTunes today to purchase our interactive storybooks.  To learn more about the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign or to make a donation, go to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital web site.

 

Where You’ll Find Us this Weekend: At the A4CWSN Party to Change Lives

Posted by ruckusholly on September 30th, 2011

50 Children across 50 States are about to be given an iPad to help with their development and education. App developers from around the world have come together to help “Apps for Children with Special Needs” a4cwsn.com raise money to Change 50 Lives in a day, and Ruckus Media Group is proud to be a part of it!

In January 2011, Gary James, the father of 6 children, 2 with Special Needs, decided to set up a web-site to help other parents like him who were interested in using the Apple iPad as an educational and development tool for children with special needs (a4cwsn.com). The site shows videos of Apps developed or suitable for special needs children being demonstrated so that the community of parents, educators and professionals get the opportunity to see an app in action before parting with their money. The iPad’s interactive interface is an ideal device for those with communication difficulties and in refining fine motor skills.

In less than 8 months, a4cwsn has become a phenomenon in the world of special needs with almost 6,000 followers on facebook, and through his unique concept of App Parties, which bring developers and the special needs community together, has created a social network and now a charity in which the Developers and the special needs community not only support each other, but raise tens of thousands of dollars to fund iPads for parents who could otherwise not afford them.

Gary will host his third App party from September 30th – October 2nd, and will once again bring Developers and the special needs community together in an event that will raise thousands of more dollars to support a4cwsn.com’s campaign that is already close to reaching its goal of giving an iPad to a child with special needs in each of 50 States.

We are thrilled to be joining many of our friend in donating to the campaign.  From now until October 2nd, you can find all of our Rabbit Ears apps priced at .99 cents in iTunes (down from $3.99).  All proceeds made from this sale will go directly to the A4CWSN campaign.  These apps are:

- Goldilocks told by Meg Ryan

- John Henry told by Denzel Washington

- Johnny Appleseed told by Garrison Keillor

- The Night Before Christmas told by Meryl Streep

- Three Little Pigs told by Holly Hunter

- Steadfast Tin Soldier told by Jeremy Irons

- Tom Thumb told by John Cleese

- The Velveteen Rabbit told by Meryl Streep

“See you all” at the A4CWSN party!

For the original version on PRWeb visit:www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2011/9/prweb8840100.htm.

Six Degrees of Separation: Coldplay and David Carter

Posted by ruckusholly on September 23rd, 2011

 

Coldplay: Mylo Xyloto image

Mylo Xyloto pop-up by David Carter

We have a connection to one of the world’s best bands: Coldplay.  We are officially trendy!

You’re probably wondering – how is an family entertainment company like us connected to a cool band like Coldplay?

Let us explain: The band has a new album, Mylo Xyloto, which releases later next month.  The album will be released in several formats. A 180-gram vinyl edition will include a 12″ by 36″ poster, while a special “Pop-Up” album version will come with a hardback book containing graffiti art designs from our very own David A. Carter, none other than the brilliant author/illustrator behind our award-winning Spot the Dot app.

It’s six degrees of separation (actually a few less than that) but we are SO proud of David. We sat down with him as soon as we heard to get the official scoop on the pop-up and his work with Coldplay.

Ruckus: David, first of all, congratulations on your award-winning app, Spot the Dot!  How have you been since its release and are you proud of its success? 

David: Yes, it’s all very exciting and I am busy working on new ideas.

 

Ruckus: Please tell us how your involvement with Coldplay came about?

David: About three years ago, I received a call from the band’s agent. He told me that Chris Martin would like to talk with me about doing a pop-up for their upcoming album. That was Viva la Vida and the pop-up didn’t work out but we kept talking.  Now we have this pop-up which is part of deluxe book and vinyl LP that they are calling the Mylo Xyloto Pop-Up Album.

 

Ruckus: Have you worked with musicians before?

David: This is the first time I have worked with musicians of this caliber.

 

Ruckus: Tell us about the collaboration.

David: It all started with work on the Viva la Vida album and most of my creative conversations were with Chris. I found Chris to be a big picture person and a true creative as well as being very down to earth and a really nice guy. We then worked on what was to be the next album, that album didn’t happen, but that is where the idea of a pop-up in book/LP came about. I then started working with Phil Harvey, the fifth member of the band, and we did a very limited edition pop-up for Coldplay’s single Christmas Lights. This spring the band asked me to do some preliminary work on the Mylo Xyloto project and once the band approved the early work, they shared with me the graffiti art the band had created. The band actually painted a 30′ x 9′ concrete wall. I revised the pop-up and incorporated art from the graffiti wall and then added the logos created the band’s graphic designers. I sent the art for the pop-up to the printer in early September and the Mylo Xyloto Pop-Up album will be available this fall. It is currently being hand assembled at the printers.

 

Ruckus: What inspired this piece of art for Mylo Xyloto?

David: Mylo Xyloto is a concept album featuring the character Mylo. The idea is set in a repressive culture where music, art and color are not allowed. Mylo becomes an outlaw tagger who’s tags are three dimensional. The pop-up is inspired by the idea of Mylo’s colorful three dimensional tags.

 

Ruckus: Where is it available?

David: At this time the Pop-Up Album is available for pre-order at Coldplay’s website. I am not certain how it will be sold once the Pop-Up Album is finished, most likely through the standard online sites and I assume at bookstores and record stores.

 

Ruckus: Will you be doing more work with Coldplay?

David: I hope so!


The First Ever “My Little Pony” Interactive Storybook is Live Today!

Posted by ruckusholly on September 21st, 2011

My Little Pony appToday is a HUGE day for all of us at Ruckus Media!  We are thrilled to announce the launch of My Little Pony: Twilight Sparkle Teacher for a Day,  an interactive storybook for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, now available through the iTunes App Store. Hasbro’s first mobile application for the popular toy franchise and television show is a richly educational entertainment, designed for independent or family reading.  You can read the entire press release here.

This is the second Hasbro interactive storybook that we’ve created; the first was Chuck & Friends: Friends for the Long Haul.  My Little Pony features include an interactive storybook, designed to help develop vocabulary, reading and motor skills; stimulating in-app activity moments; flexible formats; touch-driven animations within the story add another layer of excitement; a “Read Me” option; “Meet the Ponies” features provide background info on each of the story’s characters; read along, play along, and record your voice feature; words illuminate when story is read for basic word recognition; activities teach letter recognition, picture/word association and basic problem solving; and randomization of activity content and difficulty level provides new experiences for repeated play. All this in one app!

To kick off the launch of My Little Pony, we have plenty going on!  For one thing, if you buy the app now, you can get it for 99 cents!  So head over to iTunes and get a copy for your kids, nieces and nephews, friends kids, everyone you know!
My Little Pony appAlso,we’re hosting a fun-filled Twitter party, with prizes from our friends at Hasbro.  Come hang out with us on Tuesday, September 27th from 9-10pm EST at hashtag #RuckusMLP on Twitter (or on TweetGrid, TweetDeck or TweetChat, whichever platform you prefer) for a discussion on friendship and everything that you love about the My Little Pony brand.

We’ll have great giveaways provided by our friends – My Little Pony branded, of course!  We’ll also have plenty of My Little Pony apps on hand to give away, as well.  And for the grand prize, a girl’s bike by our good friends at Shwinn Bikes. You must RSVP on Twitvite to be in the running for the prizes.

If you’re not already following us, we’re on Twitter at @RuckusMedia.  RSVP for the Twitter party here and while you are at it, please join us on Facebook  for the latest and greatest on Ruckus. Be sure to check out our videos on You Tube, sign up for our RSS feed and pick up our apps on iTunes.

See you in Equestira, the kingdom of Princess Celestia and all of the Pegasus, Earth and Unicorn ponies!

Get Ready to Join Our My Little Pony Twitter Party on Tuesday, September 27th at 9pm

Posted by ruckusholly on September 19th, 2011

My Little Pony App

We are getting ready to launch our newest app,  My Little Pony: Twilight Sparkle: Teacher for a Day.  The big launch day on iTunes is this Thursday and we could not be more excited!

“My Little Pony: Twilight Sparkle: Teacher for a Day” is for a new generation of My Little Pony fans. They’ll join Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity and Spike as they embark on a exciting adventure to learn the history of Equestira, the kingdom of Princess Celestia and all of the Pegasus, Earth and Unicorn ponies. It features story-driven activities that guide Twilight Sparkle and Spiky, culminating in the Grand Galloping Gala.

In My Little Pony style, the focus is on friendship and loyalty.  All of the ponies in the story work together to make the party great, all in the spirit of friendship.

Come hang out with us on Tuesday, September 27th from 9-10pm EST at hashtag #RuckusMLP on Twitter (or on TweetGrid, TweetDeck or TweetChat, whichever platform you prefer) for a discussion on friendship and everything that you love about the My Little Pony brand.  We’ll be joined by our fabulous moderators: @mommymentor @thechattymomma @amotherhoodblog @coolkidsmommy who all know a thing or two the topic.

We’ll have great giveaways provided by our friends at Playskool.  We’ll also have plenty of My Little Pony apps on hand to give away, as well.  And for the grand prize, a girl’s bike by our good friends at Shwinn Bikes. You must RSVP on Twitvite to be in the running for the prizes.

If you’re not already following us, we’re on Twitter at @RuckusMedia.  RSVP for the Twitter party here and while you are at it, please join us on Facebook  for the latest and greatest on Ruckus. Be sure to check out our videos on You Tube, sign up for our RSS feed and pick up our apps on iTunes.

Disclosure: Prizes will be provided by our friends at Hasbro and Schwinn Bikes.  We are grateful to both companies.