Innovative Educational Toymaker Teams with Animators for History Making "Adventures of Supa Dupa Babee" National Educational Cartoon Series

(BlackNews.com) March 14, 2009 – Jeanne Starr Gater, Founder, President and CEO of metro Atlanta's Castleberry Toys, Inc. has collaborated internationally with line producer George Hicks of Hicks Animation Studio in Michigan and foreign animator, Mukesh Sharma of Fusion Pictures Pvt. Ltd. in New Delhi, India to produce the exciting Adventures of Supa Dupa Babee and Friends educational cartoon series for national television. Starr Gater is currently shopping the newly created 3D Animatic Pilot of Supa Dupa Babee and Friends in Hollywood. The pilot Animatic, which was created by Castleberry Toys and talented 3D animators directed by Sharma and the Fusion Pictures team in India, is receiving favorable feedback and support for continuing production of the educational cartoon series for national television.

First conceptualized and developed in 1993 by Starr Gater, Supa Dupa Babee, a brave, muscular, flying super cartoon hero was used in a series of anti-drug public service announcements for a Detroit television show hosted and executively produced by Starr Gater, who once won an Emmy award as an editorial writer for ABC affiliate WLS-TV in Chicago. Supa Dupa Babee was soon joined by other Starr Gater cartoon creations, which included Tippi Turtle the "Wiser One" (Supa Dupa Babee's main sidekick), as well as Giffy Giraffe; Baetsey Bear and Fawnee, the disabled doe. Collectively these characters became known as "Supa Dupa Babee and Friends" and banded together on a crusade to educate school children, ages 5-11, about the perils of drugs, violence and crime. Starr Gater also conceived and produced a "Supa Dupa Babee and Friends Educational Curriculum," and along with U.S. premier doll maker Lloyd Middleton, created the two-foot tall "Supa Dupa Babee" doll, which became the flagship character in her educational curriculum. Her anti-drug, anti-violence curriculum also included learning guides, games, posters, videos and children's music for learning reinforcement.

Over the years, Starr Gater's Supa Dupa Babee and Friends has positively impacted the lives of over 30,000 children through its classroom presentations, live stage productions at larger venues and episodes of the Supa Dupa Babee and Friends television show which aired on Comcast Cable Television in metro Detroit. Her award-winning educational curriculum has now been used in schools and communities in Michigan, Illinois, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Georgia, Alabama, New Jersey, New York and the Virgin Islands.

When the Adventures of Supa Dupa Babee and Friends National Cartoon Educational Television Series is aired, Starr Gater will make history as the first African American female to create and executively produce a cartoon series which will focus on educational principles and fostering character building social values that will both entertain and educate young viewers. Starr Gater is accustomed to being a trailblazer as she was the first African American female educational toymaker to create and sell toys at Wal-Mart, which once carried her line of talking action figure toys. The unique Supa Dupa Babee and Friends action figures, with their positive friendship messages, literally flew off stores shelves in Michigan while creating a media buzz.

"When I first conceptualized Supa Dupa Babee and Friends, I never thought that one day they would have their own national television educational cartoon series," said Starr Gater, whose background includes work as an actress, author, singer, songwriter, teacher and television reporter in Michigan and Ohio. "But the kids over the years kept asking for a cartoon series, and parents kept saying our kids need the positive messages they bring; and now the lively cartoon characters are in believable three-dimensional quality. For far reaching impact, wouldn't it be great to see Supa Dupa Babee and Friends become a major animated motion picture?"

Supa Dupa Babee and Friends Animation Director, Mukesh Sharma asserted: "It's great to be a key part of the 'Supa Dupa Babee and Friends' phenomenon. When my studio first took on the job of creating 3D characters for the Pilot Animatic, I could see right away that there was something special and magical about Supa Dupa Babee. I believe that Supa Dupa Babee will have a great impact on kids, not only in America, but kids around the world, just like Spiderman and Superman. I'm looking forward to continuing to work with Jeanne Starr Gater as she brings future episodes of Supa Dupa Babee and Friends to life."

Line producer, George Hicks added: "Animated movies are becoming very popular, and I can see kids and families falling in love with the Supa Dupa Babee Adventure Series heroes."

Jeanne Starr Gater is available for interviews by contacting Donald "Donnie" James at 313-258-9162, or via e-mail at mastermediadj@sbcglobal.net. For more information on Supa Dupa Babee and Friends, log on to www.supadupababee.com

CONTACT:
Donald James
313-258-9162
mastermediadj@sbcglobal.net
www.supadupababee.com

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