4Kids Entertainment International has secured distribution of toys for its hit show “Dinosaur King” in several key European countries. The toy line will be distributed by Upper Deck in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Benelux countries, with further distribution to be handled by Top Toy in the Nordic countries, Giochi Preziosi in France and Italy, and Concentra in Portugal and Famosa in Spain. As previously announced, Vivid Imaginations will distribute the toy line in the UK. The toys will be sourced from master toy licensee Playmates Toys and the line is scheduled to launch at retail in Europe in Spring 2009.

The product line for “Dinosaur King”, which targets boys 4-7, emulates the TV series and enables children to battle their own dinosaurs (there are 100 different dinosaurs to start with) through collectable cards, figures, spinning tops, remote controlled dinosaurs and mechanized figures. The toy line, which includes exclusive trading cards from Upper Deck with each SKU, features a trading card swiper, role play items and play sets in the form of Dinosaur heads. These products join trading cards from Upper Deck and a video game from SEGA, both launched this autumn, in the “Dinosaur King” merchandise portfolio. Other “Dinosaur King” licensed products will follow later in 2009.

Set in the present day, “Dinosaur King” follows the story of Max and friends on a heroic adventure around the world to recover missing dinosaur cards which, when activated, bring these historic creatures to life. Whoever controls the cards controls the power of the dinosaur and it’s a race against time to make sure they don’t fall into the wrong hands. Since its premiere on Jetix in the UK in March 2008, over one million kids have watched the “Dinosaur King” TV series. Roll out has followed swiftly in France and Germany, where it is on terrestrial TV, and in Spain and the Nordic countries where it is on Jetix.

‘We are very excited to be bringing together this powerful lineup of companies to distribute Dinosaur King toys,” said Sandra Vauthier-Cellier, Managing Director, 4Kids Entertainment International. “Momentum for Dinosaur King is building steadily across Europe and this will help fans to bring their favourite show to life.“