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Mike Young unveils new sales outfit MIP NEWS - After launching its inhouse distribution arm two years ago, LA-based animation indie Mike Young Productions has spun-off the division as a standalone distribution outfit. Taffy Entertainment - named after MYP partner Bill Schultz's favourite candy bar - will be headed up by evp Regis Brown, who came over from Film Roman to launch Mike Young Distribution back in 2002.  The move sees Taffy shopping new and existing MYP product here in Cannes, such as PBS toon Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks (40x30', right), Disney-destined preschooler Dive Olly Dive, Antefilms/TF1 copro Pet Alien and library title He-Man & The Masters Of The Universe. Brown will also be looking to acquire family and kids product to build a third-party library at Taffy.Schultz predicts Taffy to post sales of US$7m in 2004, while parent MYP is looking at revenues of $30m this year. Taffy's distribution infrastructure is already in place, and the new company "is considering options with regard to licensing and merchandising," said Schultz. "The time is right to take the business to the next level," said Brown, "which means giving the distribution company its own identity. With Jakers, He-Man, Pet Alien and ToddWorld, we have great momentum and this move will allow us to pursue key acquisitions." Brown has hired two new faces for Taffy: Kushner-Locke alumni Mevelyn Noiega-Valladares as vp of sales and admin; and Jorge Rodriguez and servicing manager. Both will work out of Taffy's base in MYP's LA offices. Recent sales for Taffy include licence deals for MYP's Entara commission Jakers! with CBBC, Mediaset in Italy, NRK Norway, YLE Finland and Discovery Kids Latin America. These join a slate of previous deals for the toon with PBS Kids, ABC Australia, TVO Canada, TF1 France, RTE Ireland and SVT Sweden. Meanwhile, MYP has inked a copro deal for Dive Olly Dive (26x22') and Pet Alien with India's cgi studio Crest Communications. Crest also animated Jakers! Ed Waller 29 Mar 2004 © C21 Media 2004 
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