New York, NY (3/26/98) - Daily Variety announced today that the Pokemon animated series received the best WB numbers yet among kids 2-11, and ranked as the week's top rated kids show.

The WB network's overall Saturday AM lineup averaged a best-ever 3.3/15 share in the key kids demo on March 20th, according to Nielsen fringe ratings data released Thursday.

According to Variety, the animated phenomenon which is produced and distributed by 4Kids Productions, a division of 4Kids Entertainment (NASDAQ: KIDE), Pokemon has lifted the Kids' WB Network, "A 'Pokemon'-powered Kids' WB continues to set ratings records, last week outscoring all three broadcast network kidvid players for the first time." The article also stated that Pokemon has had an enormous effect on the overall ratings for Kids' WB, "Ratings for Kids' WB have soared since 'Pokemon' bowed on the net last month, with last week's seg ranking as the top-rated program ever for Kids' WB among kids 2-11."

Brad Turell, Senior Vice President of Publicity and Talent Relations for the Kids' WB Network commented on the power of Pokemon on the network, "The dynamic duo of Pokemon and Batman Beyond has propelled Kids' WB from No.3 to No.1 for the first time ever. Network television is all about breakout hits. Clearly, Pokemon is one of the biggest hits in the history of children's television."

The series was originally produced by Shogakukan Productions in Japan, where it is the No. 1 rated children's show and a cultural phenomenon. 4Kids Productions successfully adapted the series for the United States, incorporating all new music, voices and scripting to transform the striking "anime-style" animation into a smash hit for American audiences. Al Kahn, Chairman and CEO of 4Kids Entertainment expressed his excitement about the series' ratings, "We're thrilled with the numbers. These ratings validate our belief that kids are the same around the world."