For immediate release April 16, 1999
Linking Ecology, Technology and Kids
Eddy the Eco-Dog® Hops Intergalactic Surfboard
and makes a wave to celebrate Earth Day, April 22 on Web Cartoon
Eddy the Eco-Dog, that zany, star-surfing, 3D animated pooch, a native of Planet Chachachachawowa, dons his wetsuit, grabs his intergalactic surfboard, ripping a tide through the stars of the Universe to take kids on an entertaining adventure to celebrate Earth Day, Thursday, April 22 on his web cartoon series “Eddy the Eco-Dog! Online! Unleashed!” www.ecodog.com
Eddy, whose fun-loving antics help kids learn cool stuff about science, nature and ecology, surfed onto the internet four years ago. Hanging ten at www.ecodog.com Eddy is the hip canine host of his own animated 3D web cartoon series “Eddy the Eco-Dog! Online! Unleashed!” Produced by KidsWebTv, the series is geared to girls and boys ages 6 - 12. Kids log on from countries as far flung as Japan, Germany and Australia to join in on the fun.
The Eddy the Eco-Dog web cartoon series with its own theme song, celebrates Earth Day revolving around activities at Eddy’s Club House on Planet Chachachawowa and the Earth Day Challenge. Interactive web adventures called Eco-Extravaganzas, provide kids with thought-provoking clues and lead them on exciting journeys of discovery throughout the universe. Children play an integral role in the fun-powered action as they surf alongside Eddy learning about the solar system, endangered species and environmental aspects of the world in which we live.
Additional activities on Planet Chachachawowa include “Paws for the Planet Daily”, an e-newspaper to which young EJ’s (earth journalists) can contribute. There is an Intergalactic Games Arcade, Space Quiz, Art Gallery, Joke Factory, Poetry Corner and Postcards from Outer Space Post Office.
..../2
Eddy’s Earth Walk of Fame is devoted to interviews with high profile celebrities who share children’s concerns about saving the planet for future generations. Audio plug-ins allow children to listen to interviews Eddy has conducted with such individuals as Kiefer Sutherland, actor; Mary Hart, Entertainment Tonight Co-Host; Chris Hadfield, astronaut; Chantal Kreviazuk, Jim Cuddy and Jann Arden, artist/songwriters. Eddy’s latest interview features astronaut Steve MacLean.
Eddy has taken his message about science, nature and ecology to television, as well. In a joint production with Global Television, an international television network, ninety second shorts featuring 3D animated Eddy the Eco-Dog, combined with live footage, air nationally on Global Television. Celebrity guests make cameo appearances in each short. Children can surf between the television shorts and Eddy’s webcartoon to follow his adventures.
To ensure that Eddy’s activities entertain children, KidsWebTv has a Student Advisory Board comprised of seven boys and girls to provide feedback and advice. Board member Andrew Parkinson says, “The importance of me being on the board is because kids environmental education is obviously very important to me.”
KidsWebTv has an innovative alliance; “Partners in Technology” with a Grade 2/3 Class at Emerson School in Winnipeg, Canada to gather technical advice from these seven and eight year olds, about the webcartoon’s format and ease of navigation.
Bantam Books Australia published January 1999 “little.net.books” profiling Eddy’s webcartoon as the “coolest site on the web”. With upward of a million hits, one of Eddy’s young earth friends e-mail sums it up, “ Eddy, you’re the dog!”
Kids can hop on their surfboard and rip to
For more information contact: (BETACAM of Eddy shorts available 15, 30
and 90
sec)
Lorane Poersch, KidsWebTv Inc.
call (204) 772-2672 fax (204) 772-2683 or e-mail: eddy@ecodog.com
1991, Eddy the Eco-Dog is a registered trademark.
