The release for the Simon Says "Let\'s Stop Climate Change!" kids film and educational DVD program now available on Amazon at: http://amzn.to/i1mCSy

1.
SIMON
SAYS
“LET’S
STOP
CLIMATE
CHANGE”
By
Denis
Thomopoulos,
Hippo
Works
Press
Notes

2.
SYNOPSIS
Simon
Says
“Let’s
Stop
Climate
Change”
is
the
first
animated
DVD
to
tackle
the
issue
of
climate
change
for
children
ages
4
to
14.
Using
the
Hippo
Works
cast
of
characters:
Simon,
the
good-­‐natured
red
hippo;
Peep,
a
passionate
environmentalist;
Suzanne
the
Crystal
Goddess,
a
bird
with
magical
powers;
and
Bob,
a
skeptical
rodent;
children
are
taught
through
a
direct,
yet
light-­‐hearted
narrative,
about
everything
from
the
Greenhouse
Effect
and
global
warming
to
the
food
chain.
The
DVD
educates
children
not
only
about
the
causes
and
effects
of
climate
change
but
also
offers
solutions
for
which
children
can
take
an
active
role
(and
even
track
by
checking
off
and
coloring
each
solution
on
the
DVD's
fold-­‐out
poster).
Among
the
solutions
are
the
"Three
Rs,"
(reducing,
reusing,
recycling),
composting,
and
carbon
offsetting.
The
creator
and
cartoonist,
Denis
Thomopoulos,
does
a
brilliant
job
of
both
presenting
scientifically
accurate
information
and
entertaining
a
young
audience.
Children
are
already
embracing
such
catchy
songs
as
“One
by
One,
Ton
by
Ton”
and
“The
Power
of
Poop!”
Even
complex
concepts
such
as
"carbon
offsets"
are
explained
simply
and
entertainingly
-­‐
so
much
so
that
super
fan,
Henry,
age
4,
took
it
upon
himself
to
raise
$83
to
offset
his
'carbon
footprint'
through
hosting
'a
climate
change
bake
sale'
(just
like
the
animals
do
at
the
film's
end!).
Henry
at
his
Climate
Change
Bake
Sale
In
addition
to
the
fold-­‐out
poster,
the
DVD
offers
several
other
features
including
downloadable
songs,
ringtones,
screen
savers,
and
bonus
cartoons.
For
educational
use,
the
DVD
also
offers
film
chapters
correlated
to
National
Science
Standards,
an
interactive
quiz,
review
questions,
and
a
downloadable
eHandbook
with
teacher
lesson
plans,
vocabulary
flash
cards,
coloring
sheets,
educational
games,
and
more.
Simon
Says
“Let’s
Stop
Climate
Change”
gives
children
their
first
opportunity
to
learn
about
climate
change
and
become
engaged
with
our
world
environment.
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3. EARLY
PRAISE
OF
THE
DVD
“This
film
connects
kids
to
their
planet
with
an
understanding
of
how
climate
change
affects
them
and
what
they
can
do
to
stop
it
–
all
with
characters
my
family
just
loves!”
–
Davis
Guggenheim,
Director
of
An
Inconvenient
Truth
and
Waiting
for
Superman
“The
global
warming
issues
that
the
film
communicated
are
scientifically
sound.
Plus
the
film
will
be
great
fun
for
students!”
–
Stephen
H.
Schneider,
Ph.D.,
Stanford
University
and
recipient
of
the
2009
collective
Nobel
Peace
Prize
“Simon
the
Hippo
is
joined
by
friends
Peep
the
Bird,
Bob
the
Rodent,
and
Suzanne
the
Crystal
Goddess
in
this
kid-­‐friendly
eco-­‐program.
The
animals
are
worried–snow
is
melting
on
Mount
Kilimanjaro,
drought
in
Africa
is
spreading,
and
the
heat
is
getting
to
them.
Although
Bob
is
reluctant
to
take
on
climate
issues
(“rats
always
survive,”
he
claims),
the
others
know
that
everyone
has
to
help
to
reverse
these
trends.
This
brightly
colored,
simply
animated
program
tackles
some
big
issues
(global
warming,
carbon
footprints,
climate
change,
recycling,
the
food
chain)
in
age-­‐appropriate
terms.
Kids
will
love
the
catchy
tunes
and
silly
humor.
While
singing
along,
viewers
gain
solid
information
on
the
science
behind
the
climate
change
as
well
as
suggestions
of
ways
they
can
help,
including
riding
bikes
instead
of
cars,
turning
off
lights,
choosing
reusable
products,
planting
gardens,
and
raising
money
for
environmental
projects.
Extras
include
an
extensive
teachers’
guide
with
lesson
plans,
Spanish
language
translation,
bonus
cartoons,
and
more.
“
—
Candace
Smith,
Booklist
“I
love
Simon
the
Hippo
and
want
to
help
stop
Climate
Change!”
–
Will,
age
5.
"My
students
and
I
love
this
DVD!
Colorful,
engaging,
the
‘Simon
Says’
film
really
helped
my
class
learn
about
and
understand
the
complexities
of
Global
Warming.
We
also
loved
the
music
and
how
it
was
infused
into
the
messages."
-­‐
Kirsten
Riley,
elementary
school
teacher,
NJ
"My
kids
love
this
DVD!
They've
watched
it
5
times
in
2
days
and
are
singing
the
songs
and
becoming
little
eco
warriors!
It
even
inspired
them
to
have
a
Climate
Change
Bake
Sale
where
they
raised
$83
for
planting
trees
to
offset
their
carbon
footprints!"
-­‐
Megan,
mother
of
two,
CA
“Simon
Says,
Let’s
Stop
Climate
Change!
created
by
Denis
Thomopoulos
uses
music
and
character
interactions,
complete
with
a
stubborn
rat,
both
a
magical
bird
and
technologically
savvy
bird,
and
a
curious
hippo,
to
delight
kids
and
impress
key
points
about
our
environment.
Global
warming
and
climate
change
are
difficult
concepts
to
explain
to
anyone,
but
Thomopoulos
successfully
walks
the
line
between
important
information
and
fun
and
engaging
animation
to
keep
kids
interested
while
relaying
big
ideas.
Through
Thomopoulos‚
charming
and
relatable
cast
of
characters,
he
emphasizes
the
idea
that
actions
have
consequences,
while
at
the
same
time
offering
simple
and
tangible
everyday
acts
for
young
kids
to
feel
like
part
of
the
solution.
Simon
Says,
Let’s
Stop
Climate
Change!
will
not
only
broaden
children’s
understandings
of
climate
change,
but
will
do
so
in
an
engaging
way
that
will
excite
them
to
learn
more
about
fighting
climate
change
in
their
own
lives.
Kids
dictate
the
future
of
this
planet,
and
Denis
Thomopoulos
is
providing
them
with
the
essential
foundation
that
will
leave
them
inspired
to
make
a
difference!”
-­‐
Maggie
Ollove,
Earth
Day
Network
A
starred
review
is
coming
in
the
May
2011
issue
of
School
Library
Journal!
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4.
ABOUT
DENIS
THOMOPOULOS
Denis
Thomopoulos
drew
his
first
hippopotamus
while
at
Georgetown
University
when
he
created
a
best
selling
t-­‐shirt
on
campus.
He
then
earned
a
Masters
in
English
Literature
from
Oxford
University
in
England
with
the
dream
of
becoming
a
professor
and
worked
for
filmmakers
David
Puttnam
(Chariots
of
Fire),
Costa-­‐
Gavras
(Missing),
and
Irwin
Winkler
(Rocky)
with
the
dream
of
becoming
a
movie
producer.
Looking
back
at
his
successful
college
t-­‐shirt,
Denis
realized
though
that
his
heart
lay
with
the
hippo
(Simon
the
Hippo),
through
whom
he
now
fulfills
both
ambitions
of
educator
and
entertainer.
Denis
got
his
start
online
with
licensing
Simon
and
the
gang
to
Lightspan,
an
education
company
which
distributed
his
cartoons
to
schools
throughout
the
United
States.
He
then
launched
his
weekly
eco
cartooonlet
It’s
A
Jungle
Out
There!,
which
has
been
syndicated
to
sites
ranging
from
AOL’s
Kids
Channel,
National
Geographic
Kids,
to
eco
portal
Care2.com.
The
cartoonlet
is
also
now
viewed
nationwide
on
video
displays
at
retail
outlets
through
Indoor
Direct.
In
addition
to
his
weekly,
Denis
has
licensed
his
characters
for
cartoons
and
promotional
products
to
clients
such
as
National
Geographic,
Paramount
Vantage,
Con
Edison,
EarthDayNY.org,
SWAPE
(Soil
Water
Air
Protection
Enterprise),
Wildsalmon.org,
among
others.
“Simon
Says
‘Let’s
Stop
Climate
Change!,’”
Denis’
newly
released
DVD,
was
inspired
by
the
requests
of
fans,
teachers,
and
non-­‐profits
who
asked
that
he
create
a
longer
cartoon
about
Climate
Change
and
what
can
be
done
to
help
stop
it.
The
new
online
myHippoWorks
club
also
offers
fans
a
place
where
they
can
manage
their
carbon
footprints
and
play
games
to
earn
‘Green
Dollars’
towards
the
purchase
of
actual
square
feet
of
rainforest
to
offset
their
carbon
footprints.
ABOUT
HIPPO
WORKS
As
a
green
company,
Hippo
Works'
website
is
powered
by
renewable
energy,
clothing
is
produced
with
organic
cotton,
and
offsets
are
purchased
to
make
all
products
carbon
neutral.
Past
and
present
clients
include:
AOL
Kids,
National
Geographic
Kids,
Paramount
Vantage,
AT&T,
T-­‐Mobile,
Infospace,
Bell
Mobility,
Zingy,
Con
Edison,
Rogers
Canada,
Lightspan,
Bonus.com
(the
SuperSite
for
Kids),
Earth
Day
New
York,
Wildlife
Works,
and
Care2.com.
More
about
Hippo
Works
http://www.hippoworks.com/
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5.
HIPPO
WORKS
PRESENTS
SIMON
SAYS,
“LET’S
STOP
CLIMATE
CHANGE!”
Languages:
English
and
Spanish
Available
subtitled
in:
English
and
Spanish
Total
Runtime:
00:41:31
Feature
Runtime:
00:28:28
Genre:
Animated
Short
Sound:
Stereo
Date
of
Completion:
Dec.
2010
CREDITS
Denis
Thomopoulos,
Peter
Giles,
Traylor
Howard
Featuring
the
characters
from
the
cartoonlet
“It’s
A
Jungle
Out
There!”®
by
Denis
Thomopoulos
Songs
by
Denis
Thomopoulos
Additional
Music
by
Douglas
Pipes
John
Wood
Executive
Producers:
Anne
Thomopoulos
and
Simon
Mathew
Producers:
Denis
Thomopoulos
and
Adam
Kulakow
Written
and
Directed
by
Denis
Thomopoulos
PRESS
CONTACTS
AT
FITZGIBBON
MEDIA
CJ
Frogozo
cj@fitzgibbonmedia.com
310
570
26222
Naomi
Seligman
Naomi@fitzgibbomedia.com
310
617
4577
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