Northbrook, Illinois (May 27, 2003) — With the guidance of a computer-animated rock hammer named CHIP, children learn about fossils, paleontology and the history of Earth in Earth Stories: Paleontology Vol. 1, the initial title in the "Earth Stories" video series. This direct-to-video title, aimed at five- to nine-year-olds, is available Aug. 19 from Mazon Productions.

In this computer-animated and live-action learning adventure, CHIP enthusiastically explains the basics of paleontology and fossil collection with the help of a "magic" white board. CHIP discusses:

• How fossils are created;

• Geologic columns;

• Relative time;

• Tools scientists use;

• Fossil detection and collection.

After the initial classroom-type lesson, viewers then tag along to two real-life fossil digs in Argentina and Illinois, where paleontologists discover fossils hundreds of millions of years old. In the moon-like region of Argentina, CHIP narrates the process the scientists go through as they search for, find and preserve fossils from the Triassic Period some 245 million years ago. In the Mazon Creek area of Illinois, paleontologists dig up hidden treasures from the Carboniferous Period 320 million years ago. CHIP explains how these innocent-looking rocks contain preserved specimens from that time period, as well as how the scientists gently reveal them.

Produced by Doug Aberle of Aberle Films, Earth Stories: Paleontology Vol. 1 runs 30 minutes in length and has a suggested retail price of $19.95.

Matt Welker sees Northpoint as a series of programs that foster children’s imaginative powers. "Children’s television does too much of the thinking for kids," he says. "We want to tell kids that they have the power to create their own stories and integrate their own hopes and ambitions into the story-making process. The program is designed to encourage learning and interaction."

Fort Fun Productions is a leader in state of the art computer animation and visual effects for entertainment and advertising. Fort Fun, a privately owned company in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is the first of its kind in the area.

# # #