DreamWorks Animation, Mark Burnett Productions and AOL Invite Entertainment Fans to Play 'The Flushed Away Underground Adventure,' a New Online Gaming Experience Based on the Upcoming Movie

GLENDALE, Calif., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nearly a full month before the upcoming DreamWorks Animation and Aardman Features comedy "Flushed Away" hits theaters, entertainment fans will have the opportunity to meet and interact with the film's animated characters in "The Flushed Away Underground Adventure," a groundbreaking online game created by Mark Burnett Productions, available exclusively on AOL.com (http://aol.com/flushedaway). "The Flushed Away Underground Adventure" marks the first time that DreamWorks Animation has created original character animation exclusively for an online game.

Not just for kids, "The Flushed Away Underground Adventure," is sure to appeal to the whole family, though it might be moms who find themselves playing the game most often. Recent studies have revealed that women spend more time playing online games than both men and teens. According to a new survey*, 76 percent of the casual game players surveyed were female, and of those 71 percent were 40 or over. Sixty percent of the female casual gamers surveyed revealed that they play on a daily basis and 29 percent play ten or more hours per week.

"The Flushed Away Underground Adventure" consists of 24 interactive games, each featuring a different character, setting, or storyline from the film. The games, which are free to everyone on the Web beginning October 5, are aimed at players of all ages. Kids and their parents can face challenges such as "Fly Catcher," in which players help Le Frog and his comrades fill their gullets with as many delicious insects as they can find; or "Meet Your Ice-Maker," where players help Roddy rescue his whiskered friends from the confines of the Toad's freezer.

Thousands of dollars in prizes and rewards will be up for grabs. By solving the individual puzzles, players will be entered for a chance to win various prizes. The entire interactive experience leads up to a grand prize sweepstakes drawing during the opening weekend of "Flushed Away." Additional sweepstakes drawings will be held after each of the next two weekends of release.

Sponsored by AMD, Kohl's Department Stores and Sara Lee, "The Flushed Away Underground Adventure" was developed by Mark Burnett Productions, who previously collaborated with DreamWorks on "The Contender" and the upcoming show "On the Lot." The game marks the second collaboration between AOL and Burnett following "Gold Rush," the breakthrough interactive event that recently premiered on AOL involving challenges and clues based on pop culture.

About "Flushed Away"

In this new comedy set on and beneath the streets of London, we meet Roddy St. James (Hugh Jackman), a pampered pet mouse who thinks he's got it made. But when a sewer rat named Sid (Shane Richie) -- the definition of "low life" -- comes spewing out of the sink and decides it's his turn to enjoy the lap of luxury, Roddy schemes to rid himself of the pest by luring him into the loo for a dip in the "whirlpool." Roddy's plan backfires when he inadvertently winds up being the one flushed away into the bustling world down below. Underground, Roddy discovers a vast metropolis where he meets Rita (Kate Winslet), a street-wise rat who is on a mission of her own. If Roddy is going to get home, he and Rita will need to escape the clutches of the villainous Toad (Ian McKellen). Toad, who royally despises all rodents, dispatches two hapless henchrats, Spike (Andy Serkis) and Whitey (Bill Nighy), as well as his cousin -- that dreaded mercenary, Le Frog (Jean Reno) -- to see that Roddy and Rita are iced ... literally.

DreamWorks Animation and Aardman Features present "Flushed Away." Directed by David Bowers and Sam Fell, the film is produced by Cecil Kramer, Peter Lord and David Sproxton.

About DreamWorks Animation

DreamWorks Animation SKG is principally devoted to developing and producing computer-generated, or CG-animated, feature films. With world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced CG filmmaking technology and techniques, DreamWorks Animation makes high quality CG-animated films meant for a broad moviegoing audience.

About AOL

AOL and its subsidiaries operate a leading network of Web brands and the largest Internet access subscription service in the United States. Web brands include the AOL.com(R) website, AIM(R), MapQuest(R) and Netscape(R). AOL offers a range of digital services in the areas of education, safety and security, communications and music. The company also has operations in Europe and Canada. AOL LLC is a majority-owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. and is based in Dulles, Virginia.

About Mark Burnett

Mark Burnett is the leading producer of reality content for both primetime television and the internet. Mark Burnett has revolutionized television with hits such as Eco-Challenge, Survivor, The Apprentice, The Contender, Rock Star: INXS, Rock Star: Supernova and his upcoming co-production with Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks Television, On The Lot. Mark Burnett has also partnered with AOL on the eagerly anticipated adventure Gold RUSH, the first-ever unscripted project to be produced exclusively for the internet. Mark Burnett has also successfully reintroduced product placement as an integral part of each of his shows and his companies have garnered a total of 33 Emmy nominations since 2001. Mark Burnett was listed as the #1 Most Valuable Player by TV Guide and in Time Magazine's Top 100 most influential people in the world today.

* Survey conducted by game publisher and developer, PopCap Games, August

2006.