Quest World Adventure

Quest World Adventure was a promotion held in February of 1997 by Cartoon Network to revive interest in the show. Commercials ta the end of a few episodes told viewers to tune in on a certain night and mail in the Quests' destinations for that night for a chance to win prizes (Adventure Packs) and a trip to a secret island location for a mission. Winners from the US and a few other countries were selected and flown to Jamaica, where they participated in a mock mission to save the Jamaican environment from Jeremiah Surd.

Presented below are journalistic articles covering Quest World Adventure. You can download the original spot here (AVI).

Articles

New image and promotion for Cartoon Network

The following appeared in Kidscreen on February 1, 1997. The citation is Dillon, Theresa (1997-02-01). New image and promotion for Cartoon Network. Kidscreen: p. 8.

Cartoon Network is teasing television viewers with five commercials that are airing on other networks as part of a new image campaign. The ads, which depict a pair of stone-faced, plain-clothes detectives hunting down cartoon characters based on witness descriptions, began airing last month during such prime-time programming as The Simpsons, Seinfeld, The X-Files and Third Rock from the Sun, and will continue until the end of February. "Like the best cartoons, we are hoping they will appeal to two demographics [kids and adults]," says Michael Ouweleen, vice president and creative director for Cartoon Network, explaining the choice of air time.

This is the first time Cartoon Network has gone off-channel with image-based advertising. In the past, any off-channel promotion has been strictly programming-based.

The new campaign has an "outrageous, irreverent tone," says Craig McAnsh, Cartoon's senior vice president of marketing. That tone has always been evident on the channel, say McAnsh, and now they are taking the message to other venues.

In another effort, Cartoon Network is launching a worldwide promotion, Quest World Adventure, on February 10. The contest offers viewers of The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest a chance to win a week-long all-expense-paid trip to a tropical island. To enter, viewers must answer specific questions based on the five new episodes of Jonny Quest airing from February 10 to 14.

This marks the first time that all four sister networks Cartoon Network U.S., TNT and Cartoon Network Europe, Cartoon Network Asia and Cartoon Network Latin America have joined forces for an on-air promotion. Ten winners will be selected from the U.S. and two each from Latin America, Europe and Asia.

Cable operators can also participate, but must commit to air at least 200 cross-channel "tune in and win" spots from February 3 to 16.

The contest will also be promoted in print media including Sports Illustrated for Kids, DC Comics and Marvel Comics and in radio spots on KidStar Radio.

Contest winning is family affair

The following appeared in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. The citation is Shaw, Mary-Liz (1997-06-07). "CONTEST WINNING IS FAMILY AFFAIR". Worcester Telegram & Gazette.

MILLBURY - Winning is everything for the Woods family.

"It's normal," Lois Woods said. "It's our lifestyle."

When 12-year-old Kara Lynn Woods, Lois' daughter, found out she'd won a trip to Jamaica in February, the thrill of winning once again cast its spell over the house on Juniper Drive.

It isn't an unfamiliar feeling for Lois, Kara and Kevin - Lois' husband. In fact, it's a byproduct of Lois Woods' unusual, but lucrative, pastime: Entering sweepstakes.

"This is my serious hobby," she said. "It's the only thing I'm good at."

Lois Woods enters about 160 contests and sweepstakes a year. Over the past decade she has fired off enough postcards and No. 10 letters - "they have to be No. 10's" (business-size envelopes) - to make her an honorary poster child for the U.S. Postal Service.

"I spend about $800 a year on postage," she said. "Those postal increases make me cry."

When Lois and Kevin have a little tiff, instead of flowers, he buys her stamps as a makeup gift.

"My brother always knows where to go for my Christmas presents," she said. "He goes to the post office."

Her efforts have paid off - big time. The family has won 10 vacations, including a trip to Ireland for the Irish Derby, cruises, cash and, once, a year's supply of potato chips.

"I wrote a jingle for Eagle Brand snacks," Woods explained. "Impress your guests without chipping away at your wallet."

Woods subscribes to two newsletters and has a book, "Winning Sweepstakes, The Proven Strategy," which she calls her "bible."

Like any veteran sweepstakes entrant, Woods has a system. She enters smaller, regional contests that are open for short periods of time. "If it's open for a year, that's bad, that's too long," Woods said.

And the famous Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes, with its signature "You may already be a winner" mailings? Strictly for amateurs, as far as Woods is concerned. The odds are too long. But apparently Kevin Woods can't resist the lure; he enters every year.

"SECRET ISLAND'

It was through one of her newsletters that Lois Woods learned of a contest sponsored by the Cartoon Network. It met most of her criteria. It was restricted to children, was open for only a week and offered a great prize: A trip for four to a "secret island." Winners had to answer correctly a question posed during a children's television program. Kara can no longer remember the question, but she knows the winning answer was Cameroon, Africa.

"We thought it would be fun to enter, so we sent in 20 postcards," Kara said, who adds with an infectious smile, "and we won."

Later Lois learned the contest had 20,000 entrants.

"You could have knocked me over with a feather," she said. "Normally I'd never enter one that big."

The contest was part of a publicity campaign for the Cartoon Network's new animated program, "The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest." The show features a father-son team, Dr. Quest and Jonny and their trusty side-kick, Hadji. The three "go on adventures around the world and solve mysteries," Kara said. She became a fan, by the way, only after she won the contest.

Kara was one of 19 children to win the dream trip, though for the first few weeks she had no idea where that vacation would be.

"I had to badger them about it," her mother said. Because Kara is an only child and the trip pays for the winner and three guests, that left a spot for one of Kara's friends. Lois Woods persuaded the network to reveal the destination by stressing Kara couldn't ask a friend without telling where they were going.

The family leaves for Jamaica in July. It will be the third trip Lois Woods has won to the island. Kara awarded the much-desired fourth spot to her close friend, Vanessa DiPilato, because "she loves to travel," Kara said.

Kara herself is no stranger to winning. One wall in the family room is lined with dance trophies from her efforts at Patty Morris Dance Unlimited in Millbury.

Following in her mother's footsteps, Kara enters many coloring and essay contests. Her latest effort is an essay contest for a spot in an anti-smoking commercial.

And in November, she's off to New York City with Lois' mother, Paula O'Dowd. Lois won them tickets to a taping of "The Rosie O'Donnell Show."

"This is a whole other hobby the world doesn't know about," Lois said.

Tips from a contest winner

MILLBURY - Lois Woods often advises friends and family on entering sweepstakes. Here's what she tells them:

First, understand the difference between a sweepstakes and a contest. A sweepstakes takes no skill or special knowledge, simply a clearly written postcard or entry form submitted by a deadline. A contest requires some sort of skill, such as answering a question or naming a product.

Look for small, regionally based sweepstakes. National sweepstakes open to anyone and published with coupons usually are a waste of time because the odds of winning are so poor.

Watch the contest closing date. Enter contests or sweepstakes with a limited entry period, ideally a week. Avoid games open for a year or more.

Use only No. 10 envelopes for mailing. Anything smaller gets lost.

Mail 20 to 40 postcards or entries to boost chances of winning.

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Kara Lynn Woods is following in her mother's winning ways.

Hitting the trail with Jonny Quest - Hudson youth wins a trip to Jamaica to join the hunt for a dastardly villain

The following appeared in the Akron Beacon Journal. The citation is Coughlin, Kerry (1997-06-12). "HITTING THE TRAIL WITH JONNY QUEST HUDSON YOUTH WINS A TRIP TO JAMAICA TO JOIN THE HUNT FOR A DASTARDLY VILLAIN". Akron Beacon Journal.

Trenton Tesmer, 11, has been threatened by the evil Jeremiah Surd, so he has no choice but to go on a real-life Jonny Quest adventure in Jamaica next month.

His mission: To stop Surd in his fiendish plot to commit environmental terrorism. Trent, a fifth-grader at Eastwood Elementary School in Hudson, won his spot in the top-secret mission through a Real Adventures of Jonny Quest contest on cable's Cartoon Network.

Trent is the son of Terry and Michelle Tesmer, who will accompany him on the all-expenses-paid trip to Jamaica along with Trent's 14-year-old sister, Tara. She'll get to help the adventurers on their mission.

"I guess the parents get to do whatever they want all day," Trent adds.

Interestingly enough, his family does not receive Cartoon Network through their cable provider. So Trent asked a school friend who often tapes the show for him to watch a series of all-new episodes that aired in February so the boys could answer one of the Jonny Quest contest questions that week: What was Jonny's destination?

Both mailed in the answer, Africa, but Trent lucked out when his name was pulled in a random drawing. Until last week, all he knew was that he'd be going on a weeklong adventure with nine other American kids as well as nine from Latin America and Asia.

Now, in a secret transmission from Jonny Quest himself, Trent's destination has been revealed -- Jamaica. The youths will be divided into three Quest teams to brave the rapids of the White River, climb Dunn's River Falls and ride horses through Prospect Plantation in an effort to find the rare Jamaican Irie Stones before Surd does.

Trent's not sure what the Irie Stones are, but he plans to find out.

Soon after he won the contest, the Cartoon Network aired all the American winners' pictures, with Surd threatening each child by name. ("We'll be looking for you, Trenton.")

Trent plans to arm himself with his "Quest World Adventure" pack, which includes a cool metal binder to write clues in, a notebook with a computer chip cover, a radio/siren/flashlight, and a glow stick that Trent says he has to freeze to make it glow.

He's especially fond of the skinny, blond Jonny Quest, whom he guesses to be 13 or 14, and his dog Bandit.

"I like Boy Scouts and to have adventures just like Jonny Quest," Trent volunteers. "I like how he tries solving mysteries and stuff."

When Trent found out he won, he asked his mother, "Are you just kidding, Mom? Did we really win the trip?"

Now he's getting revved up for his big adventure and is looking forward to meeting children from other countries, and talking with them through interpreters.

History does repeat itself. Trent's father enjoyed watching the original Adventures of Jonny Quest as a youngster in the 1960s. The Real Life Adventures of Jonny Quest, based on the 1960s prime-time series, is an updated mystery-adventure featuring teen-age heroes who face extraordinary dangers in the real world and in virtual reality.

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PHOTO: Black and white photos (2) of 1- Jonny Quest characters -- USA Network and 2- Trenton Tesmer -- PHIL MASTURZO / Beacon Journal

Caption:

1- Jonny Quest (right) with adopted brother Hadji, bodyguard Race Bannon, father Benton, dog Bandit and 2- Trenton Tesmer, 11, of Hudson has his Quest World Adventure Pack ready for top-secret mission to stop environmental terrorist Jeremiah Surd.

Cartoon fan prepares for adventure, helping Jonny Quest

The following appeared in the Tampa Tribune. The citation is Harmon, Bill (1997-06-15). "Cartoon fan prepares for adventure, helping Jonny Quest". Tampa Tribune.

SUMMARY: A boy who likes computers wins a trip to Jamaica after watching a cartoon that features computer-generated reality.

HUDSON -- Angel Toro is flying to Jamaica because he knew about Cameroon.

Angel, 11, won a trip to Ocho Rios, where he'll experience a "Quest World Adventure" compliments of the Cartoon Network. He and his family leave July 19.

In February, the Atlanta-based network began a simple geography contest for fans of "The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest."

All Angel had to do was watch one of five episodes and send in an answer that flashed across the bottom of his TV screen.

The question: What exotic locale was the cartoon hero visiting that day? His answer: Cameroon in west central Africa.

Angel and nine other U.S. viewers were selected from 50,000 correct responses. Six winners were picked from Europe.

Each winner gets to bring three guests on the weeklong adventure.

While in Jamaica, the winners and other kids on the trip will embark on a mission to stop Jonny Quest's nemesis, the evil Jeremiah Surd, and his fiendish plan to commit environmental terrorism.

Angel and the others will brave the White River rapids, hike Dunn's River Falls and ride horses at Prospect Plantation.

They also must find the rare Jamaican Irie Stones before Surd can use them to implement his dastardly scheme, according to a prepared statement from the Cartoon Network.

During their adventure, the youngsters will get e-mail messages that will provide clues.

Angel's been watching Jonny Quest since he was about 5. He got hooked on it first in his native Puerto Rico.

About three years ago, the boy's dad, also named Angel, moved the family to Hudson, where young Angel, a student at Bayonet Point Middle School, found the cartoon on cable.

The show is about a smart teen who travels with his father around the world and gets into and out of scrapes with pal Hadji, plus Race Bannon and his daughter Jesse.

Jonny Quest premiered 33 years ago. The writers have brought it up-to-date with adventures in virtual reality, said Paul Siefken of the Cartoon Network.

Angel especially enjoys those. His father owns and operates Budget Computers of Hudson, and the boy helps out by testing games and other software.

"Angel tells my customers how to install games on the computers I sell," the elder Toro said.

When Angel came to Bayonet Point school last fall, he couldn't read English, said teacher Matthew Graziaplene. But he worked hard and was reading just about everything after a few months.

"You wish all the students were like Angel," the teacher said.

Angel's grades are excellent, which earns him his TV watching privileges, his dad said.

The boy plays the trombone at school and is big brother at home to 8-year-old Jose.

Angel also excels in algebra and wants to join the U.S. space agency one day.

For now, his goal is saving money for his Jamaica trip. He's saved about $80 so far.

Angel also has been checking out Ocho Rios on his computer atlas.

"It's got nice, real clear water," he said. "It looks like a real nice place to vacation.

Caption:

Angel Toro was ecstatic when his picture flashed on the Cartoon Network as one of the winners of a "Quest World Adventure." He plans on taking his family on a trip to Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

FRED BELLET/Tribune phot

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Jamaican quest awaits real-life boy

The following appeared in the St. Petersburg Times. The citation is Brink, Graham (1997-06-30). "Jamaican quest awaits real-life boy". St. Petersburg Times.

Angel Toro received classified directions from Jonny Quest three weeks ago for a top-secret mission in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

Angel isn't a spy in the James Bond mold. He's an 11-year-old Hudson boy who won a contest sponsored by the producers of the children's cartoon television show, The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest.

Angel will rendezvous July 26 with 18 other agents in the tropical nation for a weeklong, real-life adventure vacation. The agents, 10 from the United States and nine from Latin America and Asia, will be divided into three teams to stop Jonny Quest's nemesis, Jeremiah Surd.

""I can't wait to go, Angel said. ""This will be more fun than a regular vacation.

Here's the plan: Surd will attempt to commit an act of environmental terrorism. That part, of course, is pretend, but the rest is for real: To stop him, Angel and his cohorts will raft the White River, hike Dunn's River Falls and horseback ride at Prospect Plantation in a quest to find the Jamaican Irie stones before Surd can use them.

Angel, who is going into the seventh grade at Bayonet Point Middle School, said he was up to the task.

""Surd is really tough in the cartoon. I'm sure he'll be tough in Jamaica. But I'm sure we can outsmart him if we think about what we're doing, he said.

The adventure was set up to force the agents to use their heads, the same way Jonny Quest does in the cartoon, said Paul Siefken, spokesman for the Cartoon Network, which produces the show.

""This isn't about guns and explosions, he said. ""These kids will have to really think in order to solve the riddle and save the world. It's just like the cartoon.

The agents will get clues and updates via the Internet to help them defeat Surd, Siefken said. Surd will write messages and leave warnings throughout the week to make his presence known. The adventure will be recorded, to air on one of the Cartoon Network's fall programs.

The trip also is set up to teach the kids about Jamaican history and ecology, Siefken said. The kids will take home memories that will last a lifetime, he added.

""The kids will have an opportunity to not only go on an exceptional trip, but they'll get to meet and learn with other kids from around the world, he said. ""It's an invaluable experience.

Angel wants to use the trip to prepare for his career objective of becoming an astronaut.

""Astronauts have to think, he said. ""They have to combine common sense with science and math. That's sort of what Jonny Quest does in the cartoon.

The would-be astronaut will be joined by his parents and his 8-year-old brother, Jose, who will also be allowed to participate in the adventure. The Cartoon Network is paying expenses for each winner and three family members or friends.

Angel's father, whose name is also Angel, said his son makes straight A's in school and should have no trouble defeating the evil Surd.

""He was smart enough to enter the contest. And now the whole family gets to go to Jamaica, he said.

Mr. Toro said he'll keep letting Angel watch the cartoon as long as his grades remain high. He conceded that Angel's winning of the contest will probably pay off in a little extra television watching time.

""I'm usually pretty strict about it, he said. ""But when I return from an all-expenses-paid trip of sitting in the sun, I'll probably be a bit more lenient.

The Cartoon Network asked viewers a question about each episode nightly from Feb. 10-14. The answer was shown on the screen. Viewers just had to mail in the answer to be eligible to win.

Angel and the other winners were chosen randomly from 20,000 correct responses.

""It didn't take much to get the right answer, Angel said. ""But if you don't play, you can't win. Caption:

Jonny Quest cartoon contest winner Angel Toro

Caption:

COLOR PHOTO, JOHN PENDYGRAFT

The Cartoon Network: making an old series new again - Real Adventures of Jonny Quest.

The following appeared in Brandweek magazine. The citation is T.L. Stanley (1998-03-09). The Cartoon Network: making an old series new again - Real Adventures of Jonny Quest. Brandweek.

There they were, in the jungles of Jamaica, planting clues under coconuts and burying treasure in the sand. Michelle Allario and Tom Alexander are marketers by day but by night, for their Cartoon Network promotion, dubbed "Quest World Adventure," they braved the wilds, mapping out the paths that 19 young explorers from around the world would take during a week of mystery solving, Jonny Quest-style.

"We felt like camp counselors," said Allario, Cartoon Net's vp of marketing. "We played it very straight, because we always wanted the kids to feel like they were on a real adventure."

Cartoon Network had launched Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, a remake of the 1960s show, as a lead-in to the prime time block in fall 1996. The series, despite its updated themes and virtual reality hook, had not caught on with audiences, particularly with the much-coveted 9-14 demo. For February sweeps, Cartoon Net's first international promo was crafted, a watch-and-win program that sent 19 kids from different countries to a tropical island. To enter the sweeps, kids had to watch Quest for a week in February and mail in travel-themed details from the show.

Cartoon Net fully leveraged its new Time Warner media family, from 200 of its own on-air spots, to ads in SI for Kids and DC Comics, to tune-ins on video walls in 130 WB Studio Stores. To create local cross-channel hype, cable operators got their own contest, which generated more than 34,000 30second spots across 174 cable systems. Creative elements of the campaign were used globally.

The 19 winners, along with 200 worldwide alternates, received adventure-themed backpacks, flashlights, travel journals and other Quest merchandise. All communications with the winners, itineraries, credentials and mission briefings, arrived stamped "Top Secret." Winners from as far away as Taiwan, the Philippines and Portugal hit Jamaica in June, divided into teams to stop Quest's nemesis from committing "environmental terrorism," their stay peppered by rafting trips, barbecues and reggae concerts.

The results: more than 50,000 kids entered the contest, and the average age of entrants was 10, while the median age for viewers of the show is 8. Ratings among the key demo leaped 100%, and Web site visits skyrocketed 300%.

Program Quest World Adventure

Marketer Cartoon Network, Atlanta

Agency Marketing Mix, St. Louis

Key players Cartoon Net: Michelle Allario, vp-mktg; Tom Alexander, dir-trade mktg; Lauren Berman, mktg coord

Marketing Mix: Lori Sale, pres

Jonny Quest Ratings Soar with Real-Life Adventure Contest

This article is taken from here.

Company: Cartoon Network

Programs: Merchandise and travel offerings

Program Types: Consumer

Program Details: The contest gave 19 kids (10 from the U.S.) the opportunity to fly to an undisclosed destination to join forces and execute a secret mission. Additional prizes included "QuestWorld Adventure" gear, including backpack, flashlight/siren, travel journal, pen, glow sticks, and T-shirt. The network's Latin American and Asian divisions also participated in the promotion. To increase viewership, children were asked to tune in to all new episodes of Jonny Quest during a specific week. To enter, the young viewers had to watch an episode, write down the Quest Team's destination and mail it to "QuestWorld Adventure." A total of 200 spots on the Cartoon Network promoted the contest, along with print ads, radio commercials, and merchandise giveaways on the Kids Star Radio Network in four key markets. In addition, a cable-operator contest generated more than 34,000 cross-channel spots.

Objective: The Cartoon Network wanted to promote The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, a remake of the 1960s series, to attract older children and teenagers. Since the show had been slow in building consistent ratings and many teens had not watched it, the network developed a fantasy promotion entitled "QuestWorld Adventure."

Results: A film crew documented the "QuestWorld Adventure" for on-air promos and merchandising to future sponsors and cable operators. More than 50,000 entries were received in the U.S. Target audience ratings increased 100% during the promotion. QuestWorld Web-site visits jumped 300%, and cable affiliate participation generated more than $3.4 million in incremental cross-channel media support.