Brilliant Digital Entertainment Names Russell Simmons to Board of Directors.

Business Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 20, 2001

Founder of Def Jam Records, Phat Farm Clothing & Hip-Hop Empire Joins

Internet 3D Technology Company, Bringing New Dimension to

Web Music Videos & Advertising

Brilliant Digital

Entertainment Inc. (AMEX:BDE), a leading developer of 3D technologies for rich media content creation, distribution and ad serving for the Internet, has named hip-hop impresario Russell Simmons to its board of directors, enhancing Brilliant Digital's endeavors in the music industry.

Simmons' empire includes Def Jam Entertainment (a division of the Universal Music Group), Phat Farm Clothing, Rush Communications and D-Rush, a joint venture with Deutsch Advertising.

Simmons and his partner Stan Lathan are joint-ventured with Brilliant Digital Entertainment in Digital Hip Hop, a Los Angeles-based digital production company. Simmons will continue to work with Brilliant Digital to bring a new level of entertainment to the Internet experience through their animated Web Music Video and advertising platform. As well as joining Brilliant Digital's board, Simmons has become a shareholder in the company.

Additionally, Brilliant Digital has realigned its internal structure as part of a management transition plan. Brilliant Digital co-founder Mark Dyne will continue to serve as chairman, while Brilliant Digital's president, Kevin Bermeister, is assuming the additional role of CEO. Dyne has taken this step to focus his efforts on strategic transactions rather than daily operating matters.

Brilliant Digital's animated Web Music Video format was introduced to the hip-hop community with an interactive Web video for rapper Ja Rule, which was produced in collaboration with Digital Hip Hop. Brilliant Digital has also produced these 3D animated musical shorts for the chartbusting entertainers including Sum 41, Ludacris and Lady Luck featuring Redman.

Simmons is often credited with launching the hip-hop revolution that has broken down racial and cultural barriers while simultaneously building a billion dollar industry. Simmons' diverse holdings comprise a large segment of this primarily urban, youth-based culture.

"People expect entertainment on the Internet to be even more fresh and exciting than traditional platforms, and Brilliant Digital's 3D technology is more exciting than anything we've seen so far," said Simmons, Brilliant Digital Entertainment's newest board member. "Brilliant Digital's animated Web Music Videos use the Internet to bring the same type of innovation that MTV provided consumers during the early 80s with the launch of music videos. Brilliant Digital technology brings a new life to the Internet, and I'm excited to be a part of their team."

"We are delighted that Russell has joined our board; with his knowledge of the music and advertising industries and relationships with business and entertainment leaders, he is a powerful addition to our team of Internet entertainment and marketing visionaries," said Kevin Bermeister, CEO and president of Brilliant Digital. "As the most pioneering producers of Internet animated Web Music Videos, our corporate strategy will influence the direction of this market. Freeing up Mark Dyne to use his extensive contacts and expertise to focus on larger strategic deals for Brilliant Digital should prove to be very rewarding and beneficial."

In addition to Simmons, Brilliant Digital Entertainment's board of directors includes Mark Dyne, chairman, Brilliant Digital; Kevin Bermeister, CEO and president, Brilliant Digital; Mark Miller, senior financial consultant, Tynan Mackenzie P/L; Ray Musci, chairman and CEO, Bay Area Multimedia Inc.; Garth Saloner, the Jeffrey S. Skoll Professor of Electronic Commerce, Strategic Management and Economics, and co-director of the Center for Electronic Business and Commerce at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University; and Jeffrey Scheinrock CEO, Scheinrock Advisory Group and president and CEO, Tornado Development Corporation.

About Brilliant Digital Entertainment and b3d

Brilliant Digital Entertainment Inc. (AMEX: BDE) is a leading developer of 3D technologies for rich media content creation, distribution and ad serving for the Internet. It licenses its content creation and authoring tools and ad serving technology to the content and advertising communities. The b3d Studio tools are used by studios, production houses, web content suppliers and advertising agencies to produce entertainment, advertising and music content for the Internet. These authoring tools enable the creation and delivery of interactive, streaming, real-time 3D graphics over the Internet.

Brilliant also licenses its Brilliant Banner ad serving technology to the web based advertising industry. Brilliant produces 3D digitally animated interactive titles featuring popular characters and music artists such as Ja Rule, Sum 41, Ludacris, Superman, Xena, KISS and Ace Ventura. Developed using Brilliant's proprietary suite of b3d software tools, the full-screen productions have small files for faster downloads. Content is distributed broadly via Internet syndication to partners including Yahoo, Warner Bros. Online, MTV.com, Road Runner and VH1.com. Find out more at www.brilliantdigital.com.

Statements in this news release that relate to (i) Simmons' ability to assist Brilliant in building relationships in the music industry, (ii) Brilliant's ability to influence the direction of the market for Internet Web Videos, and (iii) Dyne's ability to bring strategic transactions to Brilliant, and (iv) other projections or future events are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results may differ materially due to a variety of factors, including those factors set forth in Brilliant's most recently filed Form 10-KSB report and 10-QSB report, which are available from Brilliant Digital Entertainment's Investor Relations department and may be obtained by calling Robin Gore at 818/615-1500.