EXHIBIT 99.1

     Genius Products, Inc. Closes $7M Private Placement Financing

    SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 22, 2004--Genius Products, Inc.
(OTCBB:GNPI) today announced the closing of its private placement
offering of $7 million. Genius Products will use the proceeds for
working capital purposes. Sands Brothers International Limited, an
investment banking firm with offices in London and New York, served as
selected dealer for the transaction.
    The private placement was priced at $70,000 per unit. Each unit
consists of 50,000 shares of common stock and a warrant to purchase
10,000 shares of common stock. The warrants have an exercise price of
$3.00 per share and a five-year term. Genius Products will issue
5,000,000 new shares of common stock and warrants to purchase up to
1,650,000 shares of common stock (including those warrants issued as
compensation to the selected dealer). In accordance with the terms of
the Registration Rights Agreement entered into by the company, the
investors and the selected dealer in connection with this financing,
the company has agreed to file a resale registration statement for the
resale of the common stock and the common stock underlying the
warrants by May 18, 2004.
    "We are happy to see investor confidence in our company, products
and business plan. We believe that these funds give us the opportunity
to carry out our business plan which includes the acquisition of
further content," stated Klaus Moeller, Genius Products' Chairman and
CEO.

    About Genius Products, Inc.

    Genius Products, Inc. (OTCBB:GNPI) is a multi-brand company that
designs and markets family entertainment products including DVDs,
videos, CDs and cassettes. The products are sold under various brand
names including Baby Genius, Kid Genius, AMC, Bozo the Clown,
Paddington Bear, Raggedy Ann & Andy, Guess How Much I Love You, and
the Snowman. The company's products are distributed at major retail
stores nationwide such as Target, Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, Babies R Us,
Borders, Best Buy, and Shopko. The company also licenses the Baby
Genius brand to third-party companies for a variety of products
including, books, apparel and infant care products. Promotional
partners include Kellogg's, The World Famous San Diego Zoo, Parents
Magazine, Playtex, Fazoli's, and Child Magazine.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    Except for historical matters contained herein, the matters
discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements and are
made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements reflect
assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties, which may affect
Genius Products' business, forecasts, projections, prospects, and
cause results to differ from these forward-looking statements. Such
risks and uncertainties include the company's ability to grow its
business and other matters, which are described in the company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    CONTACT: Genius Products, Inc., San Diego
             Klaus Moeller, 858-793-8840
             info@geniusproducts.com