Territory deals recently inked by Thunderbird Distribution for
the new animated series include the UK, Canada, LATAM and Southeast
Asia
Thunderbird Brands names Nelvana as Mermicorno: Starfall’s
Canadian licensing agent
Thunderbird Distribution and Thunderbird Brands — the
distribution and consumer products arms of Thunderbird
Entertainment Group Inc. (TSXV:TBRD, OTC – THBRF) (“Thunderbird” or
the “Company”) — are pleased to announce several platform and
licensing deals for Mermicorno: Starfall, the new original animated
series from Thunderbird-owned Atomic Cartoons, produced in
partnership with global character, art and lifestyle brand
tokidoki.
This press release features multimedia. View
the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240515502273/en/
Thunderbird and Atomic Cartoons new
animated series Mermicorno: Starfall, produced in partnership with
tokidoki, adds Warner Bros. Discovery's Max and Cartoon Network
Latam and Cartoon Network Southeast Asia, and POP (UK) and Corus
Entertainment (Canada) to its growing roster of platform partners.
Corus-owned Nelvana will represent the brand as its
licensing/consumer products agent in Canada. (Graphic: Business
Wire)
The first season of Mermicorno: Starfall (26 x 22 minutes) will
be made available on Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming service,
Max in the U.S. and LATAM (Latin America and The Caribbean) — as
well as Cartoon Network in LATAM and Southeast Asia. The series has
also been acquired by Narrative Entertainment’s POP (UK) and Corus
Entertainment for Treehouse, STACKTV and TELETOON+ (Canada).
Mermicorno: Starfall is expected to launch on all Corus platforms
in Canada in early 2025.
Thunderbird Brands has also appointed the first international
licensing agent for the IP. Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana, a
renowned international producer, distributor, and licensor of
children's animated and live-action content, will represent
Mermicorno: Starfall in the Canadian market, covering all major
categories outside of toys and publishing.
Inspired by tokidoki’s hit Mermicorno character family launched
in 2016, Mermicorno: Starfall is a smart and fun adventure-comedy
for kids five to nine, that takes place in a fantastical and
magical undersea world, where a team of Mermicornos (enchanting
unicorn-mermaids) join together to save the ocean from an evil
threat. During their epic mission, our heroes unlock the magic of
creative self-expression, discover new depths of friendship, and
find the best bowl of ramen in the sea. The series is currently in
production at Atomic’s Ottawa studio.
“From the outset, we’ve known Mermicorno: Starfall is special
and unique to the market, based on the fans of tokidoki’s
Mermicorno characters,” said Thunderbird President of Global
Distribution & Consumer Products, Richard Goldsmith. “And as we
continue to attract more top-tier platforms and partners like
Nelvana Enterprises, it reconfirms the huge opportunity that we
have with our awesome new animated series and multi-year plans for
more content and consumer products.”
“We have dreamed of this for many years and cannot wait to see
our Mermicorno come to life in animation,” said Pooneh Mohajer,
tokidoki’s CEO & Co-Founder. “Nelvana has an impressive
consumer products team — they are the perfect licensing partners
for Canada!”
“Growing up, I was always impressed with animation of any kind:
Western cartoons and Japanese anime touched my heart and
imagination. When I draw new characters, I envision them already
moving and interacting with their own voice. I’m thrilled to share
a piece of my inner world through animation,” said tokidoki’s Chief
Creative Officer and Co-Founder, Simone Legno.
“tokidoki already has a very strong fanbase here in Canada,
including the team at Nelvana, which makes this partnership even
more exciting,” said Mellany Welsh, VP and Head of Nelvana and Kids
Can Press. "We couldn’t be happier to partner with Thunderbird on
the first tokidoki brand extension. Mermicorno has all the right
elements for success — from tokidoki’s iconic style and Thunderbird
and Atomic’s character-driven series, to Nelvana’s retail and
licensing expertise in Canada — the merchandise program is sure to
resonate with Canadian kids.”
Thunderbird Brands (booth H236) and tokidoki (booth G214), which
co-manage the consumer products program for the IP, will be
attending the global licensing industry’s premier trade event,
Licensing Expo, May 21 - 23, 2024, in Las Vegas.
ABOUT THUNDERBIRD ENTERTAINMENT GROUP Thunderbird
Entertainment Group is a global award-winning, full-service
multiplatform production, distribution and rights management
company, headquartered in Vancouver, with additional offices in Los
Angeles and Ottawa. Thunderbird creates award-winning scripted,
unscripted, and animated programming for the world’s leading
digital platforms, as well as Canadian and international
broadcasters. The Company develops, produces, and distributes
animated, factual, and scripted content through its various content
arms, including Thunderbird Kids and Family (Atomic Cartoons),
Thunderbird Unscripted (Great Pacific Media) and Thunderbird
Scripted. Productions under the Thunderbird umbrella include The
Last Kids on Earth, Molly of Denali, Highway Thru Hell, Kim’s
Convenience, Reginald the Vampire and Boot Camp. Thunderbird
Distribution and Thunderbird Brands manage global media and
consumer products rights, respectively, for the Company and select
third parties. Thunderbird is on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
at @tbirdent. For more information, visit: www.thunderbird.tv.
ABOUT TOKIDOKI tokidoki, which translates to “sometimes”
in Japanese, is an internationally recognized and iconic lifestyle
brand based on the vision of Italian artist Simone Legno and his
partners, serial entrepreneurs Pooneh Mohajer and Ivan Arnold.
Since debuting in 2005, tokidoki has amassed a cult-like following
for its larger-than-life characters and emerged as a sought-after
global lifestyle brand. tokidoki offers an extensive range of
products which include apparel, handbags, cosmetics, accessories,
toys and more. Simone Legno, tokidoki’s Chief Creative Officer, was
born in Rome, Italy, and from a very young age developed a deep
love of Japan and a fascination with world cultures. Combining
Legno’s unique talent and creativity with Mohajer’s business
acumen, tokidoki has grown exponentially. As an innovative company,
tokidoki is known not only for its eye-popping aesthetic and
criminally cute characters but also its megawatt partnerships.
tokidoki is on Facebook and Twitter at @tokidoki and on Instagram
at @tokidokibrand. For more information visit: www.tokidoki.it
Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that
term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release, which
has been prepared by management.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Information Thunderbird’s public communications may include
written or oral “forward-looking statements” and “forward-looking
information” as defined under applicable Canadian securities
legislation. All such statements may not be based on historical
facts that relate to the Company’s current expectations and views
of future events and are made pursuant to the “safe harbour”
provisions of applicable securities laws.
Forward-looking statements or information may be identified by
words such as “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”,
“forecast”, “may”, “will”, “plan”, “project”, “should”, “believe”,
“intend”, or similar expressions concerning matters that are not
historical facts. Forward-looking statements in this document
include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the
first season of Mermicorno: Starfall being made available on Max as
well as Cartoon Network; expected timing for the launch of
Mermicorno: Starfall on all Corus platforms in Canada; Nelvana
representing Mermicorno: Starfall in the Canadian market, covering
all major categories outside of toys and publishing; continuing to
attract more top-tier platforms and partners like Nelvana
Enterprises; opportunities with the new animated series and
multi-year plans for more content and consumer products; Mermicorno
having all the right elements for success; the merchandise program
resonating with Canadian kids; and the Company’s plans to attend
the global licensing industry’s premier trade event, Licensing
Expo.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of
estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are
subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
which may cause actual results and future events to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general
business, economic and social uncertainties; litigation,
legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory,
political and competitive developments; product capability and
acceptance; international risk and currency exchange rates; and
technology changes. An assessment of these risks that could cause
actual results to materially differ from current expectations is
contained in the “Risks and Uncertainty” section of June 30, 2022
MD&A. The foregoing is not an exhaustive list. Additional risks
and uncertainties not presently known to Thunderbird or that
management believes to be less significant may also adversely
affect the Company.
The forward-looking statements or information contained in this
document represent our views as of the date hereof and as such
information should not be relied upon as representing our views as
of any date subsequent to the date of this document. The Company
undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any
forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by
applicable securities laws. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not
to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or
information.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240515502273/en/
Media Relations Contacts Lana Castleman, Director,
Marketing & Communications Phone: 416-219-3769 Email:
lcastleman@thunderbird.tv
Corporate Communications Julia Smith Finch Media Email:
Julia@finchmedia.net
Investor Relations Contact: Glen Akselrod, Bristol
Capital Phone: + 1 905.326.1888 ext 1 Email: glen@bristolir.com
Thunderbird Entertainment (TSXV:TBRD)
Historical Stock Chart
From Nov 2024 to Dec 2024
Thunderbird Entertainment (TSXV:TBRD)
Historical Stock Chart
From Dec 2023 to Dec 2024
