Atomic Cartoons, JAKKS Pacific and Cyber Group Studios Announce Master Toy Agreement for The Last Kids on Earth
Agreement follows Atomic's worldwide licensing deal with Cyber Group Studios for merchandise, ancillary and second window TV rights for the upcoming Netflix animated series
VANCOUVER, May 13, 2019 /CNW/ - Atomic Cartoons, the kids and family division of Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc. (TSXV:TBRD), and Cyber Group Studios are pleased to announce that they have entered into a Master Toy Agreement with JAKKS Pacific Inc., for The Last Kids on Earth series created by Max Brallier.
Under the terms of the new agreement, JAKKS Pacific, a world-leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of toys and consumer products, will develop and bring to market a range of merchandise inspired by the bestselling book series and upcoming Netflix production about the post-apocalyptic adventures of Jack Sullivan and his friends. The line will be available in all territories except China. This will include action figures, activity toys, role-play accessories, vehicles, plush items, novelty items, games, and play electronics. Cyber Group Studios brokered the deal on behalf of Atomic Cartoons.
This agreement follows a previous worldwide licensing deal for the Last Kids on Earth franchise between Atomic Cartoons and Cyber Group Studios. In February 2019, Cyber Group Studios, the Paris and Los Angeles based animated production and distribution company, became the sole and exclusive representative worldwide for merchandising, ancillary and second window TV rights for the series.
The Last Kids on Earth series follows the comedic adventures of 13-year old Jack Sullivan and his gang of wise-cracking middle school friends, who live together in a decked-out treehouse after a monster apocalypse has taken place. In a world without parents, they gorge themselves on candy, play video games, invent gadgets, and of course, battle zombies and giant-sized monsters. The books, published by Viking Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House, are a New York Times and USA Today bestselling series, with over two and a half million copies in print around the world.
"We are very excited to partner with Atomic Cartoons and Cyber Group Studios to develop a line of merchandise that will bring The Last Kids on Earth to life in a new way," notes Craig Drobis, SVP Marketing, JAKKS Pacific, Inc. "With themes of friendship, heroism and humor in the face of a monster and zombie apocalypse, it is no surprise the series has been embraced by readers around the world, and has all the ingredients for an amazing line of toys."
Richard Goldsmith, President and CEO of Cyber Group Studios USA, adds: "When the opportunity to partner with Atomic for The Last Kids on Earth became available earlier in 2019, we jumped at the chance to contribute to, what is sure to be, an exciting new global franchise - first with the launch the upcoming animated Netflix series, and soon with an exciting line of merchandise based on the popular characters, thanks to our new partnership with JAKKS Pacific."
The right to produce the animated series and related intellectual property rights, were acquired by Atomic Cartoons in 2017, and the animated series was ordered by Netflix in February 2018. The consumer brand for The Last Kids on Earth will debut at Licensing Expo in Las Vegas in June 2019, and the animated series will premiere on Netflix later in 2019.
"When Atomic Cartoons first acquired The Last Kids on Earth to create an animated series, I was excited and honored at the possibility," says Max Brallier. "As I watch the franchise grow, I remain humbled by how the world has embraced these characters, this world, and the story of Jack Sullivan."
Brallier is attached to the Netflix series as creator and executive producer, along with Scott Peterson, who is the showrunner and an executive producer. Matthew Berkowitz and Jennifer Twiner McCarron, who is the CEO of Thunderbird and Atomic Cartoons, are also executive producers on the series.
"It has been such a privilege for our team to work on this series with world class creative talent like Max Brallier and showrunner Scott Peterson, and to bring these amazing books to life with a major platform in Netflix. Our partnership with Cyber Group Studios, and now JAKKS Pacific, to create toys based on this series is the cherry on top," says Matt Berkowitz, Chief Creative Officer, Thunderbird Entertainment Group and Atomic Cartoons. "With the animated series debuting later this year, and merchandise on the horizon in early 2020, we hope that The Last Kids on Earth franchise will be delighting audiences, in multiple formats, for many years to come."
Earlier this year, the star-studded voice cast was announced, and will feature the talents of Mark Hamill, Rosario Dawson, Catherine O'Hara, Keith David, Bruce Campbell, Garland Whitt, Montse Hernandez and Charles Demers, in addition to Nick Wolfhard as the lead character Jack Sullivan. The announcement resulted in significant coverage worldwide.
About Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc.
Thunderbird Entertainment Group ((TSXV: TBRD) is a Vancouver-based global multiplatform entertainment company with offices in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Toronto, Ottawa and London. Thunderbird creates award-winning scripted, unscripted and animated programming for the world's leading digital platforms, as well as Canadian and International broadcasters. Thunderbird's vision is to produce high quality, socially responsible content that makes the world a better place. The Company develops, produces and distributes animated, factual and scripted content through its various divisions, including Atomic Cartoons, Great Pacific Television, Thunderbird Productions and Thunderbird Releasing Limited.
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About Atomic Cartoons, Thunderbird's Kids and Family Division
Atomic Cartoons is the kids and family division of Thunderbird Entertainment Group. Recognized internationally as one of the leading animation studios in North America, Atomic employs 500+ artists in Vancouver and Ottawa. Since its founding more than 20 years ago, Atomic has worked with partners such as Marvel Animation, Netflix, Disney, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros., Lego, Mattel, Spin Master and Nelvana to name a few. Atomic's productions include the Emmy-award winning Beat Bugs, the Disney show 101 Dalmatian Street, the upcoming Netflix series The Last Kids on Earth, Counterfeit Cat, Minecraft Mini Series, Marvel's Avengers Assemble, Max & Ruby and LEGO Jurassic World: The Secret Exhibit.
About JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of toys and consumer products sold throughout the world, with its headquarters in Santa Monica, California. JAKKS Pacific's popular proprietary brands include Perfectly Cute™, Real Workin' Buddies™, Squish-Dee-Lish™, XPV®, Disguise®, Moose Mountain®, Funnoodle®, Maui®, Kids Only!®; a wide range of entertainment-inspired products featuring premier licensed properties; and C'est Moi™, a youth skincare and make-up brand. Through JAKKS Cares, the company's commitment to philanthropy, JAKKS is helping to make a positive impact on the lives of children.About Cyber Group Studios
About Cyber Group Studios
Cyber Group Studios is a French independent, multi-award-winning company which develops, produces and distributes its own- and third-party audiovisual productions and brands. The company focuses on content with strong global appeal targeted particularly to kids and families, namely with 3D CGI and 2D HD-animated productions (TV series and movies). Its mission is to bring the best quality entertainment to audiences produced by top creative talent and to develop breakthrough technologies to enhance its productions. The company also aims to collaborate with other top creators and producers to help them bring their creations to market with outstanding content distributed and marketed through Cyber Group Studios' worldwide operation.
Following the opening of a subsidiary in Los Angeles (USA) and Roubaix (Hauts-de-France), Cyber Group Studios has created an interactive division aimed at developing games and interactive experiences on digital platforms (IOS, android) as well as on traditional console platforms (Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo Switch and PC).
Visit us at www.cybergroupstudios.com and follow us on Instagram: (@CyberGroupStudios), Twitter (@CyberGroupSDs), Facebook (@CyberGroupStudios) and LinKedin (#CyberGroupStudios).
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Company's objectives, goals or future plans and the business and operations of the Company, and the likelihood of completion of upcoming releases. 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; those additional risks set out in the Company's Filing Statement and other public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com; and other matters discussed in this news release. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except where required by law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
SOURCE Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc.
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