Genius Brands International, Inc.’s (“Genius
Brands”) (NASDAQ:GNUS) hit animated series,
Rainbow
Rangers, is growing its viewership dramatically across
multiple media worldwide, including its anchor platform
Kartoon Channel! in the U.S., as well as
Netflix, Amazon Prime Video Direct, HBO Max,
Nickelodeon Latin America, and China’s largest
broadcaster
, CCTV, among others.
“It takes time for a brand to establish itself,
but we are clearly seeing that this is now occurring with Rainbow
Rangers across multiple-platforms, including the recent release of
season one on Netflix, where the series cracked the Top 10 of
children’s programs for the first time, and is consistently a top
performer in Netflix categories such as 'Girls Take the Lead,'
'Everyone’s Watching,' and 'Exciting TV Shows.' At the same time,
we are witnessing adoption across a growing base of broadcasters,
including the launch of Rainbow Rangers on Paramount
Plus network on August 18th,” stated Jon
Ollwerther, President of Kartoon Channel! & EVP of Business
Development at Genius Brands.
The broadcast success corresponds with the
development of a new 2022 retail program with master toy partner,
Never Wrong Toys. The retail program is based on a broad range of
preschool products, initially focused in the toy category. The
launch is planned to coincide with the world premiere of season
three of Rainbow Rangers, exclusively on Kartoon Channel!
“The recent success of Rainbow Rangers reminds
me of the early trajectory of Strawberry Shortcake, which started
with Hasbro Toys, but moved to Bandai Toys, and Playmates, where it
eventually drove a highly successful, multi-billion dollar global
licensing program,” noted Genius Brands’ Chairman & CEO
Andy Heyward. “We are taking a page from the Strawberry
Shortcake playbook, with Emmy Award-winning producer Mike Maliani
of that property leading the production of Rainbow Rangers in
season three, introducing a twist in the new season—the addition of
a scent in the storyline! Not unlike Strawberry Shortcake where all
the dolls and products were scented strawberry, the dolls and
products coming forth from Rainbow Rangers will be scented as well.
We believe this will be a huge driver in the girls’ product
category.”
With two seasons available and season three
currently in production, Genius Brands has a growing slate of media
partners around the world on board for Rainbow Rangers, including
Netflix (U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East),
Amazon Prime Video Direct (U.S., U.K.), Nickelodeon (U.S.), Kartoon
Channel! (U.S.), HBO Max (Latin America), Nickelodeon & NOGGIN
(Latin America), CCTV (China), Televisa (Mexico), Treehouse
(Canada), Cartoonito (Italy), Nine Network (Australia), TVNZ (New
Zealand), HOP (Israel), TV2 (Hungary), NOGA (Israel), Mini Mini
(Poland), Canal Panda (Portugal), Discovery Kids (Middle East),
Mediacorp (Singapore), Awesome TV (Malaysia), and Pikaboo (Serbia,
Montenegro, Macedonia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Herzegovina),
among others.
Kerry Phelan, Executive Vice President
& General Manager of Global Franchise Management at Genius
Brands stated: “Rainbow Rangers is a special series that
is clearly resonating with young audiences around the world as we
continue to build our viewership with new partners, such as
Netflix, coming on board. To crack the Top 10 for the first time so
quickly on Netflix, coupled with the traction we’re gaining on
Amazon and our own platform, Kartoon Channel!, is a testament to
the strong appeal of the themes and positive messaging of the show.
Our strategy continues to center around growth in viewership,
which, in turn, is designed to feed our long-term merchandising
strategy. We are enthusiastic about our partnership with Never
Wrong Toys and are excited about developing an exciting range of
preschool toys that tap into the most appealing elements of the
show for 2022.”
Rainbow Rangers is a rescue-based series that
follows the adventures of seven girls who are Earth’s first
responders—protecting people, animals, resources, and the natural
beauty of our world. Hilary Cherniss and
Sara Jane Sluke, who were key writers in the first
two seasons, are the Head Writers of season three. Multiple Emmy
Award-winning director Michael Maliani directs the
series, and Genius Brands' Chairman & CEO and multiple Emmy
Award-winning producer, Andy Heyward, serves as
executive producer.
About Genius Brands
InternationalGenius Brands International, Inc. (Nasdaq:
GNUS) is a leading global kids media company developing, producing,
marketing and licensing branded children’s entertainment properties
and consumer products for media and retail distribution. The
Company’s award-winning ‘content with a purpose’ portfolio includes
the upcoming Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, starring Arnold
Schwarzenegger, for Kartoon Channel!; Shaq’s Garage, starring
Shaquille O’Neal for Kartoon Channel!; Rainbow Rangers for Nick
Jr.; Llama Llama, starring Jennifer Garner, for Netflix;
award-winning toddler brand Baby Genius; adventure comedy STEM
series Thomas Edison's Secret Lab; and entrepreneurship series
Warren Buffett's Secret Millionaires Club. Through licensing
agreements with leading partners, characters from Genius Brands’ IP
also appear on a wide range of consumer products for the worldwide
retail marketplace. The Company’s new Kartoon Channel! and Kartoon
Classroom! are available in over 100 million U.S. television
households via a broad range of distribution platforms, including
Comcast, Cox, DISH, Sling TV, Amazon Prime, Amazon
Fire, Apple TV, Apple iOS, Android TV, Android Mobil,
Google Play, Xumo, Roku, Tubi, KartoonChannel.com,
Samsung Smart TVs and LG TVs. For additional information, please
visit www.gnusbrands.com.
Forward Looking Statements: Certain statements
in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as
"may," "might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect,"
"anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast,"
"project," "plan," "intend" or similar expressions, or statements
regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are
forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these
forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should
not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are
based on information available to us on the date of this release.
These forward looking statements are based upon current estimates
and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties,
including without limitation, our ability to generate revenue or
achieve profitability; our ability to obtain additional financing
on acceptable terms, if at all; the potential issuance of a
significant number of shares, which will dilute our equity holders;
fluctuations in the results of our operations from period to
period; general economic and financial conditions; our ability to
anticipate changes in popular culture, media and movies, fashion
and technology; competitive pressure from other distributors of
content and within the retail market; our reliance on and
relationships with third-party production and animation studios;
our ability to market and advertise our products; our reliance on
third-parties to promote our products; our ability to keep pace
with technological advances; our ability to protect our
intellectual property and those other risk factors set forth in the
“Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recent Annual Report
on Form 10-K and in the Company's subsequent filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Thus, actual
results could be materially different. The Company expressly
disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as
required by law.
MEDIA CONTACT:pr@gnusbrands.com
INVESTOR RELATIONS
CONTACT:
ir@gnusbrands.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b59daedb-10a3-487a-a85d-744d3cd70edf
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