After four years of development and production,
Genius
Brands International, Inc. "Genius Brands" (NASDAQ: GNUS)
announced today the debut of the first toys from Fisher-Price, a
division of
Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT), for the hit
original preschool series,
Rainbow Rangers, now
available at
Walmart (NYSE:WMT) stores across the
U.S., Walmart.com and Amazon.
The “Team Rainbow Rangers”
multipack (MSRP: $24.99, ages 3+) features characters—Rosie Redd,
Mandarin Orange, Anna Banana, Pepper Mintz, Bonnie Blueberry,
Indigo Allfruit, Lavender LaViolette and Floof—from the popular
Rainbow Rangers series, currently airing on Nick Jr. in the U.S.,
Nickelodeon Latin America, China’s CCTV and other key territories
around the world. Each unique and diverse character
represents a superpower, including super strength, music power,
animal whisperer, invisibility, super vision, super speed,
micro-power! The launch of the Rainbow Rangers’ toys will be
supported by a comprehensive national advertising and promotional
campaign, including television advertising, widespread social media
and influencer programs, a customer appreciation initiative, new
content, and more.
In addition to Mattel, current manufacturing
partners producing product for mass retail and online
for Rainbow Rangers include Distribution Solutions
(DVDs), Bentex (apparel), MacMillan Publishing (books), Dynacraft
(bicycles), Centric Brands (sleepwear), Handcraft (underwear), and
Disguise (costumes and accessories).
“Over the weekend, we officially launched online
the first Rainbow Rangers toy figures from Mattel’s
Fisher-Price into the U.S. marketplace on Walmart.com, and Amazon,
and we hear from customers that the product has appeared to be sold
through but keep checking back! And, we launch in Walmart stores
today, marking a significant step for Genius Brands in the growth
of the brand!” commented Chairman & CEO Andy Heyward. “The
Rainbow Rangers brand has all of the elements to potentially become
a breakout hit and a huge business for Genius Brands. A lot
of our licensing/manufacturing partners feel the same way, which is
why we have hundreds of product SKUs in virtually every category
coming to retail across North America over the next 12 months.”
As part of the launch initiative, Genius Brands
will be issuing commemorative, limited edition, numbered and
hand-signed lithographs featuring the Rainbow Rangers to the first
1,000 buyers to submit proof of in-store or online purchase.
The lithographs will be accompanied by a hand-signed
certificate of authenticity and embossed foil seal to be affixed to
the multipack. Genius Brands will also offer an additional 2,500
customers, at no cost, hand-signed and numbered Certificates of
Authenticity and embossed seals.
Said Heyward, “I’ve been privileged to shepherd
many successful brands, such as Strawberry Shortcake, The Real
Ghostbusters, and Inspector Gadget, to name a few, where the
original toys have become very valuable collectible items. As a
token of our appreciation for our Rainbow Rangers fans, we are
thrilled to be able to offer this unique free opportunity to become
a collector at launch.”
Featuring engaging storylines rooted in themes
of empowerment, diversity, friendship, and
sustainability, 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. The series currently airs on Nick Jr. in
the U.S., with new episodes currently in production!, available in
over 100 million U.S. television households and over 200 million
mobile devices. Rainbow Rangers also airs in key markets
around the world, including Nickelodeon Latin America, NOGGIN in
Latin America, CCTV in China, Cartoonito in Italy, TVNZ in New
Zealand, Nine Network in Australia, and more.
“Rainbow Rangers is the result of the genius
behind our all-star creative team, which includes by Rob Minkoff,
the director of Walt Disney’s Lion King and Shane Morris
the co-writer of Walt Disney’s Frozen. The head writer
of Rainbow Rangers is Elise Allen, who among other things was head
writer of Disney Channel’s hit, The Lion Guard, and the
Director of Rainbow Rangers is Mike Maliani, who
directed Strawberry Shortcake, a brand which did $5
billion of retail sales in five years,” commented Heyward.
“We love Rainbow Rangers for two reasons: First, it
is in keeping with our ethos for Genius Brands…it is positive,
enriching, non-violent programming for kids. As the father of
two girls, I felt it was important to not only show diversity,
protecting the planet, and its animals, but also to show young
female heroes! And, we have even more Rainbow Rangers content
coming in the near future, featuring celebrity guest stars, and new
themes!”
About Genius Brands International
Genius 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 and in partnership with Alibaba; 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! is available in over 100 million
U.S. television households via a broad range of distribution
platforms, including Comcast, Cox, DISH, Amazon Prime, Sling TV,
Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and more. 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; our ability to repay our
outstanding debt; the potential issuance of a significant number of
shares to our convertible note holders 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/37098260-f562-4538-9d5f-20b65287e152
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