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Exclusive: Kartoon Studios wants to teach kids how blockchain tech works with the launch of animated series Bitcoin Brigade: Adventures in Satoshi City.

The L.A.-based, New York-listed Kartoon is placing the series at the center of a wider property spanning content, digital education, merchandise, interactive apps, and a Bitcoin treasury strategy.

Debuting on Kartoon Channel! in fall 2026 on Kartoon Channel!, the series will set Bitcoin up as a vast treasure kingdom. It follows five friends who defend Satoshi City from threats that attempt to mess with the digital system keeping it in place.

Per the synopsis: “Guided by the mysterious mentor Satoshi Spark, and Mr. Bitkern, the Guardian of truth, the young heroes – Bitty Coin, the principled leader embodying Bitcoin itself; Blocky Chain, the gentle protector representing blockchain technology; Crypto Cora, the inventive coder; a the wild miner character racing to solve cryptographic puzzles; and Lightning Luke, the...

Exclusive: Todd Steinman has taken on Kartoon Channel Worldwide at Kartoon Studios, we’ve learned.

He has been promoted from his U.S.-focused role as President of Toon Media Networks to take on the wider Kartoon Channel business.

The news that comes soon after we revealed Paul Robinson was exiting his post as President of Kartoon Channel Worldwide, overseeing the network’s expansion beyond the States. While it’s not a like-for-like replacement, we understand Steinman will assume Robinson’s duties, while keeping his U.S. role.

Kartoon Studios’ Toon Media Networks division comprises including Kartoon Channel!, Ameba and Frederator Network.

Within that, Kartoon Channel now has distribution in 71 countries, and Steinman’s new role will including him overseeing international operations and the U.S., where Kartoon Studios says the network is a “profitable, high-growth platform.”

The domestic business has reported a 116% increase in earnings year-over-year for January and...

Exclusive: Kids TV industry veteran Paul Robinson is exiting his role as President of Kartoon Channel Worldwide, we’ve learned.

Robinson has decided to leave the post in mid-June after three years overseeing Kartoon Channel’s expansion into key markets. Under his leadership, the international Fast network went from zero to 68 territories outside the U.S., with deals across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America.

The news also comes soon after deals were struck to launch the children’s network, which is part of Andy Heyward’s Kartoon Studios International, on Samsung TV Plus in the UK and Ireland, Spain and Italy and with connected TV operators LG and HiSense.

“I am proud of the work I have done with Kartoon Studios over the last three years and with the Kartoon Channel in a strong position, I feel now is the right time to step away and try something new,...

Exclusive: Veteran Hollywood screenwriter Linda Woolverton, whose credits include Beauty And The Beast, The Lion King, Alice In Wonderland and Maleficent, has joined Kartoon Studios’ Hundred Acre Wood’s Winnie and Friends project as an executive producer.

John Rivoli, the veteran character, poster and creative products artist who has worked on projects including Harry Potter, Wicked, Lord of the Rings, Batman, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Looney Tunes, has joined as Creative Director.

Due to launch at the end of this year, the animated series is based on A.A. Milne’s beloved children’s properties, and material is due to include 200 six-minute shorts as well as a package of five-holiday specials. Michael Maliani is producer. We revealed a first look trailer earlier this year.

The series incorporates a “yarn-based animation style blending AI and hand-drawn characters and backgrounds”. Voice cast is being worked out now. The kids show will debut on the Kartoon Channel,...

Stan Lee’s “The Excelsiors” is set to be developed for TV and film by Kartoon Studios, the studio announced Monday. The company, also the controlling partner of Stan Lee Universe, plans to launch the project with a graphic novel published by indie comic publishing label Legible Comics.

The project is being produced by “Batman” film series executive producer Michael Uslan, on board with the DC franchise since bringing the 1989 film to the big screen.

The studio describes the project as “one of the largest initial superhero ensemble creations by the legendary Stan Lee,” featuring a 10-superhero team working for near future corporation “Amaz-Ing Tech LLC.” The team’s name is inspired by Lee’s famed “excelsior” catchphrase. The story is set in a world with global corporations running the world rather than governments (perhaps not too unlike what some see as happening in our own world).

“Stan always told...

Last year, Kartoon Studios (then Genius Brands) unveiled two educational animated series that were almost completely created by artificial intelligence. ChatGPT wrote the scripts, with other AI tools generating the animation and voicing the characters.

In one, Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaires Club — intended to teach kids financial literacy — a 3D animated Buffett is featured as a talking head speaking to the significance of mentors. Cartoon renderings of a piggy bank and a multigenerational family flash in the background, along with streaking brushes of color.

“So remember, the trick to life is knowing who to be the bat boy for,” the famed investor says as a stock image of a baseball player shoots across the screen. “This is important to understand if you want to be a home run hitter!”

The animated shorts series’ release — which includes episodes titled “Did You Know These Facts about Computers?” and “The Tallest Animal in the World!

‘Peppa Pig’ Writer Part Of Kartoon’s ‘Winnie-The-Pooh’ Team

Just days after unveiling a $30M, multi-year Winnie-the-Pooh plan, Kartoon Studios has unveiled its writing, directing and commercial team. Sam Morrison, who was part of the writing team for Nickelodeon’s Peppa Pig, has been named Head Writer, with Emmy winnner Michale Maliani the director. Kids TV industry veteran Paul Robinson, who was former Managing Director of Disney Channel Worldwide and is the current President of Kartoon Channel! Worldwide & Head of International Sales, will handle international distribution and former Paramount Pictures, Electronic Arts and Dic Entertainment exec Ryan Gagerman has been appointed Head of Global Licensing. He’s known for rolling out Strawberry Shortcake, on which he previously worked with Kartoon Chairman and CEO Andy Heyward. As part of Kartoon’s plan to make several feature films and a series based on A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh books, a retail deal was...

New Winnie-the-Pooh series and films are headed to Amazon, as part of an ambitious move by Kartoon Studios.

Amazon will premiere an animated holiday movie, five holiday specials and 104 episodes of a series rolled out over four years through the subscription kids network Kartoon Channel!, which is distributed through Prime Video Channels.

Kartoon Studios, which has put the plan into action after the original Winnie books entered the public domain two years ago, is also preparing a major merchandising push through an agreement with nationwide retail distributor Alliance Entertainment and a global consumer products rollout. “Capitalizing on the enormous equity inherent in A.A. Milne’s Winnie-The-Pooh, the unique designs and storytelling, as well as the production efficiency by harnessing AI, Kartoon Studios’ new iteration of the timeless brand will have an exceptional array of attributes that we believe can lead to extraordinary profitability for the company,” said Kartoon Studios Chairman and CEO Andy Heyward.

Exclusive: Kartoon Studios has hired Brian Parisi as its finance chief.

The Andy Heyward-led company has named Parisi CFO following its rebranding from Genius Brands this year, with current incumbent Bob Denton moving to a new role as Executive Vice President, Finance & Accounting.

Parisi has a three-decade career across entertainment, media and tech, working in finance, accounting, M&a, capital raising, and corporate development. He was most recently CFO of Break the Floor Productions in Hollywood, where he oversaw analysis of mergers and acquisitions, risk management and reduction of risk exposure.

Before that he was CFO at the NFL Hall of Fame Village and served as Senior Vice President of the Festivals Division of Live Nation Entertainment Inc. where he was responsible for developing strategic plans for Edm festivals. He’s also held leadership positions at Warner Bros. Entertainment and Universal Studios.

Andy Heyward, Chairman and CEO of Kartoon...

Toho International, the U.S. subsidiary of Japan’s leading film studio Toho Co., has agreed to buy stakes in three animated productions owned by Frederator Network, part of Genius Brands International’s Wow! Unlimited Media.

The deal gives Toho International 50 ownership of two completed series – “Bee and PuppyCat,” and “Bravest Warriors” – and a similar stake in the “Catbug” series that is currently in development as a spin off from “Bravest Warriors.” Deal terms were not disclosed, though Genius Brands described it as “a multimillion-dollar investment.”

The agreement provides a framework for Frederator Network and Toho International to co-produce new content for the properties and to cooperatively develop a global consumer products campaign.

Genius Brands will oversee global distribution and consumer products development for the properties, excluding Asia, which will be handled by Toho International. A dedicated online store for “Bee and PuppyCat” was launched in September 2022, to coincide with the series’ release on Netflix.

Marvel Entertainment tweeted a 25-second video on Wednesday confirming the 2023 release of a Disney+ documentary on Stan Lee. The announcement aligns with what would have been the 100th birthday of the late comic creator.

“100 years of dreaming. 100 years of creating. 100 years of Stan Lee,” Marvel Entertainment wrote in a caption that accompanied the teaser. “Stan Lee, an Original documentary, is streaming 2023 on @DisneyPlus.”

100 years of dreaming. 100 years of creating. 100 years of Stan Lee.

Stan Lee, an Original documentary, is streaming 2023 on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/2ufWu77vB8

— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) December 28, 2022

The newly released video shows glimpses of some of Stan Lee’s minor roles and guest appearances in cinema. The celebratory montage concludes with a gradual zoom-out that reveals an illustration of the multi-talented creator.

Working alongside fellow writer-artists like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, Lee is best known for creating beloved characters like Spider-Man, the Hulk, Iron Man,...

Genius Brands, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Smac Productions are developing and producing an animated space adventure series, titled “Blue Origins Space Rangers.”

The children’s series will feature a diverse group of global youth and include appearances by Bezos and “Good Morning America” star Michael Strahan, who completed his 10-minute flight to space aboard Blue Origin Ns-19 on Dec. 11, 2021. Mainframe Studios, an affiliate of Genius Brands, will produce the animation.

“One year ago, I watched my friend and business partner Michael Strahan become an astronaut. This extraordinary experience was the motivation for us to create ‘Blue Origin Space Rangers,’ a series that would inspire future astronauts,” Constance Schwartz-Morini, Smac Entertainment co-founder and CEO, said in a statement. “For our first project in the animated space, we couldn’t imagine two better partners than Blue Origin and Genius Brands to develop and bring this series to a distributor.”

Schwartz-Morini of...

Genius Brands, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, and Smac Productions, the company founded by Michael Strahan and Constance Schwartz-Morini, have partnered to develop and produce Blue Origin Space Rangers, an animated space adventure series for kids and families. The series will star a diverse group of global youth and include appearances by Strahan and Blue Origin founder Bezos. Mainframe Studios, an affiliate of Genius Brands, will produce the animation.

The announcement was made on the one one year anniversary of Strahan’s trip aboard Blue Origin Ns-19 on December 11, 2021.

In the series. described as a journey to explore the universe, science and new worlds, students will develop their skills in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics to tackle the challenges and opportunities of space for the benefit of Earth.

Schwartz-Morini of Smac Prods. and Andy Heyward of Genius Brands will serve as executive producers of the series. Michael Hirsh (Star Wars...

Famed chef and restauranteur, entrepreneur and philanthropist Wolfgang Puck is getting into the kids business. Puck is set to announce plans to launch a new children’s animated series, “Wolfgang Puck’s Secret Chef Academy,” which he plans to pitch to networks and streamers.

Puck has partnered with Genius Brands International to launch the project. “Wolfgang Puck’s Secret Chef Academy” will star Puck voicing himself, as he attempts to create the quintessential cookbook for Planet Earth. He enlists five talented kid chefs, “Wolf’s Gang,” who attend “4-s: — the “Secret Spago School of Scrumptious” — in the basement of his flagship restaurant. Wolf sends them on missions around the world to find iconic recipes that represent the culture of the places they visit. The kids must outsmart Puck’s rival, “Foxgang Muck,” secure the recipe and key ingredient, and get back to Spago in time for dinner service.

“’Wolfgang Puck...

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is resurrecting Stan Lee thanks to a new licensing deal — and fans are voicing their criticisms.

On May 19, Marvel announced a 20-year deal with Stan Lee Universe, a venture between Genius Brands International and Pow! Entertainment, to license the name and likeness of the late Marvel Comics editor-in-chief for use in future feature films and television productions, as well as Disney theme parks, “experiences,” and merchandise under a “broad deal” with his estate.

Lee died in November 2018 at age 95, and fans are calling for the memory of the beloved writer and editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics to be laid to rest.

Vulture critic Alison Willmore compared the deal to a “Weekend at Bernie’s” scheme, and Red Letter Media co-founder Jay Bauman slammed the deal, writing, “Stan Lee was exploited for the last few years of his life and now he can’t even rest in peace.

Genius Brands has tapped Disney and Goldman Sachs veteran Zrinka Dekic as its new CFO and head of strategy and mergers and acquisitions.

The hire comes at the end of a year when the company has pulled off some significant deals, acquiring Wow! Unlimited Media and taking a majority stake in Germany’s Your Family Entertainment.

At Disney, Dekic was hired by Kevin Mayer, the company’s former head of strategic planning and later streaming. At Disney, Dekic held posts in the corporate strategy, business development and strategic planning groups, where she was involved in a number of high-profile projects and strategic initiatives.

Before Disney, Dekic served as a VP in the investment management division at Goldman Sachs in New York, on the U.S. Fundamental Equity Portfolio Management team. The team oversaw nearly $30 billion of assets under management. Most recently, she served as VP of Houlihan Lokey’s investment banking technology,...

Andy Heyward’s Genius Brands has acquired Canadian animation production house Wow! Unlimited Media in a deal valued at $53 million.

Wow! brings to Genius a busy content operation that has produced mostly children’s programming for such outlets as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and Peacock and studios such as Sony, Dreamworks, Moonbug and Mattel. Wow! also is home to the Channel Frederator Network, a streaming platform for animation creators. That will pair nicely under the Genius umbrella with its existing Kartoon Channel service.

Wow! said it had earnings of $5.1 million during the 12-month period from July 2020 to June 2021 on revenue of $56.4 million. The deal is a mixture of cash and stock. Genius also emphasized the importance of Wow!’s status as a Canadian firm in making the most of the country’s generous production incentives.

“The acquisition of Wow! substantially accelerates the financial growth of Genius Brands, delivering on our...

Genius Brands International has agreed to buy Canadian animation production house Wow! Unlimited Media for roughly $53 million in cash and stock.

Beverly Hill-based Genius and Vancouver-based Wow are publicly traded on, respectively, the Nasdaq and Toronto exchanges and shares of both were trending higher Wednesday morning.

Genius Brands CEO Andy Heyward said the merger will substantially accelerate financial growth and expansion in the global children’s entertainment market. The deal provides it access to various Canadian federal and provincial tax credits, which will allow Genius Brands to transfer its current animation production from China at great savings, he said.

Wow productions includes Adventure Time, FairlyOdd Parents, Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, Castlevania (Frederator Studios) and Madagascar – a Little Wild, Barbie Dreamhouse (Mainframe Studios). Its CEO Michael Hirsh’s track record includes the first Star Wars animated programs, Magic School Bus, Care Bears, Babar, Johnny Test, and Beetlejuice, among others.

Wow also...

It is hard to believe that Arnold Schwarzenegger, possibly the biggest action movie star of all time, has yet to play a superhero. But the Terminator star does provide the voice for one in Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten, a new streaming series where Schwarzenegger plays the role of a retired superhero turned teacher. In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Schwarzenegger revealed that the role was specifically designed for him by Stan Lee as an unofficial sequel to Kindergarten Cop.

"Stan and I were talking about creating some kind of superhero character for me and doing an animated show. He said to me, 'what is your biggest wish?' And I said, 'to do a sequel to Kindergarten Cop, [to which Lee replied] we should call it Superhero Kindergarten."

Superhero Kindergarten follows the story of a man named Arnold Armstrong, voiced by Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was once the greatest superhero in the world, Captain Fantastic.

Shaquille O’Neal will executive produce and star in a new animated comedy for kids, Shaq’s Garage, for Genius Brands International and Abg Group.

Through the partnership, O’Neal is taking a stake in publicly-traded Genius Brands with an unspecified holding.

The show follows the secret adventures of the NBA legend’s collection of animated cars and trucks – all of which have unique abilities from super spying to language to music. The lead vehicle is named Big Diesel and will be voiced by Shaq.

“Ever since I was a kid I have been fascinated by cars. I’m so excited to bring this series to life with Genius Brands. We plan to showcase the most amazing, tricked out assortment of vehicles that can only be found in my garage,” O’Neal said. “They will all have larger than life personalities, larger than life missions and of course, larger than life sound systems.

Genius Brands International and Stan Lee’s Pow! Entertainment are collaborating on a deal to create the “Stan Lee Universe” for properties that were made by Lee outside of Marvel Entertainment.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The agreement, announced on Monday, will create a joint venture for over 100 original Stan Lee creations.

Lee, who died in 2018, was the creator, writer, editor and publisher of superhero comic characters, including Spider-Man, the X-Men, Thor, Iron Man, Black Panther and the Fantastic Four. Disney bought Marvel for $4 billion in 2009.

Andy Heyward, chairman and chief executive officer of Genius Brands, said, “In all of Hollywood, there is no greater prize. This is the Holy Grail. Stan Lee Universe is a once in a lifetime asset drawn from over 100 original, heretofore unexploited properties, created by the most successful creator of intellectual property of our time.”

“Having worked with Stan and been a close friend for almost 30 years,...

Genius Brands International and Stan Lee’s Pow! Entertainment have inked a deal to create Stan Lee Universe, a joint venture that will assume worldwide rights across media to Lee’s post-Marvel IP.

Genius will develop about seven properties a year out of 100 original creations including Tomorrow Men, Stringbean, Black Fury and Virus.

The deal gives the new entity rights “in perpetuity, to the name, physical likeness, physical signature, live-action and animated motion picture, television, online, digital, publishing, comic books, merchandising and licensing to the IP, Genius said.

Financial terms weren’t announced. The agreement is subject to due diligence. Genius Brands will be the managing and controlling partner of the joint venture.

A very enthusiastic chairman-ceo of publicly traded Genius, Andy Heyward, said, “In all of Hollywood, there is no greater prize. This is the Holy Grail. Stan Lee Universe is a once in a lifetime asset drawn from over 100 original,...

Arnold Schwarzenegger is set to become a “significant investor” in global children’s media company Genius Brands International as part of his agreement to produce and star in the company’s animated children series, Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten.

Shares of publicly-traded Genius Brands surged nearly 10% in premarket trading Monday on the announcement that said Schwarzenegger has elected to receive warrants to buy Genius Brands common stock as an advance against his profit participation in the show. Any further payouts would likely to be in the form of cash.

The show will premier in 2021 in the U.S. on Amazon Prime. Created by Stan Lee as one of his final projects, the show is co-produced by Genius with China’s Alibaba Group, Lee’s Pow! Entertainment, and Schwarzenegger’s Oak Productions. Schwarzenegger also voices the lead character. Co-creator of Deadpool, Fabian Nicieza, is scripting the series.

Schwarzenegger said he was,...

Genius Brands International has named Margaret Loesch, longtime entertainment exec and former CEO of Fox Kids Networks Worldwide, as executive chair of Kartoon Channel!, the new kids’ ad-supported streaming service launching June 15. David Neuman, former president of Walt Disney Television, was named chief creative officer.

Kartoon Channel! will be available in over 100 million U.S. television households and on 200 million mobile devices, said Genius, a publicy traded company formed in 2013 by a merger between Andy Heyward’s A Squared Entertainment and Genius Brands. Heyward (not the former CBS New president) is CEO.

“There is a huge appetite for quality children’s content that is family-friendly and safe. No less important, is having it available for free,” Heyward said. “It will be equally important to advertisers, who are increasingly finding fewer channels to reach viewers, in a universe dominated by pay services such as Netflix and Disney+.” He called Kartoon Channel,...

Animated series “100% Wolf – Legend of the Moonstone” from Germany’s Studio100 Media topped the poll of most-watched shows at MipJunior, the children’s content market in Cannes, which wrapped Sunday.

The series follows the adventures of Freddy Lupin, a young werewolf who has been accidentally turned into a poodle, but is determined to prove he’s a match for the others in the werewolf academy. The show was ordered by ABC in Australia and Super Rtl in Germany.

The top 20 shows were all animated series, and this reflects data on viewing trends. Animation is still the most popular genre among those under the age of 15. The genre accounts for an average of 78% of the 20 best-performing children’s shows in the five countries studied by research group Glance. This is higher than it has been over the past five years.

The second position in the most viewed shows at MipJunior was...

Youku, the video streaming platform of Alibaba Group, has signed a deal with Genius Brands International to co-produce “Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten,” an animated series starring and executive produced by Arnold Schwarzenegger. The pact marks significant step in Alibaba/Youku building its footprint in the U.S.

Aimed at preschoolers, the comedy adventure series “Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten” will be available to Chinese audiences on the platform.

“Youku is one of the most innovative media platforms in the world with an unparalleled ability to integrate entertainment and commerce,” said Andy Heyward, the chairman and CEO of Genius Brands.

“We look forward to collaborating with Youku to create a high-quality program in the preschool space that will resonate with a global audience,” said Heyward, who is also executive producing the series with Schwarzenegger, Paul Wachter, CEO of Main Street Advisors, and Gill Champion, the president of Pow! Entertainment.

Aaron Liao,...

Alibaba Group’s Youku has come on board to co-produce kids’ series Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Chinese platform has partnered with Genius Brands to produce the 52-part series, which launched at MipJunior. Genius Brands is currently in talks with U.S. partners.

Created by Stan Lee as one of his final projects, Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, which targets kids ages 4 – 7, is also co-produced by Lee’s Pow! Entertainment, and Schwarzenegger’s Oak Productions. Schwarzenegger, who also serves as executive producer, lends his voice as the lead character in the series. Co-creator of Deadpool, Fabian Nicieza, who has sold over 100M comics worldwide, is scripting the series. Genius Brands’ Chairman and CEO Andy Heyward, Paul Wachter, CEO of Main Street Advisors, and President of Pow! Entertainment Gill Champion also serve as executive producers.

“Youku is one of the most innovative media platforms in the world...

Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten has a new sidekick. China's e-commerce giant Alibaba Group has signed on to co-produce the Arnold Schwarzenegger-starring animated series for its Youku streaming platform.

The series is backed by kids media and licensing company Genius Brands, which world premiered and launched sales of the show at Mipcom's children's programming weekend MIPJr.

“Youku is one of the most innovative media platforms in the world with an unparalleled ability to integrate entertainment and commerce,” said Genius Brands CEO Andy Heyward. “We look forward to collaborating with Youku to create a high-quality program ...

Disney is in early development on a live-action “Inspector Gadget” movie and has set up the project with “Aladdin” producers Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich at their Rideback banner.

Disney has hired Mikey Day and Streeter Seidell, best known as “Saturday Night Live” writers, to work on the script.

“Inspector Gadget” originated in 1983 as an animated science-fiction comedy co-created by Bruno Bianchi, Andy Heyward and Jean Chalopin. It was originally syndicated by Dic Entertainment and Lexington Broadcasting Service.

Don Adams, best known for starring in “Get Smart,” supplied the voice of the title character who had his body equipped with an array of devices to battled with his enemy, Dr. Claw, leader of an organization named M.A.D. Gadget’s niece Penny and her dog Brain turned out to have the smarts to stop Dr. Claw.

Disney made a live-action movie in 1999 with Matthew Broderick as the titular character,...

Exclusive: Genius Brands International has tapped veteran content sales and acquisition veteran Caroline Tyre to oversee global content sales as Svp of international distribution. The move comes as the company consolidates the management of its rapidly expanding distribution business. Additionally, Tyre has been named Head of the Genius Brands Network, comprised of the Kid Genius Cartoon Channel and Baby Genius TV. The announcement was made today by Genius Brands’ Chairman and CEO Andy Heyward, to whom she will report.

In her new position, Tyre will be responsible for all aspects of Genius Brands’ global distribution business, including content sales for the company’s library of children’s programming such as Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, which will be on offer for the first time at this year’s MIPJr. market; the hit CGI-animated preschool series, Rainbow Rangers, currently airing season one on Nickelodeon’s Nick Jr. with...

Arnold Schwarzenegger is set to star in a new animated series coming from Pow! Entertainment and Genius Brands International called Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten. This is one of the final projects that Lee created and worked on before he passed away.

Schwarzenegger will play Arnold Armstrong, “who was an average gym teacher before he was imbued with superpowers when the earth passed through the ionic dust left in the wake of a mysterious comet. He becomes Captain Courage, one of Earth’s greatest protectors. However, after a battle with his arch nemesis, Dr. Superior, he expended all of his powers in defeating his foe, and forced to end his career as Captain Courage — until a massive explosion of super-energy particles came raining down and rumors of super-powered children began surfacing. Now, he serves as a kindergarten teacher who secretly trains the new generation of young superheros.”

Schwarzenegger had this...

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger will star as Captain Courage in Stan Lee's "Superhero Kindergarten", a new animated series aimed at pre-schoolers.

Produced by Genius Brands International, Pow! Entertainment and Schwarzenegger's Oak Productions, the show is set to be one of the final projects the Marvel Comics icon worked on before he died in last November at the age of 95, reported deadline.com.

Schwarzenegger said it was an "honor and privilege" to work on this new series and "help carry on Stan's creative legacy by introducing this new group of superheroes to preschool children around the world.

"Not only does Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten feature comedy and action, but there are many valuable lessons to be learned along the way. Of particular pride to me is the fact that I am not only teaching kids to use their superpowers, but I am also imparting valuable lessons to kids worldwide about the importance of health,...

Arnold Schwarzenegger is going back to kindergarten.

The “Kindergarten Cop” star will topline an animated superhero series titled “Superhero Kindergarten,” which is aimed at preschoolers. The series was created by Stan Lee and was his final project before his death last November. It is a co-production between Genius Brands, Lee’s Pow! Entertainment, and Schwarzenegger’s Oak Productions.

Schwarzenegger, who also serves as executive producer, will voice the lead character, Arnold Armstrong aka Captain Courage. Here is a description of the series, courtesy of Genius Brands:

Also Read: Arnold Schwarzenegger Shares Crazy Violent, Unused Idea From 'Commando'

Many years ago, Arnold Armstrong (Schwarzenegger) was just an average gym teacher who acquired incredible superpowers when the earth passed through the ionic dust left in the wake of a mysterious comet. As a result, Arnold transformed into Captain Courage, one of the earth’s greatest protectors!

For decades Captain Courage traveled the planet,...

Arnold Schwarzenegger will star as Captain Courage in Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, a new animated series aimed at preschoolers and produced by Genius Brands International, Pow! Entertainment and Schwarzenegger’s Oak Productions.

Schwarzenegger is an executive producer of the series, which he and others are describing as the final project worked on by Lee, the Marvel Comics icon who died in November 2018 at age 95.

“It is an honor and privilege to work with Genius Brands and Pow! Entertainment on this new series and help carry on Stan’s creative legacy by introducing this new group of superheroes to preschool children around the world,” Schwarzenegger said. “Not only does Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten feature comedy and action, but there are many valuable lessons to be learned along the way. Of particular pride to me is the fact that I am not only teaching kids to use their superpowers, but...

Genius Brands International has launched a new animated TV series, “Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten,” with Arnold Schwarzenegger attached to star.

“It is an honor and privilege to work with Genius Brands and Pow! Entertainment on this new series and help carry on Stan’s creative legacy by introducing this new group of superheros to preschool children around the world,” Schwarzenegger said. “Not only does Stan Lee’s ‘Superhero Kindergarten’ feature comedy and action, but there are many valuable lessons to be learned along the way! Of particular pride to me is the fact that I am not only teaching kids to use their superpowers, but I am also imparting valuable lessons to kids worldwide about the importance of health, exercise, and nutrition.”

One of the final projects created by Lee prior to his death, the series will be a co-production between Genius Brands, Lee’s Pow! Entertainment and Schwarzenegger...

Exclusive: Genius Brands, the company behind Netflix’s Jennifer Garner-voiced kids series Llama Llama, has appointed Natalie Setton to spearhead its international content sales.

Setton, who was previously Managing Director at Chuggington producer Ludorum, will oversee Genius Brands’ slate of kids shows including Nick Jr.’s Rainbow Rangers, which premiered in November, Llama Llama, which is currently in production for season two and Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaires Club.

Other Genius titles include toddler brand Baby Genius and adventure comedy series Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab.

She will report to Genius Brands Chairman and CEO Andy Heyward and will be based in London.

“I’m honored and excited to be part of the Genius Brands team,” said Setton. “I’ve been very much aware of Genius’s success and achievements with the development of timely and engaging content that not only entertains but imparts value and supportive messages to even the youngest of viewers.

Genius Brands has secured a $6 million bank facility to help fund a second season of its Netflix preschool show Llama Llama, which features the voice of Jennifer Garner in the lead role of Mama Llama.

Bank Leumi USA stepped up with the funding for Genius, a brand management company whose properties also include the Nick Jr. animated series Rainbow Rangers, which will premiere in November.

The new production facility matures in March 2021. It follows a previous facility of $5.2 million for the first season of Llama Llama, which premiered last January. The show is based on the bestselling book franchise by Anna Dewdney.

Season 2 of Llama Llama is produced by Jane Startz, Andy Heyward and Reed Duncan. Joe Purdy serves as the head writer and legendary Disney alum Ruben Aquino, who worked on animated features such as Frozen, The Lion King and Aladdin, is the art director for the series.

Netflix has ordered a second season of Llama Llama, its animated series from Genius Brands International. Jennifer Garner leads the voice cast of the preschooler toon, which premiered in January in 20 countries.

Based on the book series by author and illustrator Anna Dewdney, Llama Llama is about first childhood experiences and adventures as well as the special connections between Llama (Shayle Simons), his Mama (Garner) and his grandparents. It tells stories of life in a safe, friendly town seen through the eyes of Llama as he interacts with the amazing world around him.

Netflix and Genius Brands today also unveiled a pair of 30-minute Llama Llama specials, including one for Mother’s Day.

“I love Anna Dewdney’s award-winning, joyful Llama Llama books and am proud to voice Mama Llama on this very special series for Netflix,” Garner said. “And now — great news! — Mama Llama and Llama Llama will be back for a second season!

She’s played a sexy double agent. She’s played a comic-book assassin. And now, in her most transformative role to date, Jennifer Garner will play… a llama.

RelatedDownton Abbey‘s Michelle Dockery Joins Netflix Miniseries Godless

Garner will voice Mama Llama in the new animated series Llama Llama, Netflix announced Wednesday at the Television Critics Association summer press tour. Based on the best-selling book series by Anna Dewdney, the show will follow the adventures of its titular character as he learns and grows alongside his closest friends — and, of course, his mother, with whom he shares a “warm and loving bond.

Stan Lee's Pow! Entertainment has partnered with The Hollywood Reporter and global brand management company Genius Brands International on the launch of a new property, Stan Lee's Cosmic Crusaders. The launch of the new animated series, aimed at 18- to 34-year-olds, coincides with THR's special salute "Stan Lee: 75 Years in the Business" in the upcoming Comic-Con issue. The announcement was made jointly Tuesday by Gill Champion, CEO and president of Pow! Entertainment; The Hollywood Reporter's Entertainment Group president/chief creative officer Janice Min; and Andy Heyward, chairman and CEO of Gbi. A co-production of Pow! Entertainment, Gbi

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Great news from the world of Stan Lee. Hero to superheroes and their fans, the legendary man of comics has written and will star in a new animated movie to premiere on the Hub Network next month, entitled Stan Lee’s Mighty 7. He’ll be voicing an animated version of himself, and is joined by a voice cast of noted stars, including Sean Astin, Armie Hammer, Mayim Bialik and Christian Slater.

The coolest thing? For this story, Mr. Lee has created seven new superheroes, along with a few other new characters. Check out, from left to right, top to bottom: Kid Kinergy, Lady Lighning, Lazer Lord, Micro, Roller Man, Silver Skylark, and Strong Arm, plus G-man Mr. Cross, and Mr. Lee himself. The almost-better news? It’s the first of three movies to be aired. Excelsior!

The Hub Network Will Debut The World Premiere Of Stan Lee Comic’S New...

Stan Lee is getting animated with some new superhero friends. The comic book legend is taking on his first starring role in Stan Lee's Mighty 7, the first of three animated movies created by Lee and produced by Stan Lee Comics, a joint venture among Genius Brands International, run by Andy Heyward and Amy Moynihan Heyward; Lee's Pow! Entertainment, run by Lee and Gill Champion; and Archie Comics. It's set to premiere at 8 p.m. Et/5 p.m. Pt on Saturday, Feb. 1, on the Hub Network, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively. (The kids-targeted channel has the

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Dan Rather, snubbed by his longtime network home for coverage of the 50th anniversary of JFK’s assassination, is taking his act over to rival NBC. Rather, who helped coordinate CBS’ coverage of President Kennedy’s ill-fated trip to Dallas in 1963, was not asked to participate in CBS’ JFK special, which will air on Nov. 16. “I held off doing anything for anybody else for a while, thinking I may be asked to do something,” Rather told the AP. “I can’t say I had any reason for that hope.” Also read: Dan Rather Sues Les Moonves, Andy Heyward CBS’ special will be anchored by.

A Squared Entertainment, Stan Lee's Pow! Entertainment and Archie Comics unveiled the voice cast of Stan Lee's new comic book-based animated trilogy Stan Lee's Mighty 7 (Slam 7), starring the legendary Stan Lee himself, at the Comikaze Expo on Saturday.

The voice cast includes Armie Hammer as Strong Arm, the superhero with super strength; Christian Slater as Lazer Lord, the superhero who hurls balls of laser energy; Mayim Bialik as Lady Lightning who possesses super speed; Teri Hatcher as Silver Skylark, the superhero who flies; Flea as Roller Man, who rolls into a big ball and launches at high speed; Darren Criss as Micro, who shrinks in size; and Sean Astin as Kid Kinergy who's superpower is telekinesis. Additional voices include James Belushi as Mr. Cross, the leader of a covert operations military division assigned to investigate UFO sightings; and Michael Ironside as Xanar, the leader of the warring...

Pgs To Offer ‘Stan Lee’s Mighty 7′ At Mip Market Andy Heyward’s A Squared Entertainment is partnering with Stan Lee’s Pow! Entertainment and Archie Comics to produce Stan Lee’s Mighty 7. The TV movie trilogy is billed as the first-ever reality superhero show and sees Lee insert himself into the story as a writer hired by Archie Comics to create a new group of superheroes. But when a group of seven aliens crash lands near his trailer, Stan decides to teach them how to behave as superheroes to thwart the military that’s in hot pursuit. The Mighty 7 comic book began appearing last year as a bi-monthly series. Pgs Entertainment is kicking off sales at Mip-tv next month with the first movie to deliver in Q4. Endemol Unveils Mip-tv Lineup The company will proffer Endemol USA’s Does Someone Have To Go, a fly-on-the-wall reality series set in...

A2 Entertainment, a full-service brand entertainment company, and Stan Lee’s Pow Entertainment announced a number of licensing and branded content deals for “Stan Lee’s Mighty 7” (SLAM7), a new comic book series created by Stan Lee, the legendary comic book great. Andy Heyward, CEO of A2 Entertainment, and Lee were together at the second annual Comikaze Expo in Los Angeles, CA to finalize the details of their expanded partnership. Among the announcements made at Comikaze Expo is an agreement for the original feature film, "Stan Lee's Mighty 7," to have its world television premiere next year on The Hub TV Network, a destination for kids and their families. The feature film will serve as a springboard for a potential future television series. Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment will handle home...

Former Dic Entertainment chairman and CEO Andy Heyward and wife Amy have listed their Paul Williams-designed residence in Los Angeles' bird streets neighborhood for sale. The three-bedroom Blue Jay Way house is priced at $7.85 million and hit the market June 15. Heyward and his wife purchased the property in March 2010 for $4.75 million. Unlike many of the modern residences that dot the hillsides in the tony bird streets neighborhood above the Sunset Strip, the Heyward residence is an East Coast traditional with a long gated driveway. "One of the things you do not find

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Kids TV veteran Andy Heyward and his wife Amy, formerly a top marketing executive with McDonalds and the Los Angeles Times, announced a joint venture with Indian mega-conglomerate Tata late Thursday to create, develop and distribute original entertainment for children, including animation, video games and consumer products. Heyward said in an interview on Friday that he began looking for new challenges after he sold his interest in kid’s animation powerhouse Dic Entertainment in 2008 (for a reported $90 million) which was a year after he married Amy. He said they wanted to create a new venture but felt the

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"The Governator" is reportedly the latest victim of Arnold Schwarzenegger's marital woe. Contrary to previous report that the former California governor's infidelity scandal would not affect the TV series, a rep for the project has just said that "Governator" is now on hold.

"In light of recent events, A Squared Entertainment, Pow, Stan Lee Comics, and Archie Comics, have chosen to not go forward with the Governator project," the rep told TMZ. It is not clear whether the project is completely dead or is just postponed until the buzz regarding Schwarzenegger's personal issues is over.

Just hours before, the "Terminator" star's lawyer Patrick Knapp announced that he delays his return to acting career. "At the request of Arnold Schwarzenegger, we asked Creative Artists Agency to inform all his motion picture projects currently underway or being negotiated to stop planning until further notice," he said in a statement.

"Gov. Schwarzenegger...

Maria Shriver isn’t the only one with a broken heart. This week’s revelations about Arnold Schwarzenegger’s secret love child also have several Hollywood producers blowing into their hankies. Last week at Cannes, up-and-coming film financier Megan Ellison (True Grit) spent nobody knows how many millions for the rights to possibly make more Terminator movies with Arnold (sorry, Megan). Al Ruddy, veteran producer of Million Dollar Baby and The Godfather, was going to pay Arnold a reported $12.5 million to star in his first feature since leaving the governor’s office, Cry Macho (there, there, Al).

But of them all,...