Partnership includes worldwide merchandising, ancillary and second window TV rights for the animated series currently in production for Netflix
VANCOUVER February 6, 2019– Atomic Cartoons, the kids division of Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc. (TSXV:TBRD), is pleased to announce that it has entered into a worldwide licensing agreement with Cyber Group Studios, the Paris and Los Angeles based animated production and distribution company, for its upcoming animated series The Last Kids on Earth. Currently in production, the premiere of the animated series is scheduled to appear on Netflix later this year.
Under the terms of the agreement, Cyber Group Studios becomes the sole and exclusive representative worldwide for merchandising, ancillary and second window TV rights for the series. The brand is scheduled to debut at Licensing Expo in June 2019 and the animated series will be debuted for TV sales at MIPJR/MIPCOM, the world’s leading kids entertainment industry event, in 2020.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Atomic on the media distribution and licensing and merchandising of their upcoming Netflix series,” says Pierre Sissmann, Chairman and CEO of Cyber Group Studios. Richard Goldsmith, President and CEO of Cyber Group Studios USA, adds, “The Last Kids on Earthhas all the ingredients to be a global sensation with kids based on the popularity of the books and the superb animated series in production.”
Written by Max Brallier, The Last Kids on Earth is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling book series, with over two million copies in print around the world. The story follows 13-year-old Jack Sullivan and a band of suburban middle schoolers who live in a decked-out tree house, play video games, gorge themselves on candy, and battle zombies in the aftermath of the monster apocalypse. It’s a hilarious series filled with wisecracking kids, crazy gadgets, a lifetime supply of zombies and giant-sized monsters.
“Cyber Group Studios is a tremendous partner for us on The Last Kids on Earth, and we are delighted by the opportunity to work with them to take the series and brand to next level,”says Matt Berkowitz, who is vice president of Originals, Atomic Cartoons.
The IP was acquired by Atomic Cartoons in 2017, and the animated series was ordered to series by Netflix in February 2018. Brallier is attached to the series as creator and executive producer, along with Atomic’s Scott Peterson, who is the showrunner and an executive producer. Matt Berkowitz and Jennifer Twiner McCarron, who is the CEO of Thunderbird and Atomic Cartoons, are also executive producers on the show.
About Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc.
Thunderbird Entertainment Group 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.
About Atomic Cartoons, Thunderbird’s Kids Division
Atomic Cartoons is the Kids 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 locations. 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 upcoming Netflix series The Last Kids on Earth, the upcoming Disney show 101 Dalmatian Street, Counterfeit Cat, Minecraft Mini Series, Marvel’s Avengers Assemble, Rocket Monkeys, Max & RubyandTransformers: Rescue Bots.For more information: http://atomiccartoons.com/.
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 Tourcoing (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.comand follow us on Instagram (@CyberGroupStudios), Twitter (@CyberGroupSDs) and Facebook (CyberGroup Studios).
Thunderbird Social Media Links
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tbirdent
Twitter: www.twitter.com/tbirdent
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tbirdent
Website: www.thunderbird.tv
For further information, please contact:
Investor Relations Contacts:
Lucas Cahill and Freddie Leigh
Phone:+ 1 604.683.3555
Email: investors@thunderbird.tv
Media Relations Contact:
Julia Smith, Finch Media
Phone:+1 604.803.0897
Email:julia@finchmedia.net
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.