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).
