Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) has taken an equity stake in California-based Genius Brands International.

SPHE acquired the shares as part of an expanded distribution agreement with Genius Brands, in which it handles global home entertainment marketing and distribution of the Kid Genius and Baby Genius labels.

SPHE has been marketing and distributing the Kid Genius and Baby Genius labels in North America since last February. At that time, the companies also forged a pact to co-develop, distribute and merchandise future animated or live-action properties from their programming portfolios.

Genius Brand properties covered in the expanded global deal include tween-driven brand SpacePOP (pictured), original series Baby Genius, animated series Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaire’s Club and Stan Lee’s Cosmic Crusaders.

SpacePOP, in particular, has been making moves internationally in recent months. In December, Genius Brands appointed Barcelona-based Luk International as its content distribution, licensing and merchandising agent for the brand in Spain, Portugal and Italy.

The news follows on the heels of Sony Pictures Television acquiring a minority stake in SVOD platform Hopster late last year.