- The Pokémon Company International has signed WildBrain to distribute the Pokémon FAST channel, featuring 22 seasons of the iconic series. Under the deal, the Canadian company will roll out the single-IP channel on multiple platforms starting in the US and later expanding to other countries like Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand. The audience engagement team at WildBrain—which has been growing its FAST biz with 100-plus channels launched globally for 20 brands (collectively generating 7.5 billion minutes watched last year)—will also sell select direct advertising inventory for Pokémon.
- New Jersey’s Kids Preferred has scored a licensing deal with Peanuts Worldwide for an upcoming infant product range based on the classic IP (pictured). Set to launch next year, the new Peanuts toys will include branded soft books, blankets, infant plush, wood toys and bath playsets in 2025, featuring fan-favorite characters like Snoopy, Woodstock, Charlie Brown and Lucy. The timing lines up with the 75th anniversary of the brand, which originated in a 1950 comic strip by Charles Schulz.
- ReDefine Animation has joined Unified Pictures’ The Ark and the Aardvark to work on the remaining animation of the feature, which has already spent a long time in development and production. Directed by John Stevenson (Kung Fu Panda), the project has been in the works for more than a decade and features a reimagining of the story of Noah’s Ark from the animals’ point of view. Actor Miles Teller (Whiplash) is voicing the aardvark protagonist.

Deals in Brief – August 21, 2024
Kids Preferred is prepping new Peanuts products to roll out next year, and WildBrain is taking Pokémon to FAST audiences.
August 21, 2024