Chorion began selling off its assets this year and was marked by the departure of its chairman, Lord Waheed Alli, following attempts to renegotiate the company’s £70 million debt.

The first assets sold by Chorion were The World of Beatrix Potter and The Octonauts for an undisclosed sum to Silvergate Media, a new company backed by Alli, in September.

In December, Japan-based Sanrio Co., parent company of Sanrio, acquired all shares to Chorion’s other major property, Mr Men. The agreement includes the entire series of Mister Men and Little Miss characters, and marks the first property acquisition for Sanrio, a company built on original properties.