Entertainment company acquires Irish animation studio.

Hasbro has added yet another chapter to its storytelling and entertainment initiatives with the acquisition of Dublin-based Boulder Media, which significantly strengthens the company’s creative development and expansion of its rich portfolio of brands.

As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hasbro, Boulder Media will retain its brand name and also continue to produce animated series on behalf of third-party clients. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“As one of the largest independent studios producing animation in Hollywood, the time is right for Hasbro to acquire its own animation studio, allowing us to expand our animation and storytelling capabilities even further,” says Stephen Davis, executive vice president and chief content officer, Hasbro Studios. “In Boulder, we have found one of the most progressive, innovative and creative teams in the business. We are thrilled to partner with Rob Cullen, Pete Lewis, Jenni MacNeaney and the entire Boulder team as we significantly enhance the execution of our story-led brand blueprint strategy.”

Hasbro is ranked as the world’s sixth largest licensor, according to the exclusive Top 150 Global Licensors Report published annually by License! Global, reporting $5.9 billion in retail sales of licensed merchandise worldwide in 2015.

Founded in 2000, Boulder Media has produced a variety of series for Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Disney and BBC.

Boulder Media will report into Davis, who is based at Hasbro Studios headquarters in Burbank.

“Boulder and Hasbro have ambitious plans for growth, and working together, we will substantially expand our team and our business,” says Robert Cullen, creative director, Boulder. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to bring to life the Hasbro stories and characters that mean so much to our team, and join a company that’s emerging as an entertainment powerhouse.”

Find out more about how Hasbro is continuing to evolve into an entertainment, content and licensing powerhouse in License! Global's June cover story, Hasbro: The Next Chapter in Storytelling.