BuzzFeed Strikes Deal with Frederator Network

Genius Brands, through its Frederator Network subsidiary (a division of WOW! Unlimited Media), announced an exclusive content deal with BuzzFeed. 

The deal provides Genius Brands’ Frederator Network the exclusive opportunity and first right to develop and produce long-form series based on original digital properties created by the BuzzFeed Animation Lab. The first short-form content for series development by Frederator will be “The Land of Boggs,” a buddy comedy. Other content under consideration for long-form development includes “The Good Advice Cupcake,” “Weird Helga” and “Chikn Nuggit.” 

“Our partnership with BuzzFeed offers Frederator a tremendous opportunity to expand on the creativity of their animation lab to further develop their original IP into long-form series for global audiences,” says Michael Hirsh, chief executive officer, WOW! Unlimited Media. “BuzzFeed is considered the most-watched digital publisher with billions of global content views and nearly 30 million dedicated BuzzFeed Animation Lab fans, which gives us a huge audience and ability to promote each series to a highly engaged fan base!”   

Frederator Studios will serve as the global content sales agent, headed by Isabel Schultz, director, development, and Genius Brands’ consumer products division will develop the retail program for the slate of IP, spearheaded by chief brand officer, Kerry Phelan, and in partnership with BuzzFeed. 

Related:Genius Brands Launches Genius Music

“The BuzzFeed  Animation Lab has seen huge success and explosive growth for our animated properties, and we are thrilled to partner with Frederator Studios for development,” says Zee Myers, head, BuzzFeed Animation Lab. “They have an unparalleled track record in the industry and are the perfect shepherds to take our animated properties into a new format and expand our audience.”