Crayola Launches Crayola Studios

Crayola has announced it is launching Crayola Studios – a new division dedicated to creating multiple-genre content for kids and families that explores the limitless possibilities of children’s creativity and leverages color as an intrinsic element of the story.

With a pipeline of shows in development, the portfolio features a broad range of projects across numerous content touchpoints. The first project to be announced is “The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian,” a co-development with MIMO Studios.

Crayola is partnering with production companies, animation studios and IP owners, such as MIMO, to create engaging content that will air on leading kids’ broadcast platforms worldwide. June’s issue of License Global explored how Crayola approaches and promotes creativity and emotional intelligence through licensing.

Overseeing the content slate is Victoria Lozano, executive vice president, marketing, Crayola, with support from Goatfish Agency, founded by Rick Glankler, former president, general manager, kids and family entertainment, Fremantle. Crayola’s sister company, Hallmark Media, will also support the initiative.

“As world leaders in creative self-expression, the establishment of Crayola Studios is a logical next step for us, it builds on plans announced last year to develop entertainment content that inspires and nurtures the next generation and helps them develop lifelong creative mindsets,” says Lozano. “Our unique perspective offers an exciting opportunity for the industry as it searches for stand-out new and trusted content that has creativity at its heart.”

Related:Crayola: A Brand in Bloom

Cyma Zarghami’s MIMO Studios will co-develop and produce an animated adaptation of the award-winning kids’ podcast, Gen-Z Media’s “The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian,” which is written and performed by Jonathan Messinger, author of “Hiding Out” and former web editor of “Time Out Chicago Kids.” The podcast was launched in 2016 and has released 12 seasons and 260 episodes.

A science-fiction adventure story, “The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian,” centers on Finn Caspian, an eight-year-old boy aboard The Famous Marlowe 280 Interplanetary Exploratory Space Station. With friends, Abigail, Elias and Vale, Finn forms Explorers Troop 301, which takes off from the Marlowe to explore uncharted planets, help aliens and solve a mystery that threatens to destroy the Space Station.

“Crayola is synonymous with kids and color, and we are so excited to collaborate with them to bring these beloved journeys to life through world-class animation and artistry,” says Zarghami. “We have been cultivating ‘The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian’ since we first identified it and immediately saw the great potential and opportunity to tell rich stories in video the way Gen-Z Media did in the podcast. The combination of great characters, creativity, adventure and information is something we can’t wait to bring to audiences worldwide.”

“This series allows kids to explore the power and limitless potential of imagination, self-expression and creativity,” adds Lozano. “Its DNA is at the very core of what we do at Crayola and a perfect example of the type of shows we want to produce going forward. We’re thrilled to join forces with the talented team at MIMO to bring Finn’s action-packed adventures to life.”

Watch: Crayola on the power of the brand and its licensing program