Genius Brands signs 20-year deal with Marvel for Stan Lee

Stan Lee Universe LLC, Genius Brands International’s Genius Brands-controlled venture with POW! Entertainment, has signed a 20-year deal to license the name and likeness of Stan Lee to Marvel Studios for future feature films and television productions, as well as use in Disney theme parks and experiences worldwide.

 “We are proud to be the stewards of the incredibly valuable rights to Stan Lee’s name, likeness, merchandise, and intellectual property brand,” says Andy Heyward, Chairman & CEO of Genius Brands. “And there is no better place than Marvel and Disney, where Stan should be, for his movies and theme park experiences. As we enter the centennial year of Stan’s birthday, December 28, 2022, we are thrilled to see his memory and legacy will continue to delight fans through this new long-term agreement with Marvel.”

Under the terms of the deal, Marvel Studios has acquired rights to use Stan Lee’s name, voice, likeness and signature in movies and television projects, as well as use images, existing footage and existing audio recordings featuring Stan. Exclusive rights to use Stan Lee’s name, voice, likeness and signature in theme parks, water parks, cruise lines and in-park merchandise were included for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products as part of the deal.

“As Stan’s longtime business partner and friend, I’m looking forward to commemorating his work in this new way,” says Gill Champion, President of POW! Entertainment. “Building a connection with his fans is important to us and it’s a privilege to get to do that on his behalf.”

Stan is one of the most prolific and legendary comic creators of all time. As Marvel’s editor-in-chief, Stan “The Man” Lee helped build a universe of interlocking continuity, one where fans felt as if they could turn a street corner and run into a super hero, from Spider-Man to the Fantastic Four, Thor, Iron Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and more. Stan went on to become Marvel’s editorial director and publisher in 1972, and was eventually named chairman emeritus.

Stan also appeared in some of the most popular films of all time. His well-known cameos in Marvel films began in the 1989 telefilm The Trial of the Incredible Hulk. After the release of X-Men in 2000, he appeared in nearly every Marvel film and television project until his passing in 2018.

Among Stan’s many awards is the National Medal of Arts, awarded by President Bush in 2008, and the Disney Legends Award, received in 2017. He was also inducted into the comic industry’s Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame and Jack Kirby Hall of Fame.

Genius Brands appoints Brands with Influence as UK agent

Genius Brands International has appointed award-winning agency Brands with Influence as its exclusive licensing agent in the U.K. for the Company’s portfolio of IP.

Brands with Influence will be responsible for creating licensing, merchandising and retail programmes for Genius Brands’ slate of properties, including the Stan Lee brand, from the legendary Marvel creator, which the global media children’s company manages and controls following a joint venture announced in 2020 with Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment.

Additional IP from the Genius Brands’ catalogue that Brands with Influence will represent include Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rainbow Rangers, and more.

Genius Brands’ Chief Brand Officer Kerry Phelan says: “Stan Lee is a global icon who inspirational messages of hope, diversity and inclusivity have resonated globally for decades. It is of vital importance to us to find partners that understand our vision for the Stan Lee brand and can be trusted to deliver on Stan’s values and lasting legacy. We are thrilled to bring Brands with Influence on board to develop programmes across the U.K. for Stan Lee and our entire portfolio of brands and look forward to more exciting developments in the months to come.”

Martin Lowde, MD Brands with Influence, says: “Like millions across the world, we are massive fans of the legendary work of Stan Lee – he is the ‘Godfather of Marvel Comics’. We look forward to working with Kerry and the Genius Brands team to create a consumer products programme that honours his legacy, as well as developing unique programmes for their library of original children’s brands.”

Genius Brands International launches Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten on Kartoon Channel

Genius Brands International has detailed the official launch of Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, streaming exclusively on Kartoon Channel and premiering with a two-episode double feature later this month.

One of the last creations from the mind of the late Stan Lee, the series stars the voice of Arnold Schwarzenegger, who also serves as executive producer on the series. The action-adventure comedy series is geared towards kids and families and focuses on six children who are learning to master their super skills.

“This is a deeply personal project for me and I am so pumped to introduce it to the world,” said Schwarzenegger. “Not only has it allowed me to bring to life the work of the fantastic Stan Lee, but the series also touches on subjects I’ve spent my whole life working on, from health and fitness tips and anti-bullying messages, to inclusivity and diversity.

“It brings me great joy to share that messaging with kids in a way that is vibrant, dynamic, and most important – fun. It’s an honour to have worked with Stan Lee and I know he would be proud of the message we’re delivering.”

 It all began five years ago when Arnold Armstrong faced off in a final fight against his nemesis, the evil Dr. Superior, that left him powerless. Little did anyone know that during the fight, super-energy particles rained down on a group of unsuspecting toddlers. Now, those toddlers are kindergarten students at Greenville Elementary School who, with the help of Arnold Armstrong, must learn to control their powers as they go on super adventures.

Arnold Armstrong’s mission is to train these kids to use their super-powers safely and without wrecking the school or revealing their identities.

The series includes 26 half-hour long episodes that begins with a two-episode double feature and will be rolled out on a weekly basis thereafter.

Genius Brands and Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment create Stan Lee Universe in ‘ground breaking deal for pop culture licensing’

Genius Brands has secured a new and ground breaking deal with Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment to create the Stan Lee Universe.

Under the deal, Stan Lee Universe will assume worldwide rights to the name, physical likeness, physical signature, live-action and animated motion picture, television, online, digital, publishing, comic book, merchandising and licensing rights to Stan Lee and his IP creations past, present, and going forward.

In announcing the deal, Andy Heyward, chairman and CEO of Genius Brands, said: “In all of Hollywood, there is no greater prize. This is the Holy Grail. Stan Lee Universe is a once in a lifetime asset drawn from over 100 original, heretofore unexploited properties, created by the most successful creator of intellectual property of our time.”

Jointly owned and subject to due diligence and documentation, the deal will leave Genius Brands as the managing and controlling partner of the Stan Lee Universe joint venture.

Stan Lee was the creator of the most successful characters ever made, including Spiderman, Iron Man, Black Panther, The Incredible Hulk, X Men, Thor, Captain America, Ms. Marvel,  Silver Surfer, Antman, Nick Fury, Guardians of the Galaxy, and of course the number one movie box-office franchise of all time, The Avengers.

For decades, Lee was the editor and creative force behind Marvel Comics, which was sold to the Walt Disney Company for $4.4 billion and has since proved to be worth many multiples of that amount.

“It’s almost impossible to conceive that one mind created all this wealth,” said Heyward. “The spinoffs alone defy the imagination. From animated television, to toys, apparel, video games, and every conceivable licensed product imaginable, Stan Lee characters populate the screens and retail shelves worldwide.

“There is no creator who has influenced pop culture and created more successful entertainment. Not even Walt Disney. Over and over, again and again, he created characters and stories that resonated in the hearts and minds of all peoples of all ages around the world, with billions and billions and billions of dollars of motion picture box-office, television, and consumer product licensing.”

Stan Lee Universe will be built from the repository of all of the characters and IP created by Stan Lee, post-Marvel Entertainment, not otherwise elsewhere. It is drawn from over 100 original Stan Lee creations, from which it will develop and license approximately seven properties per year.

“Having worked with Stan and been a close friend for almost 30 years, nothing could make me prouder than for Genius Brands to become the guardian of both his brand and body of work,” continued Heyward. “I have no doubt that the greatest characters, the greatest stories, and the greatest hits from the mind of Stan Lee have yet to be told. As big as Spider Man, Black Panther, X Men, and the Avengers are today, tomorrow it will be Stan Lee’s Tomorrow Men, his Stringbean, his Black Fury, and Virus.”

Former president of Marvel Productions, Margaret Loesch, said: “Stan Lee was a one of a kind. So is this asset, Stan Lee Universe is going to be an unimaginable source of blockbuster entertainment for many years to come.”

Former president of Walt Disney Television and chief content officer of Genius Brands’ new Kartoon Channel!, David Neuman said:The spinoff opportunities for Kartoon Channel! alone are mindboggling, including a dedicated Stan Lee Universe programme block.” 

 Heyward concluded: “When we looked at the depth of these creations that sit in this library, the magnitude and value of this asset slowly began to sink in. There simply is no greater treasure chest of Intellectual Property anywhere. I feel like we went down to the basement of John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s recording studio and found 200 songs that had never been released.

“One was called Yesterday, another was called Hey Jude, and another called Sergeant Pepper. They were just waiting for us to bring them forth to the market, along with their names and likenesses, signatures, and the right to merchandise the Beatles.  It feels that big to us!

“We will be creating a dedicated business and creative unit specific to Stan Lee Universe. For the millions of Stan Lee fans, we look forward to taking this unique asset and faithfully bringing the characters to the movie screens, to comic books, to toys and licensed products worldwide.

“For the Genius Brands’ shareholders, we look forward to effectively and smartly monetising this asset across all platforms. I have no doubt that we will attract the most talented producers, directors, and marketers in the world as we unlock this one of a kind treasury and bring forth the next wave of Stan Lee creations for the world to experience and enjoy. We are proceeding immediately with our due diligence and expect final documentation to follow promptly thereafter.”

Genius Brands and Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment create Stan Lee Universe in ‘ground breaking deal for pop culture licensing’

Genius Brands has secured a new and ground breaking deal with Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment to create the Stan Lee Universe.

Under the deal, Stan Lee Universe will assume worldwide rights to the name, physical likeness, physical signature, live-action and animated motion picture, television, online, digital, publishing, comic book, merchandising and licensing rights to Stan Lee and his IP creations past, present, and going forward.

In announcing the deal, Andy Heyward, chairman and CEO of Genius Brands, said: “In all of Hollywood, there is no greater prize. This is the Holy Grail. Stan Lee Universe is a once in a lifetime asset drawn from over 100 original, heretofore unexploited properties, created by the most successful creator of intellectual property of our time.”

Jointly owned and subject to due diligence and documentation, the deal will leave Genius Brands as the managing and controlling partner of the Stan Lee Universe joint venture.

Stan Lee was the creator of the most successful characters ever made, including Spiderman, Iron Man, Black Panther, The Incredible Hulk, X Men, Thor, Captain America, Ms. Marvel,  Silver Surfer, Antman, Nick Fury, Guardians of the Galaxy, and of course the number one movie box-office franchise of all time, The Avengers.

For decades, Lee was the editor and creative force behind Marvel Comics, which was sold to the Walt Disney Company for $4.4 billion and has since proved to be worth many multiples of that amount.

“It’s almost impossible to conceive that one mind created all this wealth,” said Heyward. “The spinoffs alone defy the imagination. From animated television, to toys, apparel, video games, and every conceivable licensed product imaginable, Stan Lee characters populate the screens and retail shelves worldwide.

“There is no creator who has influenced pop culture and created more successful entertainment. Not even Walt Disney. Over and over, again and again, he created characters and stories that resonated in the hearts and minds of all peoples of all ages around the world, with billions and billions and billions of dollars of motion picture box-office, television, and consumer product licensing.”

Stan Lee Universe will be built from the repository of all of the characters and IP created by Stan Lee, post-Marvel Entertainment, not otherwise elsewhere. It is drawn from over 100 original Stan Lee creations, from which it will develop and license approximately seven properties per year.

“Having worked with Stan and been a close friend for almost 30 years, nothing could make me prouder than for Genius Brands to become the guardian of both his brand and body of work,” continued Heyward. “I have no doubt that the greatest characters, the greatest stories, and the greatest hits from the mind of Stan Lee have yet to be told. As big as Spider Man, Black Panther, X Men, and the Avengers are today, tomorrow it will be Stan Lee’s Tomorrow Men, his Stringbean, his Black Fury, and Virus.”

Former president of Marvel Productions, Margaret Loesch, said: “Stan Lee was a one of a kind. So is this asset, Stan Lee Universe is going to be an unimaginable source of blockbuster entertainment for many years to come.”

Former president of Walt Disney Television and chief content officer of Genius Brands’ new Kartoon Channel!, David Neuman said:The spinoff opportunities for Kartoon Channel! alone are mindboggling, including a dedicated Stan Lee Universe programme block.” 

 Heyward concluded: “When we looked at the depth of these creations that sit in this library, the magnitude and value of this asset slowly began to sink in. There simply is no greater treasure chest of Intellectual Property anywhere. I feel like we went down to the basement of John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s recording studio and found 200 songs that had never been released.

“One was called Yesterday, another was called Hey Jude, and another called Sergeant Pepper. They were just waiting for us to bring them forth to the market, along with their names and likenesses, signatures, and the right to merchandise the Beatles.  It feels that big to us!

“We will be creating a dedicated business and creative unit specific to Stan Lee Universe. For the millions of Stan Lee fans, we look forward to taking this unique asset and faithfully bringing the characters to the movie screens, to comic books, to toys and licensed products worldwide.

“For the Genius Brands’ shareholders, we look forward to effectively and smartly monetising this asset across all platforms. I have no doubt that we will attract the most talented producers, directors, and marketers in the world as we unlock this one of a kind treasury and bring forth the next wave of Stan Lee creations for the world to experience and enjoy. We are proceeding immediately with our due diligence and expect final documentation to follow promptly thereafter.”

Spin Master shakes things up for Etch A Sketch with Hasbro, NASA and Stan Lee partnerships

Spin Master is shaking things up for its iconic red-framed drawing toy, Etch A Sketch in 2020, as the crafty brand celebrates its 60th anniversary with a swathe of new collaborative projects.

As part of its celebrations, Etch A Sketch has teamed with a number of other big names in the toys and entertainment space – including Hasbro’s Monopoly, and the iconic Stan Lee – to deliver a raft of new launches for the year ahead.

For 2020, the Etch a Sketch brand is joining forces with the Monopoly brand, space exploration leader NASA, heritage toy Rubik’s and comic book marvel Stan Lee. Through these collaborations, each will have its own limited-edition Etch A Sketch drawing toys.

“The Etch A Sketch drawing toy is one of only a handful of breakthrough toys that’s popularity spans generations,” said Arlene Biran, VP of marketing for activities and building sets, Spin Master.

“It is a timeless toy that encourages creativity on a magic screen that doesn’t need WIFI. Our series of limited-edition collaborations with other inspiring and imaginative classics honours 60 years of unplugged creativity.”

The Etch A Sketch Monopoly Edition will launch in the US this March and will retail at $19.99. It will be joined by the Etch A Sketch NASA Inspired Edition, launching in April.

The results of a collaborative effort between Spin Master and Rubik’s will see the Etch A Sketch Rubik’s Edition land in May, while the Etch A Sketh Stan Lee Edition will be available to all comic book and toy fans from July this year.

“We’re thrilled to work with the team at Spin Master to bring the Etch A Sketch Monopoly Edition to market,” said Casey Collins, GM & SVP of entertainment and licensing at Hasbro.

“As we honour major milestones for both brands this year, we hope fans of all ages will treasure this release for years to come.”

The Etch A Sketch limited edition collaborations will be released in limited quantities throughout the year on EtchASketch.com as well on Etch A Sketch Day, July 12, 2020, marking the official day the first Etch A Sketch toy was sold.

In addition to the collaborations with iconic classics, Spin Master is unveiling a new limited-edition Diamond Edition Etch a Sketch featuring a sleek black frame and custom crystal knobs available in limited quantities on EtchASketch.com.

The company will also release new innovation with Etch a Sketch Revolution in August, the first Etch A Sketch with a spinning screen that allows you to make circles.