Thunderbird Entertainment and tokidoki Build Brand Momentum for Mermicorno: Starfall with Additional Platform and Licensing Partners

Territory deals recently inked by Thunderbird Distribution for the new animated series include the UK, Canada, LATAM and Southeast Asia

Thunderbird Brands names Nelvana as Mermicorno: Starfall’s Canadian licensing agent

Thunderbird Distribution and Thunderbird Brands — the distribution and consumer products arms of Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc. (TSXV:TBRD, OTC – THBRF) (“Thunderbird” or the “Company”) — are pleased to announce several platform and licensing deals for Mermicorno: Starfall, the new original animated series from Thunderbird-owned Atomic Cartoons, produced in partnership with global character, art and lifestyle brand tokidoki.

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Thunderbird and Atomic Cartoons new animated series Mermicorno: Starfall, produced in partnership with tokidoki, adds Warner Bros. Discovery's Max and Cartoon Network Latam and Cartoon Network Southeast Asia, and POP (UK) and Corus Entertainment (Canada) to its growing roster of platform partners. Corus-owned Nelvana will represent the brand as its licensing/consumer products agent in Canada. (Graphic: Business Wire)

The first season of Mermicorno: Starfall (26 x 22 minutes) will be made available on Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming service, Max in the U.S. and LATAM (Latin America and The Caribbean) — as well as Cartoon Network in LATAM and Southeast Asia. The series has also been acquired by Narrative Entertainment’s POP (UK) and Corus Entertainment for Treehouse, STACKTV and TELETOON+ (Canada). Mermicorno: Starfall is expected to launch on all Corus platforms in Canada in early 2025.

Thunderbird Brands has also appointed the first international licensing agent for the IP. Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana, a renowned international producer, distributor, and licensor of children's animated and live-action content, will represent Mermicorno: Starfall in the Canadian market, covering all major categories outside of toys and publishing.

Inspired by tokidoki’s hit Mermicorno character family launched in 2016, Mermicorno: Starfall is a smart and fun adventure-comedy for kids five to nine, that takes place in a fantastical and magical undersea world, where a team of Mermicornos (enchanting unicorn-mermaids) join together to save the ocean from an evil threat. During their epic mission, our heroes unlock the magic of creative self-expression, discover new depths of friendship, and find the best bowl of ramen in the sea. The series is currently in production at Atomic’s Ottawa studio.

“From the outset, we’ve known Mermicorno: Starfall is special and unique to the market, based on the fans of tokidoki’s Mermicorno characters,” said Thunderbird President of Global Distribution & Consumer Products, Richard Goldsmith. “And as we continue to attract more top-tier platforms and partners like Nelvana Enterprises, it reconfirms the huge opportunity that we have with our awesome new animated series and multi-year plans for more content and consumer products.”

“We have dreamed of this for many years and cannot wait to see our Mermicorno come to life in animation,” said Pooneh Mohajer, tokidoki’s CEO & Co-Founder. “Nelvana has an impressive consumer products team — they are the perfect licensing partners for Canada!”

“Growing up, I was always impressed with animation of any kind: Western cartoons and Japanese anime touched my heart and imagination. When I draw new characters, I envision them already moving and interacting with their own voice. I’m thrilled to share a piece of my inner world through animation,” said tokidoki’s Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder, Simone Legno.

“tokidoki already has a very strong fanbase here in Canada, including the team at Nelvana, which makes this partnership even more exciting,” said Mellany Welsh, VP and Head of Nelvana and Kids Can Press. "We couldn’t be happier to partner with Thunderbird on the first tokidoki brand extension. Mermicorno has all the right elements for success — from tokidoki’s iconic style and Thunderbird and Atomic’s character-driven series, to Nelvana’s retail and licensing expertise in Canada — the merchandise program is sure to resonate with Canadian kids.”

Thunderbird Brands (booth H236) and tokidoki (booth G214), which co-manage the consumer products program for the IP, will be attending the global licensing industry’s premier trade event, Licensing Expo, May 21 - 23, 2024, in Las Vegas.

ABOUT THUNDERBIRD ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Thunderbird Entertainment Group is a global award-winning, full-service multiplatform production, distribution and rights management company, headquartered in Vancouver, with additional offices in Los Angeles and Ottawa. Thunderbird creates award-winning scripted, unscripted, and animated programming for the world’s leading digital platforms, as well as Canadian and international broadcasters. The Company develops, produces, and distributes animated, factual, and scripted content through its various content arms, including Thunderbird Kids and Family (Atomic Cartoons), Thunderbird Unscripted (Great Pacific Media) and Thunderbird Scripted. Productions under the Thunderbird umbrella include The Last Kids on Earth, Molly of Denali, Highway Thru Hell, Kim’s Convenience, Reginald the Vampire and Boot Camp. Thunderbird Distribution and Thunderbird Brands manage global media and consumer products rights, respectively, for the Company and select third parties. Thunderbird is on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @tbirdent. For more information, visit: www.thunderbird.tv.

ABOUT TOKIDOKI

tokidoki, which translates to “sometimes” in Japanese, is an internationally recognized and iconic lifestyle brand based on the vision of Italian artist Simone Legno and his partners, serial entrepreneurs Pooneh Mohajer and Ivan Arnold. Since debuting in 2005, tokidoki has amassed a cult-like following for its larger-than-life characters and emerged as a sought-after global lifestyle brand. tokidoki offers an extensive range of products which include apparel, handbags, cosmetics, accessories, toys and more. Simone Legno, tokidoki’s Chief Creative Officer, was born in Rome, Italy, and from a very young age developed a deep love of Japan and a fascination with world cultures. Combining Legno’s unique talent and creativity with Mohajer’s business acumen, tokidoki has grown exponentially. As an innovative company, tokidoki is known not only for its eye-popping aesthetic and criminally cute characters but also its megawatt partnerships. tokidoki is on Facebook and Twitter at @tokidoki and on Instagram at @tokidokibrand. For more information visit: www.tokidoki.it

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release, which has been prepared by management.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Thunderbird’s public communications may include written or oral “forward-looking statements” and “forward-looking information” as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation. All such statements may not be based on historical facts that relate to the Company’s current expectations and views of future events and are made pursuant to the “safe harbour” provisions of applicable securities laws.

Forward-looking statements or information may be identified by words such as “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “forecast”, “may”, “will”, “plan”, “project”, “should”, “believe”, “intend”, or similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements in this document include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the first season of Mermicorno: Starfall being made available on Max as well as Cartoon Network; expected timing for the launch of Mermicorno: Starfall on all Corus platforms in Canada; Nelvana representing Mermicorno: Starfall in the Canadian market, covering all major categories outside of toys and publishing; continuing to attract more top-tier platforms and partners like Nelvana Enterprises; opportunities with the new animated series and multi-year plans for more content and consumer products; Mermicorno having all the right elements for success; the merchandise program resonating with Canadian kids; and the Company’s plans to attend the global licensing industry’s premier trade event, Licensing Expo.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic and social uncertainties; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; product capability and acceptance; international risk and currency exchange rates; and technology changes. An assessment of these risks that could cause actual results to materially differ from current expectations is contained in the “Risks and Uncertainty” section of June 30, 2022 MD&A. The foregoing is not an exhaustive list. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to Thunderbird or that management believes to be less significant may also adversely affect the Company.

The forward-looking statements or information contained in this document represent our views as of the date hereof and as such information should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this document. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

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