Nelvana And Spin Master Pen New Publishing Deal With Hachette For Bakugan Franchise In France

NELVANA AND SPIN MASTER PEN NEW PUBLISHING DEAL WITH HACHETTE FOR BAKUGAN FRANCHISE IN FRANCE

Partnership Begins With the Launch of Two Chapter Books This Fall

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For Immediate Release

TORONTO, October 7, 2020 – Nelvana, a world-leading international producer and distributor of children’s animated and live action content, together with Spin Master Corp. (TSX:TOY; www.spinmaster.com), a leading global children’s entertainment company, is excited to announce its new publishing deal with Hachette Publishing for the popular franchise BAKUGAN® in France. The partnership kicks off with two book releases this fall. The first chapter book, Le Bakugan Doré, lands on bookshelves this month with a second release coming in December.

“Building off the strong foundation our team has secured with prime broadcast placement on Gulli and Canal J and along with the support of Spin Master’s international rollout of toys, we are excited to launch a new publishing program for Bakugan in France with Hachette,” said Mellany Masterson, Head of Nelvana Enterprises. “Hachette’s leadership and expertise in publishing make them the perfect partner to bring the world of Bakugan to more fans in new ways.”

Season 1 Bakugan: Battle Planets (100 x 11 min) and Season 2 Bakugan: Armored Alliance (104 x 11 min) currently air on Gulli weekdays at 4:35PM in France and on Canal J at 6:45PM. Both seasons air on Cartoon Network in the U.S., and TELETOON in Canada, as well as on Cartoon Network in Spain, Italy, Middle East, Gulli, Canal J and M6 in Africa, Sony Pop in the U.K., Super RTL in Germany, RTL in the Netherlands, Hungary, and Croatia, Nine GO! In Australia, TVNZ in New Zealand, Star in Greece, 1+1 in the Ukraine, PopTV in Slovenia, VMMa in Belgium, and SIA in Lithuania.

Spin Master launched Bakugan: Armored Alliance toys internationally this fall after a successful launch in North America this past spring 2020. An additional wave of products will also launch internationally this coming spring. Nelvana, who co-produces the series with Spin Master and TMS Entertainment, manages the franchise’s licensing programs in both France and Canada.

Bakugan: Armored Alliance (104 x 11 min) follows the adventures of Dan Kouzo and his best friends: the first kids on Earth to bond with the mysterious alien creatures known as Bakugan! The fate of not one but two planets rests in the hands of this new breed of Bakugan Brawlers.

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About Nelvana
Nelvana is a world-leading international producer and distributor of children’s animated and live-action content. Nelvana produces a stable of award-winning and globally renowned brands that focus on comedies, preschool and boys action series and ancillary consumer products programs. Nelvana’s content airs on Corus Entertainment’s kids channels in Canada and in over 160 countries around the world. The Nelvana library has well over 4,000 episodes of programming and has received over 70 major international program awards including Emmys® and Canadian Screen Awards. Visit the Nelvana website at nelvana.com.

Follow Nelvana Enterprises on Twitter @NelvanaEnt

About Corus Entertainment Inc.
Corus Entertainment Inc. (TSX: CJR.B) is a leading media and content company that develops and delivers high quality brands and content across platforms for audiences around the world.  Engaging audiences since 1999, the company’s portfolio of multimedia offerings encompass 34 specialty television services, 39 radio stations, 15 conventional television stations, a suite of digital assets, animation software, technology and media services. Corus is an established creator of globally distributed content through Nelvana animation studio, Corus Studios, and children’s book publishing house Kids Can Press. The company also owns innovative full-service social digital agency so.da, and lifestyle entertainment company Kin Canada. Corus’ roster of premium brands includes Global Television, W Network, HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, HISTORY®, Showcase, Adult Swim, National Geographic, Disney Channel Canada, YTV, Global News, Globalnews.ca, Q107, Country 105, and CFOX. Visit Corus at www.corusent.com.

About Spin Master
Spin Master Corp. (TSX:TOY) is a leading global children’s entertainment company creating exceptional play experiences through a diverse portfolio of innovative toys, entertainment franchises and digital toys and games. Spin Master is best known for award-winning brands PAW Patrol®, Bakugan®, Kinetic Sand®, Air Hogs®, Hatchimals® and GUND®, and is the toy licensee for other popular properties.  Spin Master Entertainment creates and produces compelling multiplatform content, stories and endearing characters through its in-house studio and partnerships with outside creators, including the preschool success PAW Patrol and 10 other television series, which are distributed in more than 160 countries. The Company has an established digital presence anchored by the Toca Boca® and Sago Mini® brands, which combined have more than 25 million monthly active users. With over 1,800 employees in 28 offices globally, Spin Master distributes products in more than 100 countries. For more information visit spinmaster.com or follow on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @spinmaster.

For media inquiries, please contact:
April Lim, Publicist, Kids & Nelvana
Corus Entertainment
416.860.4216
april.lim@corusent.com

For licensing opportunities, please contact:
Tonya Lindo, Director, Global Licensing Operations
Nelvana
416.479.6684
Tonya.Lindo@corusent.com