Genius Brands International Sets Slate for Kartoon Channel!

Genius Brands International, following the launch of Kartoon Channel!, has unveiled the new programming lineup that is slated to debut on the free digital service.

Aimed at children 2- to 11-years-old and their families, among the initial 1,000 episodes of content offered on Kartoon Channel! is the animated short feature The Pig on the Hill, narrated by Pierce Brosnan. Angry Birds, Baby Einstein and the Baby Einstein shorts, Llama Llama shorts and the Minecraft-themed show Journey to the End are also available on the platform. The comedy-adventure series Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten will debut on Kartoon Channel! in Q1 2021.

Kartoon Channel! can be accessed via Apple TV devices, Android (mobile devices), Android TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Roku devices, Xumo, Dish (AVOD and SVOD) and Sling (AVOD and SVOD).

Andy Heyward, Genius Brands CEO, said: “Kartoon Channel!, our 24-hour, free, video on demand, children’s program service went live this morning with unprecedented distribution reach, and an unprecedented initial content lineup. In my three decades in children’s programming, I have witnessed kids’ television evolve from Saturday morning network with shows such as Scooby Doo and The Smurfs, to first-run syndication with shows like Inspector Gadget and He Man, to dedicated cable channels (Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network) to digital platforms ranging from Netflix, Hulu and Disney +, to game platforms, mobile, YouTube, and all of the new and emerging technologies. Throughout the above, I am not aware of seeing another channel launch with such a volume of content, across such a broad range of platforms, penetrating virtually the entire United States TV household universe. We are loading our episodes as fast as possible across all platforms and expect to have over 4,000 episodes available by the end of this month. Similarly, we will expect all of our platforms to be rolling out with full delivery in the coming days.”

Heyward continued, “A volume of content this large, is not simply ‘flipping a light switch’. That is particularly so when we vet every single episode to make sure that it is compliant with our programming code developed by Stanford University Professor Emeritus Don Roberts, with whom Kartoon Channel!’s Program Code was developed in order to ensure the delivery of positive purposeful content that parents can always know will provide safe viewing for their children.”

Margaret Loesch, Kartoon Channel! executive chairman, said: “Having produced and broadcast thousands of children’s episodes across a number of the kids’ networks, we wanted to make Kartoon Channel! stand out as a brand, not just because it is free and available to everyone, but by putting on shows, which tell positive stories. That is very very important to us.”

“Kids and their parents want uplifting stories. They want positive messages,” added Heyward. “It is also important to us that Kartoon Channel! is free and available to everyone. It is no less important that the stories are positive and with enriching lessons, whenever possible.”