Toonz Teams with Leadbelly & NXT GEN for Creepy Candy

Toonz Media Group has partnered with Leadbelly Productions to co-produce the new animated IP Creepy Candy, with NXT GEN Brand Marketing on board to develop a consumer products program.

Developed by Alan Jude Summa, founding president of Leadbelly, the series tells the tale of a bag of candy that mysteriously comes to life on Halloween night after being left behind in a spooky, old library.

Targeted at children aged 4 to 11, season one will include 26 episodes of 3 minutes each and is slated to be launched in October 2022. The project’s first phase also includes producing a 30-minute Halloween special, set to be released in October 2023.

Debi Rosenfeld, CEO of NXT GEN, will work with Toonz Media Group on building the brand in the consumer products market.

“Creepy Candy is a unique property that offers us immense opportunities to explore beyond series development,” P. Jayakumar, CEO of Toonz Media Group. “Our idea is to develop this property into a 360-degree brand that includes digital media shorts, mini-movies, consumer products and other L&M avenues.”

“The creation of the Creepy Candy brand was in development for over a year, preparing the concept to bring to market,” Summa said. “We are excited about our partnership with Toonz Media Group, to bring the story and characters to life in a new animated series and Halloween special. For years, this space has been content with the usual traditional holiday programs. Creepy Candy is bringing something new and fresh to captivate the imaginations of children and adults alike. We’re bringing the fun and excitement of Halloween all year round! The special is scheduled to air October 2023 and promises to be a new classic for this popular time of year.”

Rosenfeld added, “I am thrilled to be working with the Toonz Media Group and Leadbelly Productions team to partner on the consumer products program. We will be supporting the team by building a robust merchandising and licensing portfolio with key manufacturers and promotional partners. The Creepy Candy animation series and Halloween special will be packed full of fun, with its spooky candy characters and their creep-elicious adventures, and is sure to delight and captivate young fans around the globe.”