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Thunderbird Distribution’s third-party acquisition from Windy Isle Entertainment is currently in production on a third season for CBC and Sky Kids U.K. and Ireland
Mittens & Pants has also grown its digital pawprint with a new Roblox game and substantial bump in its social media and YouTube presence, attracting more than 65 million views
Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc. (TSXV:TBRD, OTC – THBRF) (“Thunderbird” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that Thunderbird Distribution acquisition Mittens & Pants from Toronto-based Windy Isle Entertainment, has been greenlit for a third 45-episode season by commissioning broadcaster CBC, with Sky Kids U.K. and Ireland on-board as a broadcast partner, for a total of 126 episodes, so far. The third season will air on CBC and CBC Gem later this year.
Mittens & Pants features best friends Mittens the kitten and Pants the puppy who live in the all-animal town of Kibble Corners — each day is a new adventure for these unlikely best friends. And Season 3 is currently in production in Hamilton, Ontario. New to the beloved kitten and puppy’s hometown this season is a guinea pig news station, a rumbling kitten sports stadium, and a whimsical magic shop. Season 3 will also feature special Halloween, holiday, and musical episodes.
“Windy Isle and Thunderbird are doing an incredible job of baking discoverability right into their brand strategy, helping to grow the global audience for Mittens & Pants, and we are thrilled to order the third litter of this adorable show from Phil McCordic, one of Canada's most innovative creators,” said Marie McCann, Senior Director, Children’s Content, CBC Kids.
Thunderbird Distribution has also secured more international sales for seasons 1 and 2 of the adorable live-action preschool series.
In the U.S., streamers Peacock, HappyKids and Kidoodle.TV have taken Season 2 (42 x 7 minutes), and Canadian French-language broadcasters TFO and Radio-Canada have picked up Season 1. The series is now available in 78 territories.
On the digital side, Mittens & Pants has just landed on the hugely popular Roblox platform with the My Carrots Simulator game, featuring the series’ breakout carrot-farming bunny Monsieur LaFleur. Players select their bunny tractor and collect Monsieur LaFleur’s favourite thing, carrots. They can amass their stash to upgrade their tractors and unlock new characters. Officially launched this winter, My Carrots is being continually updated with new quest systems and weekly leaderboards.
Finally, Mittens & Pants has seen substantial growth in the last six months on YouTube (@MittensandPantsOfficial), Instagram (@mittensandpantstv) and TikTok (@mittensandpantstv). The series now boasts more than 318,000 followers, 65 million views, and 7.3 million interactions counted across the three digital platforms.
“We're so excited to see how much these characters have connected with audiences on a global scale,” says Mittens & Pants creator and showrunner, Phil McCordic. “The puppies and kittens (and bunnies, guinea pigs and hamsters) are endlessly surprising and delightful; it’s as fun a show to make as it is to watch.”
“I knew from the outset that Mittens & Pants was something special and unique in the current landscape of preschool entertainment,” said Richard Goldsmith, President of Global Distribution and Consumer Products at Thunderbird. “And with an exciting third season in the works, increased distribution, expansion into digital mediums and great growth across social media and YouTube, we are confident that Mittens & Pants is on track to be a global brand.”
ABOUT THUNDERBIRD ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
Thunderbird Entertainment Group is a global award-winning, full-service 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 Mermicorno: Starfall, Super Team Canada, Molly of Denali, Kim’s Convenience, Highway Thru Hell, Boot Camp and Sidelined: The QB and Me. Thunderbird Distribution and Thunderbird Brands manage global media and consumer products rights, respectively, for the Company and select third parties. Thunderbird is on Facebook, X, and Instagram at @tbirdent. For more information, visit: www.thunderbird.tv.
ABOUT WINDY ISLE ENTERTAINMENT
Windy Isle Entertainment is a Toronto-based production company dedicated to creating fun, thoughtful, and inspiring content for kids. Led by industry veterans Phil McCordic and Shereen Ali, Windy Isle prides itself on its strong positive messaging, emphasizing inclusion and diversity, both in front of and behind the camera. Through Windy Isle Digital, the company expands its storytelling from television — including the popular live-action preschool series, Mittens & Pants — into the gaming world, developing immersive Roblox experiences based on popular TV shows, where fans can play, explore, and engage with their favourite characters like never before. Windy Isle is shaping the future of family entertainment, building lasting brands that uplift audiences through the power of imagination. For more information, visit windyisle.com.
ABOUT CBC/RADIO-CANADA
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
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
This news release includes statements containing “forward-looking information” for purposes of applicable securities laws (“forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements are indicated by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “forecast”, “may”, “will”, “plan”, “project”, “should”, “believe”, “intend”, or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this document include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to plans to continue building out Thunderbird Distribution’s operations with third-party titles and original series, anticipated production and launch of Mittens & Pants, and the performance, results and outcomes related to these titles.
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; legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; product capability and acceptance; and other factors set out in the “Risks and Uncertainty” section of the Company’s management discussion and analysis for the period ended March 31, 2024. and technology changes. 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 and the assumptions and estimates relied upon in connection with making the forward-looking statements contemplated herein.
The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release represent the Company’s 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 news release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.
Media Relations Contacts:
Lana Castleman, Director, Marketing & Communications
Phone: 416-219-3769
Email: lcastleman@thunderbird.tv
Corporate Communications
Julia Smith
Finch Media
Email: Julia@finchmedia.net
Tanya Koivusalo, CBC PR
tanya.koivusalo@cbc.ca
Investor Relations Contact:
Glen Akselrod, Bristol Capital
Phone: + 1 905.326.1888 ext 1
Email: glen@bristolir.com
SOURCE Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc.
