The partnership will enrich the popular collectible toy property with an animated Cats vs. Pickles series and a robust publishing programme.
Grom Social Enterprises, which recently entered into an agreement to acquire Curiosity Ink Media – a producer of original multiplatform family entertainment – has announced that Curiosity has formed a creative partnership with Cepia to turn Cats vs. Pickles into an original series, along with ancillary publishing extensions. The Cats vs. Pickles brand holds strong appeal among global fans with collectible bean-filled toys (available in the UK via Paul Fogarty’s Two in 1 Direct), wildly popular YouTube animated shorts, and a hyper-casual app game.
The companies say the partnership marks their respective forays into the lucrative and profitable worlds of content distribution and publishing, offering new revenue streams for both and unlocking the potential for attendant ancillary businesses including international marketing, licensing and additional consumer products. The alliance will develop Cats vs. Pickles into a recurring series in 11-minute instalments, as well as create revenue-generating extensions beginning with published content for consumer purchase. Cats vs. Pickles has no dialogue, and therefore no language or cultural barriers, and its potential for immediate global distribution makes it a unique and compelling programming asset. Simultaneously, Curiosity and Cepia will collaborate to produce a collection of picture, board and activity books expected to hit shelves in 2022.
“Cats vs. Pickles has the elements of a franchise hit including a simple premise: loveable characters, endless storytelling possibilities and brand extension opportunities,” explains Russell Hicks, Curiosity Ink Media’s chief content officer. “Curiosity Ink Media is very excited to partner with the brilliant minds at Cepia to elevate this online sensation from cult hit to global powerhouse at a time when the world could definitely use a laugh, a smile and a message about acceptance.”
Cepia founder and chief executive officer, James Russell Hornsby, added: “At its core, Cats vs. Pickles is a love story that everyone can relate to because, at some point, we’ve all been pickles ourselves. We are thrilled to team up with the exceptional storytellers at Curiosity Ink, whose rich biographies in entertainment include cultivating powerhouse franchises like SpongeBob and Dora the Explorer, to expand Cats vs. Pickles into its next nine lives.”
