By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
Skydance Animation has announced a multi-year agreement with leading global children’s entertainment company Spin Master, to become the studio’s master toy licensee.
The agreement begins with the Apple Original film Spellbound, directed by Vicky Jenson, but also gives Spin Master the rights to develop toy lines for other upcoming Skydance animated features.
“Spin Master strives to work with the best partners on long term-licenses and we are honored to align with Skydance, to infuse our marquee innovation on the fantastical worlds and enchanting characters they create,” said Chris Beardall, Spin Master’s President of Toys and Chief Commercial Officer. “We know that children around the world are going to fall in love with the magic of Spellbound and we can’t wait to deliver that magic to the playroom through an innovative and imaginative toy line.”
Spellbound will debut globally on Apple TV+. Spin Master has been tasked with bringing characters from the show to life with products including fashion dolls, mini-dolls and vehicles.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with a company like Spin Master that is as committed to quality and attention to detail as we are,” said Luis Fernández, Head of Consumer Products, Skydance. “As we ramp up production on our slate of animated features, we could not imagine a better partner to bring our visually stunning and epic animated worlds to life.”
Spellbound is a new animated musical that follows a young girl who sets out to break the spell that has divided her kingdom in two. It is written by Lauren Hynek, Elizabeth Martin and Linda Woolverton, with an original score from Academy Award-winner Alan Menken, and lyrics by Glenn Slater. Chris Montan serves as the project’s executive music producer.
Launched in 2017, Skydance Animation is using the power of animation to create original stories for global audiences of all ages, set in fantastic new worlds with unforgettable characters.
The studio’s inaugural Apple Original short film, Blush, had its world premiere as part of the Tribeca Festival’s animated shorts program and is now streaming globally on Apple TV+. Later this year, Skydance Animation and Apple Original Films will also premiere their first animated feature, Luck, debuting on Apple TV+ on Aug. 5, 2022.
While Skydance Animation is a relatively new company, parent firm Skydance is a highly regarded media production company founded by David Ellison in 2010. It has since produced a number of hit films and also works in television, animation, new media and sports.
Skydance has also produced some of the biggest films of the past year, including The Adam Project with Ryan Reynolds, The Tomorrow War with Chris Pratt, and The Old Guard with Charlize Theron. Upcoming films include tentpole flicks like Top Gun: Maverick and the next two installments of the Mission: Impossible franchise. The company has earned more than $6 billion at the box office, and also has a long list of highly successful TV series.