Genius Brands International announced the spring 2021 premiere of its new children’s animated series, Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, on Amazon Prime Video. Amazon joins Alibaba Group, which will launch the series in China on its video streaming platform for kids, Youku.
“With Amazon Prime in the U.S. and Alibaba in China, we are very excited to launch on these two premiere platforms in the two largest territories in the world,” said Andy Heyward, Chairman & CEO, Genius Brands.
Schwarzenegger commented, “Years ago, Stan Lee and I spoke of such a project, and I’m excited to finally bring great storytelling to kids around the world, which will also promote lessons of health, exercise, fitness, and anti-bullying.”
Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten (52 x 11’), an action-adventure comedy series targeting kids ages 4-7, is co-produced by Alibaba Group, Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment, and Schwarzenegger’s Oak Productions. Co-creator of Deadpool, Fabian Nicieza, who has sold over 100 million comics worldwide, is scripting the series. Schwarzenegger, who voices and inspired the look of the main character, joins multiple Emmy Award-winning children’s producer Heyward, as well as Paul Wachter, CEO of Main Street Advisors, and President of POW! Entertainment Gill Champion as executive producers.
“We are gathering steam with our latest tentpole series, Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, and are thrilled to have two of the top digital streaming partners worldwide, Amazon and Alibaba, on board as launch partners, reaching a potential global audience of hundreds of millions, as well as the talents of Arnold and the genius that was Stan,” added Heyward. “In an ever-changing children’s media landscape and current viewing patterns of children around the globe, our strategy is to offer this dynamic series where kids predominantly go to find their entertainment now. We know we have a hit on our hands and cannot wait to share it with kids everywhere.”
Synopsis: Five years ago, a tremendous superhero battle blanketed the small town of Greenvale in cosmic radiation. Shortly thereafter, a previously ordinary diverse group of boys and girls, are showing the most unusual superpowers! Their superpowers, however, rather than coming from Kryptonite or a radioactive spider, come from items in their kindergarten classroom — white glue, wooden blocks, crayons, silly putty, etc.
A very special kindergarten teacher arrives in Greenvale to train these super-kids. Arnold Armstrong knows what it is like to control superpowers, because he used to be Captain Courage, the hero whose final battle helped create these superkids! Arnold will teach the kids how to become the heroes of tomorrow, once he teaches them how to tie their shoes.
Full of action, comedy and fun, the series is based on the genius and imagination of creative icon, Stan Lee, and mixes in the important lessons of health, exercise, nutrition and anti-bullying. Just as he made a cameo in all of the Marvel movies, Lee will appear in an animated cameo in each episode, with a digitized recreation of his voice.
