As of today (Friday, Oct. 14), Leonine Holding GmbH acquires a 25.1 percent share in Toon2Tango GmbH & Co. KG, based in Munich. With the transaction, Leonine Studios adds the development and production of new IPs in animation and live action to its strong existing distribution channels in the children’s and family segments, adding to existing partnerships to cover the entire kids & family entertainment value chain.
“Our key strategic objective is to cover the entire value chain in all our business areas, wherever possible. In children’s and family entertainment, we’re already very well positioned in co-production, theatrical distribution, home entertainment and audio — currently again with the superhit The School of Magical Animals 2,” said Fred Kogel, CEO of Leonine Studios. “With the investment in Toon2Tango, we’ve completed the value chain in kids and family entertainment by enhancing content development and production.”
Toon2Tango was founded three years ago by the experienced and successful management duo Hans Ulrich Stoef and Jo Daris, who produced, among others, the international hit series Mia and Me, which has developed into a globally established franchise comprising four seasons of the TV series with a total of 104 episodes and a theatrical feature film.
“Ulli Stoef and Jo Daris have impressively and sustainably demonstrated their excellent sense for promising kids’ content and their great international distribution expertise in the course of their careers. We’re very pleased that we’re now intensifying our partnership by acquiring a share in Toon2Tango,” added Bernhard zu Castell, Leonine’s Chief Distribution Officer. “Animation is already an essential part of our DNA. We know the success factors behind attractive content in this sector and have now combined all the components that enable us to build holistic brand worlds in kids and family entertainment and continue this success story together.
Hans Ulrich Stoef, CEO & Producer at Toon2Tango, commented, “For some time we have been thinking about the necessary steps to take our start-up Toon2Tango to the next level. After the first three years and a great start with a large number of developments and already four shows in production, we started discussions to find the ideal strategic partner for us. We had a number of options and are convinced that we found the perfect partner in Leonine Studios. Through this connection, we strengthen our market position and now have the full power to build a major European player in children’s and family
entertainment.”
Toon2Tango will debut the 26-part hybrid series Lily of Fawonia at MIPCOM. Like Mia and Me, the new production is modeled on the successful blend of live action and animation. Also new at MIPCOM is the studio’s first fully live-action concept Macara’s Curse, developed in collaboration with Anjali Taneja, creator of the hit series House of Anubis.
Leonine Studios has been active in the field of children’s and family entertainment for years and, as co-producer and distributor, most recently found big screen success with The School of Magical Animals 1 & 2, The Ogglies – Welcome to Smelliville, Rabbit Academy: Mission Eggpossible, Maya the Bee and Raven the Little Rascal. In home entertainment, Leonine Studios complements its theatrical successes with the distribution of popular properties such as Heidi, The Gruffalo and Mia and Me. Leonine Studios has also been expanding its footprint with the development of an audio division covering audio plays, audio books and podcasts for originals and IPs including LEGO Ninjago.
Stoef was a founding shareholder of m4e AG, which he sold to Studio 100 Media in 2018. At the merged Studio 100/m4e company, Stoef served as CEO and Chairman of the Group Content Committee. Before founding Toon2Tango with Stoef, Daris served as Chief Content Officer at Studio 100. He built the international business for the company and was instrumental in the acquisition of EM Entertainment and the opening of Studio 100 Animation in France.
