German Indie Leonine Forms Animation Studio, Increases Stake in Toon2Tango

Independent German media company Leonine Holding GmbH has announced the launch of Leonine Animation Studios GmbH, in partnership with Toon2Tango founders Hans Ulrich Stoef and Jo Daris. All parties will join forces to pool their animation activities in the future.

The three partners will each contribute their shares in Toon2Tango GmbH & Co. KG to Leonine Animation Studios, effective January 1, 2024. Leonine Holding has held a 25.1% stake in Toon2Tango since October 2022. The studio now becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of the newly established group.

Leonine Holding holds a stake of 50% in Leonine Animation Studios GmbH, with Stoef and Daris also jointly holding 50%. Leonine Holding GmbH also has the option to acquire a controlling majority in Leonine Animation Studios from 2025.

The managing directors of Leonine Animation Studios are Bernhard zu Castell, who as Chief Distribution Officer is responsible for the distribution and licensing division of Leonine Holding GmbH, and the two Toon2Tango managing directors Stoef and Daris.

“The expansion of our partnership with Ulli Stoef and Jo Daris is an important strategic step for our positioning in the animation sector. Since our investment in Toon2Tango in October 2022, we have completed hit series such as Agent 203 and Monster Loving Maniacs, among others, which have sold extremely well worldwide,” said zu Castlee. “The development, production and acquisition of major IPs is the perfect fit for our leading position in marketing and distribution, enabling us to create holistic brand worlds ranging from cinema and home entertainment to radio plays and podcasts.”

Toon2Tango CEO & producer Stoef added, “We are very pleased to take the next step in the rapid development of Toon2Tango with our dream partner Leonine Studios and to now become part of the Leonine group. We have found the perfect match which offers us both the creative freedom and the necessary economic support to consistently expand in the areas of production, distribution and IP and brings us closer to our goal of becoming one of the leading European animation companies.”

Leonine Animation Studios is a growth and investment platform for the development, production and acquisition of new IPs with international scope as well as other selective M&A activities in the animation sector. Initial projects include the production of the animated feature film Santa.com, which will be released in German cinemas in 2025 via Leonine Studios, and the TV series spin-off of the well-known cinema franchise Niko as well as the development of the series Littlest Robot, which was presented at the Cartoon Forum in Toulouse in September 2023, and the preschool series Hey Fuzzy Yellow, which is currently in production.

“We want to consistently expand our successful children’s and family entertainment segment and this step will create the conditions for further growth in this exciting market,” said Fred Kogel, CEO of Leonine Studios. “We are delighted that we can now deepen our partnership with Toon2Tango, Ulli Stoef and Jo Daris after our first year of successful collaboration.”

Toon2Tango was founded four years ago by Stoef and Daris, who in their successful careers have produced, among others, the international hit series Mia and Me, which has developed into a globally established brand comprising four seasons of the TV series (104 episodes) and a theatrical feature film. The team has also been involved in hit series and feature films such as Monster Loving Maniacs, Agent 203, Grisu, Wissper, Maya and the Bee: The Honey Games, Tip the Mouse, Sitting Ducks, Was Ist Was TV, Miffy, Frog & Friends and many more.

Leonine Studios has been active in the field of children’s and family entertainment for many years and, as co- producer and distributor, has most recently brought the hit films The School of Magical Animals 1 & 2, Lassie – A New Adventure, The Ogglies – Welcome to Smellville, Rabbit Academy: Mission Eggpossible, Maya and the Bee and Raven the Little Rascal to theaters. In home entertainment, Leonine Studios complements its theatrical successes with the marketing of popular properties such as Heidi, The Gruffalo and Mia and Me. Leonine Studios has  also been expanding its market-leading position in moving image content for with the continuous development of a strong audio segment, extending successful IPs such as LEGO Ninjago, Tip the Mouse and Woodwalkers into radio plays, audio books and podcasts.

With the acquisition of justbridge’s license catalog in April 2023 and the takeover of all marketing and distribution activities of The Walt Disney Company’s physical products in October 2023, Leonine  Studios has established itself as one of the largest and leading providers of kids and family entertainment in Germany.