Today, Radio Flyer, the 107-year-old toy company and maker of the Original Little Red Wagon is announcing its latest venture into animated storytelling with a new division, Radio Flyer Studios. The family-owned, Chicago-based company aims to become a destination for family entertainment focused on stories about family, adventure, active play and outdoor exploration.
Radio Flyer Studios will produce digital-first animated family content that will live online. The inspiration behind the new venture stems from the company’s Emmy Award-winning short film, Taking Flight (takingflightfilm.com). Produced by Moonbot Studios and directed by Academy Award winner Brandon Oldenburg (The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore), the short was produced in 2016, inspired by a century of Radio Flyer stories.
“With the founding of Radio Flyer Studios, we will continue the work we started with Taking Flight,” says Robert Pasin, Chief Wagon Officer at Radio Flyer. “Radio Flyer’s mission is to bring smiles to kids of all ages and create warm memories that last a lifetime. The studio will bring our iconic brand to life in new ways that continue to spark the same joy and imagination that we have for over 100 years.”
Pasin brought in kids’ media veterans to establish the new studio, including:
- Carrie Miller, Head of Studio, will oversee business, distribution, development, and production. Miller previously worked for 15 years at Frederator Networks assisting in the marketing, distribution, development, and production of countless series for adults and children including Adventure Time, Bee and Puppycat, Bravest Warriors and the 107 Facts series. Miller was most recently COO at Augenblick Studios, a boutique studio in Brooklyn.
- Deborah Frank, Executive Producer, will manage all stages of development and production. Frank has worked on several PBS KIDS properties including Work It Out Wombats! and Arthur at GBH Kids in Boston, as well as a variety of multiplatform and digital-first series. Most recently, she was the Supervising Producer on City Island for Future Brain Media.
Radio Flyer Studios marks the company’s latest expansion into creating brand experiences for families. Last year, Radio Flyer opened its first-ever retail store as a hub of FUNomenal™ Radio Flyer activity with engaging ways for families to shop for and interact with the product and the brand.