Rainmaker, Frederator, Hirsh merger

Rainmaker Entertainment in Canada has acquired the companies led by media veterans Fred Seibert and Michael Hirsh to create a new North American animation house.

Fred Seibert

Following the takeover, animation studio Rainmaker, Seibert’s online toon network Frederator Studios and Hirsh’s management firm Ezrin Hirsh Entertainment (EHE) will combine to create Wow! Unlimited Media.

Hirsh, a former executive chairman of DHX Media and co-founder of Nelvana and Cookie Jar Entertainment, will lead the company as CEO and chairman of the board.

The exec has produced more than 6,000 TV episodes and 10 features, with titles including Inspector Gadget, Babar and Rolie Polie Olie.

Seibert, a former Cartoon Network exec and producer of toons such as Adventure Time, will join the company as chief creative officer, having founded Frederator Networks in 2012. The company is valued at approximately US$17m.

The exec will continue to focus on building Frederator’s presence on YouTube and other upcoming platforms as well as participating in content creation at Wow!, the company said. Seibert will become the largest shareholder in Wow! following the merger.

Once the transaction is completed, Rainmaker intends to change its name to Wow! Unlimited Media, reshuffle its board of directors and reorganise its capital structure to make sure it complies with Canada’s Broadcasting Act.

Michael Hirsh

Bob Ezrin, Hirsh’s business partner at EHE, has been named vice-chairman, while media entrepreneur Neil Chakravarti has been appointed president and chief operating officer of Wow!. EHE is valued at approximately US$5.2m.

Rainmaker exec Bryant Pike will become chief financial officer of Wow!, while Michael Hefferon will become executive VP at Wow! and will continue in his role as president of Rainmaker Studio.

“The vertical integration will facilitate discovery of new digital filmmakers, levelling them up to produce premium global programming while simultaneously growing digital platforms with both advertising and subscription support,” said Seibert.

Hirsh added: “Through partnerships with great media and telecom companies around the world, we will build the definitive next generation global kids and youth company.”

Rainmaker released3D CG-animated feature film Ratchet & Clank earlier this month, while its television division, Mainframe, is working on the latest Bob the Builder animated series.

Mainframe produced a large slate of series in the 1990s and early 2000s, including several seasons of CGI sci-fi toon ReBoot.

Wow! plans to pursue “complementary acquisitions” to its existing assets following the completion of the merger while also developing franchise brands.