Toonz acquires Imira Entertainment

MIPCOM: India’s Toonz Entertainment is acquiring leading Spanish children’s producer-distributor Imira Entertainment, the firm behind series such as Sandra the Fairytale Detective and Lucky Fred.

Sandra the Fairytale Detective

Toonz Entertainment houses Toon Animation, described as the oldest and largest animation company in India, which has previously worked with partners including Disney, Turner Broadcasting, Sony, the BBC, Marvel and Nicktoons.

Imira will continue to operate as a separate entity with its existing management structure, but the two companies will now work together on production and distribution, Toonz said.

The Barcelona-based company, which also has offices in Madrid and Vitoria, will handle television and licensing rights to Toonz Animation-produced content in Europe, the US, Latin America and Africa.

It already distributes a catalogue of over 4,000 half-hours of children’s programming, shopping series such as Scholastic’s Goosebumps, Horrible Histories and The Magical School Bus, as well as its original series.

The company was a Cartoon Forum in Toulouse last month pitching Planet Play, a futuristic comedy series about a boy from Earth who moves to a new planet where every child has a robot as a companion.

Toonz Entertainment, which also owns the distribution division Toonz Entertainment USA, based in Los Angeles, will take 100% ownership of Imira, subject to due diligence. Financial terms have not been disclosed.

P Jayakumar, CEO of Toonz Animation, said: “Adding Imira Entertainment to the Toonz Group brings significant complementary services and areas of expertise to our offering.”

Imira CEO Sergi Reitg said the sale represented a “natural fit” for the companies.