Crayola launches its own production studio business unit

Crayola has confirmed plans to launch Crayola Studios to create multiple genre content aimed at kids and families. “As world leaders in creative self-expression, the establishment of Crayola Studios  is a logical next step for us, it builds on plans announced last year to develop entertainment content that inspires and nurtures the next generation and helps them develop lifelong creative mindsets," Crayola’s EVP Marketing, Victoria Lozano, said.

With a slate of shows already in development, the portfolio features a broad range of projects, across numerous content touchpoints, brainstormed in collaboration with collaborating production companies.  The first project to be announced is "The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian," a co-development with MIMO Studios."Our unique perspective offers an exciting opportunity for the industry as it searches for stand out new and trusted content that has creativity at its heart," Lozano said.

Overseeing the content slate is Lozano, with support from Goatfish Agency, founded by Rick Glankler, Fremantle’s former President and General Manager Kids & Family Entertainment. Crayola’s sister company Hallmark Media will also support the initiative. Cyma Zarghami’s MIMO Studios will co-develop and produce an animated adaptation of the award-winning, kids podcast Gen-Z Media’s "The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian," which is written and performed by Jonathan Messinger, author of "Hiding Out" and former web editor of "Time Out Chicago Kids."  The podcast was launched in 2016 and has released 12 seasons and 260 episodes.

With more 24 million downloads, "The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian" maintains its rank as number one on the iTunes Kids & Family chart. Finn Caspian is also a best-selling book series and was selected  as Best Book 2020 by the School Library Journal. The 52 x 11 series will be written by Brad Birch. “Crayola is synonymous with kids and color and we are so excited to collaborate with them to bring these beloved journeys to life through world-class animation and artistry” said Zarghami, “We have been cultivating The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian since we first identified it and immediately saw the great potential and opportunity to tell rich stories in video the way Gen-Z Media did in the podcast. The combination pf great characters, creativity, adventure, and information is something we can’t wait to bring to audiences worldwide.”

A science-fiction adventure story, "The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian," centers on Finn Caspian, an eight-year-old boy aboard The Famous Marlowe 280 Interplanetary Exploratory Space Station. Together with friends Abigail, Elias and Vale, Finn forms Explorers Troop 301 which takes off from the Marlowe to explore uncharted planets, help aliens, and solve a mystery that threatens to destroy the Space Station. “This series allows kids to explore the power and limitless potential of imagination, self-expression, and creativity," Lozano said. "Its DNA is at the very core of what we do at Crayola and a perfect example of the type of shows we want to produce going forward. We’re thrilled to join forces with the talented team at MIMO to bring Finn’s action-packed adventures to life.”