9 Story Media Group (formerly known as9 Story Entertainment) is a Canadianmedia production, animation studio, and distribution company founded in September 2002 by Vince Commisso and Steven Jarosz.
The company was founded in September 2002 as9 Story Entertainment by Vince Commisso and Steven Jarosz so Vince could work onPeep and the Big Wide World.[4]
On September 21, 2006, 9 Story launched an international distribution division headed by formerUniversal Studios executive, Natalie Osborne, known as 9 Story Enterprises.[5]
9 Story produced its first live-action series,Survive This, from 2008 to 2010.
On September 20, 2011, 9 Story Entertainment became the co-producer and distributor of the animated seriesArthur. 9 Story would produce the series from seasons 16 to 19.[6][7]
On April 8, 2013, 9 Story announced that it would acquire the children's and family distribution library ofCCI Entertainment;[8] the acquisition was completed on July 24.[9]
On October 10, 2014, 9 Story Entertainment changed its name to9 Story Media Group to follow Neil Court andZelnick Media Capital becoming majority owners a few months prior.[10][11]
On October 6, 2015, 9 Story announced an agreement with American toy manufacturerMattel to relaunch/rebootBarney & Friends andAngelina Ballerina under license fromHIT Entertainment for planned releases in 2017, but nothing was heard from them in terms of either production or release since then.[14][15]
On October 21, 2016, 9 Story's distribution arm, 9 Story Enterprises, was rebranded as 9 Story Distribution International and relocated operations fromToronto to Dublin.[18]
On October 15, 2017, 9 Story rebranded its Toronto2D animation studio after Brown Bag Films, with the Irish studio becoming 9 Story's production arm for both 2D and 3D animation across Dublin,Manchester, and Toronto. At the same time, Brown Bag Films became one of 9 Story's main divisions, alongside 9 Story Distribution International.[19][20]
On January 12, 2018, 9 Story announced that they had acquired production company,Out of the Blue Enterprises, for an undisclosed amount and rebranded them to 9 Story USA. 9 Story would also acquire the rights to theColorforms brand.[21][22]
On May 13, 2018, 9 Story unveiled an updated logo and announced the launch of 9 Story Brands, a consumer products division.[23]
On July 10, 2018, 9 Story acquired the children's and family distribution catalog and development slate ofBreakthrough Entertainment.[24] On February 4, 2019, 9 Story announced that they had acquiredBali-based animation studio BASE for an undisclosed amount, and rebranded it after Brown Bag Films.[25][26]
On February 5, 2024, 9 Story acquired fellow Canadian companyPortfolio Entertainment, including its distribution catalogue, development slates, and production. Portfolio CEO Lisa Olfman became an executive producer at 9 Story, where she will report to Commisso.[3]
On March 12, 2024, Scholastic announced that they would acquire complete economic interest and minority voting rights in 9 Story for $186 million; the transaction closed on June 21 of that year.[29][30][31]
