Funko Closes Acquisition of UK Based Animation Studio

Will Create In-house Production Capability to be Named Funko Animation Studios

 

EVERETT, Wash., Dec. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Funko, Inc. (“Funko,” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq:FNKO), a leading pop culture consumer products company, today reported it has closed the acquisition of A Large Evil Corporation (“Evil Corp”), an award winning animation production company.

Founded in 2006 and based in Bath, United Kingdom, Evil Corp is a design and animation studio that has been producing short animated product videos with Funko since 2014. In conjunction with the acquisition Evil Corp will now operate under the name “Funko Animation Studios” and founders Guy Thomson and Seth Watkins will stay on as General Managers.

“Since 2014 we have produced the majority of our animated product videos with this innovative and fantastically creative studio and we are excited to move this function in house,” said Brian Mariotti, CEO of Funko. “We have seen firsthand how well received these shorts are from our fans and we look forward to continuing to produce these high caliber product videos while also creating original Funko content. As video becomes an increasingly important medium of communication, this will allow us to better create content to support and promote our brand and our products globally.”

In 2016, Funko collaborated with Marvel Animation to create animated Marvel Funko shorts with story and animation by Evil Corp and executive production by Brian Mariotti, Dan Buckley, Cort Lane, Joe Quesada, and Alan Fine. The first collaboration, “Spellbound,” debuted in November 2016, featuring the characters of Iron Man, Spider-Man and Loki and has reached over 1.1 million views to-date with subsequent Marvel Funko shorts garnering well over 5 million views. The second season of Marvel Funko shorts have already premiered with an additional five shorts set to launch in late 2017 and into 2018.

About Funko, Inc.

Headquartered in Everett, Washington, Funko is a leading pop culture consumer products company. Funko designs, sources and distributes licensed pop culture products across multiple categories, including vinyl figures, action toys, plush, apparel, housewares and accessories for consumers who seek tangible ways to connect with their favorite pop culture brands and characters. Learn more at https://funko.com/, and follow us on Twitter (@OriginalFunko) and Instagram (@OriginalFunko).

via http://www.actionfigureinsider.com/funko-closes-acquisition-of-uk-based-animation-studio/
Daniel Pickett