Cross-platform animation studio Frederator Network, a division of WOW! Unlimited Media, has entered an exclusive content deal with digital first media firm BuzzFeed.
The deal provides Frederator Network with the first right to develop and produce longform series based on original digital properties created by BuzzFeed Animation Lab. The first short-form content that will be put forward for series development is The Land of Boggs, a zany buddy comedy that boasts 10m followers. Other content under consideration for long-form development includes The Good Advice Cupcake, an aggressively optimistic pastry touting 6m followers; the lowbrow sister comedy Weird Helga, with 9m followers; and gender inclusive series, Chikn Nuggit (7m followers).
Zee Myers, head of BuzzFeed Animation Lab, said: “The Lab has seen huge success and explosive growth for our animated properties, and we are thrilled to partner with Frederator Studios. They have an unparalleled track record and are the perfect shepherds to take our properties into a new format and expand our audience.”
Michael Hirsh, CEO of WOW! Unlimited Media, parent company of Frederator Network, stated: “Our partnership with BuzzFeed offers Frederator a tremendous opportunity to expand on the creativity of their animation lab to further develop their original IP into long-form series for global audiences. BuzzFeed has billions of global content views and nearly 30 million dedicated BuzzFeed Animation Lab fans, which gives us a huge audience and ability to promote series to a highly-engaged fan base”
Frederator calls itself “a pioneer in streaming video and a leading independent producer of animation, owning and operating the largest global animation network on YouTube, with channels that boast over 2000 exclusive creators and influencers and garnering over a billion views every month”.
Frederator belongs to WOW! Unlimited, which in turn is part of Genius Brands International. Genius, which controls a wide range of family-friendly content assets, will handle consumer products for any projects that emerge from the alliance between Frederator and BuzzFeed.
