LEONINE Holding GmbH today acquires a 25.1 percent share in Toon2Tango GmbH & Co. KG based in Munich. With the transaction, LEONINE Studios adds the development and production of new IPs in animation and live-action to its strong existing distribution channels in the children's and family segments. Through the transaction and the cooperation with existing partners, LEONINE Studios now covers the entire value chain in kids and family entertainment.
Toon2Tango was founded three years ago by the experienced and successful management duo Hans Ulrich Stoef and Jo Daris, who produced, among others, the international hit series MIA AND ME, which has developed into a globally established brand world comprising four seasons of the TV series with a total of 104 episodes and a theatrical feature film.
Fred Kogel, CEO of LEONINE Studios: "Our key strategic objective is to cover the entire value chain in all our business areas, wherever possible. In children's and family entertainment, we’re already very well positioned in co-production, theatrical distribution, home entertainment and audio – currently again with the superhit THE SCHOOL OF MAGICAL ANIMALS 2. With the investment in Toon2Tango, we’ve completed the value chain in kids and family entertainment by enhancing content development and production."
Bernhard zu Castell, Chief Distribution Officer at LEONINE Studios: "Ulli Stoef and Jo Daris have impressively and sustainably demonstrated their excellent sense for promising kids’ content and their great international distribution expertise in the course of their careers. We’re very pleased that we’re now intensifying our partnership by acquiring a share in Toon2Tango. Animation is already an essential part of our DNA. We know the success factors behind attractive content in this sector and have now combined all the components that enable us to build holistic brand worlds in kids and family entertainment and continue this success story together. "
Hans Ulrich Stoef, CEO and Producer at Toon2Tango: "For some time we have been thinking about the necessary steps to take our start-up Toon2Tango to the next level. After the first three years and a great start with a large number of developments and already four shows in production, we started discussions to find the ideal strategic partner for us. We had a number of options and are convinced that we found the perfect partner in LEONINE Studios. Through this connection we strengthen our market position and now have the full power to build a major European player in children's and family entertainment."
Toon2Tango will debut the 26-part hybrid series LILY OF FAWONIA at Mipcom. Like MIA AND ME the new production is modeled on the successful blend of live-action and animation. Also new at Mipcom is Toon2Tango’s first live-action concept MACARA'S CURSE, developed in collaboration with Anjali Taneja, creator of the hit series HOUSE OF ANUBIS.
LEONINE Studios has been active in the field of children's and family entertainment for years and, as co-producer and distributor, most recently brought the mega-hits THE SCHOOL OF MAGICAL ANIMALS 1 + 2, THE OGGLIES – WELCOME TO SMELLIVILLE, THE RABBIT ACADEMY: MISSION EGGPOSSIBLE, MAYA THE BEE or RAVEN THE LITTLE RASCAL to theaters. In home entertainment, LEONINE Studios complements its theatrical successes with the distribution of popular properties such as HEIDI, THE GRUFFALO and MIA AND ME. LEONINE Studios has been expanding its market-leading position in moving image content for some time with the continuous development of a strong audio segment. In addition to producing original content such as FC BAYERN TEAM CAMPUS and SCHLEICH HORSE CLUB, LEONINE extends successful IPs such as LEGO NINJAGO, LEO LESEMAUS or WOODWALKERS into the audio play, audio book and podcast world.
Hans Ulrich Stoef was a founding shareholder of m4e AG, which he sold to Studio 100 Media in 2018. At the merged Studio 100/m4e company, Hans Ulrich Stoef served as CEO and Chairman of the Group Content Committee. Before founding Toon2Tango with Hans Ulrich Stoef, Jo Daris served as chief content officer at Studio 100. He built the international business for the company and was instrumental in the acquisition of EM Entertainment and the opening of Studio 100 Animation in France.