9 Story Media Group (formerly known as 9 Story Entertainment) is a Canadian media production, animation studio, and distribution company founded in September 2002 by Vince Commisso and Steven Jarosz.
The company was founded in September 2002 as 9 Story Entertainment by Vince Commisso and Steven Jarosz so Vince could work on Peep and the Big Wide World.[4]
On September 21, 2006, 9 Story launched an international distribution division headed by former Universal 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 series Arthur. 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 of CCI Entertainment;[8] the acquisition was completed on July 24.[9]
As 9 Story Media Group
Logo used from 2014 to 2018
On October 10, 2014, 9 Story Entertainment changed its name to 9 Story Media Group to follow Neil Court and Zelnick Media Capital becoming majority owners a few months prior.[10][11]
On October 6, 2015, 9 Story announced an agreement with American toy manufacturer Mattel to relaunch/reboot Barney & Friends and Angelina Ballerina under license from HIT 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 from Toronto to Dublin.[18]
On October 15, 2017, 9 Story rebranded its Toronto 2D 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 the Colorforms 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 of Breakthrough Entertainment.[24] On February 4, 2019, 9 Story announced that they had acquired Bali-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 company Portfolio 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]
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