Atomic Cartoons, the kids and family division of Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc., and Cyber Group Studios entered into a master toy agreement with Jakks Pacific Inc., for The Last Kids on Earth series created by Max Brallier.
Under the terms of the new agreement, Jakks Pacific will develop and bring to market a range of merchandise inspired by the bestselling book series and upcoming Netflix productions. The line will be available in all territories except China. This will include action figures, activity toys, roleplay accessories, vehicles, plush items, novelty items, games, and kids’ electronics. Cyber Group Studios brokered the deal on behalf of Atomic Cartoons.
This agreement follows a previous worldwide licensing deal for the Last Kids on Earth franchise between Atomic Cartoons and Cyber Group Studios. In February 2019, Cyber Group Studios, the Paris- and L.A.-based animated production and distribution company, became the sole and exclusive representative worldwide for merchandising, ancillary and second window TV rights for the series.
The Last Kids on Earth series follows the comedic adventures of 13-year old Jack Sullivan and his gang of middle school friends, who live together in a decked-out treehouse after a monster apocalypse has taken place. In a world without parents, they gorge themselves on candy, play video games, invent gadgets, and of course, battle zombies and giant-sized monsters. The books, published by Viking Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House, are New York Times and USA Today bestselling series, with more than 2.5 million copies in print around the world.
The right to produce the animated series and related intellectual property rights, were acquired by Atomic Cartoons in 2017, and the animated series was ordered by Netflix in February 2018. The consumer brand for The Last Kids on Earth will debut at Licensing Expo in Las Vegas in June 2019, and the animated series will premiere on Netflix later in 2019.
Max Brallier is attached to the Netflix series as creator and executive producer, along with Scott Peterson, who is the showrunner and an executive producer. Matthew Berkowitz, CCO, Thunderbird Entertainment Group and Atomic Cartoons, and Jennifer Twiner McCarron, CEO of Thunderbird and Atomic Cartoons, are also executive producers on the series.
Earlier this year, the voice cast was announced, and will feature the talents of Mark Hamill, Rosario Dawson, Catherine O’Hara, Keith David, Bruce Campbell, Garland Whitt, Montse Hernandez and Charles Demers, in addition to Nick Wolfhard as the lead character Jack Sullivan.