The partnership includes the popular book series Judy Moody by Megan McDonald and the New York Times best-selling holiday picture book Dasher by Matt Tavares
TORONTO – January 23, 2024 – 9 Story Media Group announced today it has entered into a co-development agreement with Trustbridge Entertainment on two best-selling children’s books from Candlewick Press. 9 Story and Trustbridge plan to co-create new animated programs based on the popular book series Judy Moody by Megan McDonald and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, and the New York Times best-selling holiday picture book Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever written and illustrated by Matt Tavares.
Under the terms of the deal, 9 Story and Trustbridge will co-develop and co-produce the properties with animation by 9 Story’s Oscar®-nominated studio Brown Bag Films. 9 Story’s distribution division holds worldwide distribution rights (excluding China), and Trustbridge Entertainment maintains global merchandising and licensing rights.
The Judy Moody book series was first published in 2000 and quickly became an international best-seller. Written by Megan McDonald and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, the franchise includes the original Judy Moody series and three spin-off book series: Stink, Judy Moody and Stink, and Judy Moody and Friends, along with a feature film released in 2011. To date, there are more than 43 million Judy Moody books in print worldwide, translated into 26 languages.
Hitting the New York Times Best Seller list from 2019-2022, Dasher is a heartwarming holiday picture book from author/illustrator Matt Tavares about how it came to be that reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. A sequel, Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas, was released in fall 2023.
“We are so thrilled to be working with Trustbridge on these beloved book properties,” said Natalie Osborne, Chief Strategy Officer for 9 Story Media Group. “Partnering with Trustbridge furthers our strategy of joining forces with best-in-class partners to bring cherished characters and stories to global audiences.”
“Judy Moody and Dasher are two preeminent titles, and we wanted a preeminent partner to help us bring these stories and characters to animated life. And we found that in 9 Story,” said Bob Higgins, President of Trustbridge Entertainment. “From storytelling to visual execution, they’ve proven to be exceptional, and we are lucky to be in such talented hands.”
9 Story & Trustbridge Team Up for ‘Judy Moody,’ ‘Dasher’ Toon Adaptations | Animation Magazinehttps://t.co/aFap6LCEhH pic.twitter.com/tzKb7UOu8X
— Animation Magazine (@animag) January 23, 2024
Trustbridge Entertainment and @9StoryMG have inked a co-development deal to create animated programs for a pair of children’s book series.https://t.co/rTPc0BlAl0
— Kidscreen (@kidscreen) January 23, 2024
About 9 Story Media Group
9 Story Media Group is a leading creator, producer and distributor of kids and family-focused intellectual property. Its award-winning animation studio, Brown Bag Films, is recognized around the world for best-in-class brands such as Doc McStuffins, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Octonauts, Wild Kratts, and Blue’s Clues & You. The company’s international distribution arm, 9 Story Distribution International based in Dublin, represents 4,400 half-hours of animated and live-action programming, seen on some of the most respected international channels and platforms. Its in-house consumer products division, 9 Story Brands, builds international entertainment brands for kids, with expertise across creative, brand marketing, and licensing. 9 Story’s Creative Affairs Group creates, develops, and produces award-winning branded properties using groundbreaking formative research. With facilities in Toronto, Dublin, New York, and Bali, 9 Story Media Group employs more than 1000 creative and corporate staff worldwide.
About Trustbridge Entertainment
Trustbridge Entertainment, a division of Trustbridge Global Media (TGM), a multi-screen development and production company that partners with creators to develop IP into high-quality, entertaining content for children and families. TGM is a multi-platform children’s content company backed by Trustbridge Partners, a global growth equity firm with approximately $8 billion under management. TGM has acquired and expanded a portfolio of celebrated children’s publishing houses, including Candlewick Press, Holiday House, Peachtree, Pixel+Ink, and Walker Books with a focus on bringing the highest quality content to global audiences from preschool through young adult. The current slate includes Maisy Mouse, Judy Moody, The Circus Ship, and Dasher.