9 Story Media Group
Subsidiary
Former name9 Story Entertainment (2002–2014)
Predecessors
FoundationSeptember 2002 (age 23)
Founders
  • Vince Commisso
  • Steven Jarosz
Location23 Fraser Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada[1]
Area servedWorldwide
Key peopleVince Commisso (president, CEO)
Cathal Gaffney (COO)
Angela C. Santomero (2019–2023) (CCO)[2]
Lisa Olfman (executive producer)
Neil Court (executive chairman)
Industry
Num employees1,100 (2019)
ParentScholastic Corporation (2024–present)
Divisions
  • 9 Story Brands
  • 9 Story Creative Affairs
  • 9 Story Distribution International
  • Brown Bag Films
Subsid
Homepage9story.com

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.

History

As 9 Story Entertainment

The company was founded in September 2002 as 9 Story Entertainment by Vince Commisso (ex-Nelvana producer) and Steven Jarosz so Commisso 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 until 2010, but ran for two years.

On September 20, 2011, 9 Story Entertainment became the co-producer and distributor of the animated series Arthur, replacing WildBrain's predecessor. 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 kids & family distribution library of CCI Entertainment;[8] the acquisition was completed on July 24.[9]

As 9 Story Media Group

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 August 18, 2015, 9 Story Media Group acquired the Dublin-based animation studio Brown Bag Films.[12][13]

On October 6, 2015, 9 Story announced an agreement with U.S.-based 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 May 25, 2016, 9 Story acquired the global distribution rights to Garfield and Friends.[16][17]

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 Ireland studio becoming 9 Story's production branch 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 kids & 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 April 1, 2019, 9 Story signed a deal with Scholastic Corporation to distribute 230 half hours of programming, which would bring 9 Story's overall content library at the time to 4,000 half hours of programming.[27] In 2022, Vince Commisso was named along with John Galway as a winner of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television's Board of Directors Tribute Award at the 10th Canadian Screen Awards.[28]

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]

Original productions

TitleProduction partnerYear(s)Notes
Peep and the Big Wide WorldWGBH Boston
Eggbox LLC
National Film Board of Canada
Discovery Kids Original Productions		2004–07, 2010–11Owned by WGBH Educational Foundation
If the World Were a VillageBlueprint Entertainment2005
Jacob Two-Two (season 5)Nelvana2005–06Owned by Nelvana
SkylandMethod Films2005–07
Postcards from Buster (seasons 2–4)Marc Brown Studios
WGBH Boston
Cookie Jar Entertainment		2006–12Owned by WGBH Educational Foundation
Max & Ruby (seasons 3–5)Nelvana2007–13Owned by Nelvana
Futz!2007–08
Best Ed2008–09
Survive This2009–10
Wibbly PigWish Films2009–10Originally aired on CBeebies
SplicedNelvana2009–10animation only
Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars2010
Pound Puppies (season 1, episodes 1–7)Hasbro Studios2010Owned by Hasbro Entertainment
Wild KrattsKratt Brothers Company2011–present
Almost Naked Animals2011–13
Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood9 Story USA
Fred Rogers Productions		2012–present
Fugget About ItDarius Films2012–16 (original)
2024–25 (shorts)		First adult animated sitcom produced by the company
Arthur (seasons 16–19)WGBH Boston2012–16Owned by WGBH Educational Foundation
Cache Craze2013–14
Creative Galaxy9 Story USA
Amazon Studios		2013–19
Camp LakebottomSkywriter Media and Jam Filled Entertainment (season 1)2013–17
Peg + Cat9 Ate 7 Productions
Fred Rogers Productions		2013–18
Numb ChucksJam Filled Entertainment2014–16
Get AceGalaxy Pop
Filmology Finance		2014distribution only
Nerds and MonstersSlap Happy Cartoons Inc.2014–16
The Stanley DynamicAmaze Film + Television
Nelvana		2015–17animation only
Nature Cat (seasons 1–3)Spiffy Pictures
WTTW Chicago		2015–21
3 Amigonauts2017
Furze World Wonders2017
The Magic School Bus Rides AgainScholastic Media2017–20
Top WingIndustrial Brothers2017–20
Let's Go Luna!Brown Bag Films2018–22
Xavier Riddle and the Secret MuseumBrown Bag Films2019–present
Blue's Clues & You!Brown Bag Films
Nickelodeon Animation Studio		2019–24Owned by Paramount Skydance
Clifford the Big Red Dog100 Chickens Productions
Brown Bag Films
Scholastic Media
Amazon Studios		2019–21
Get Rolling with OtisBrown Bag Films2021
Hello, Jack! The Kindness ShowJax Media
Brown Bag Films		2021–22
Karma's WorldKarma's World Entertainment
Brown Bag Films		2021–22
Rosie's RulesBrown Bag Films2022–present
Open Season: Call of Nature[32]Sony Pictures Animation
Brown Bag Films Toronto		2023–24Owned by Sony Pictures
Dee & Friends in OzBrown Bag Films2024
Breaking Bear[33][34]Portfolio Entertainment
Evoke Entertainment
To The Stars		2026Second adult animated sitcom produced by the company
Dragon Girls[35]Brown Bag Films

References

  1. ^ "Contact". 9 Story. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  2. ^ "9 Story Appoints Angela C. Santomero as Chief Creative Officer". 9 Story. June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  3. ^ Layton, Mark (2024-02-05). "9 Story Media acquires Toronto-based producer & distributor Portfolio Entertainment". TBI Vision. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  4. ^ "About - 9 Story Media Group". Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  5. ^ "9 Story Launches New Distribution Division Led by Former Universal Studios Executive". September 21, 2006. Archived from the original on May 21, 2012. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  6. ^ "9 Story becomes the Co-Producer and Distributor of new season of WGBH children's series ARTHUR®". 9 Story. September 20, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  7. ^ Wolfe, Jennifer (September 29, 2015). "Oasis Animation Tapped for New Seasons of 'Arthur'". Animation World Network. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  8. ^ "9 Story Entertainment to acquire CCI Entertainment's extensive Children's and Family Catalogue". 9 Story. April 8, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  9. ^ "9 Story completes acquisition of CCI Entertainment's Children's and Family Catalogue". 9 Story. July 24, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  10. ^ "ZM Capital and Neil Court make equity investment in 9 Story Limited". Zelnick Media Capital. July 13, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  11. ^ Wolfe, Jennifer (October 10, 2014). "9 Story Entertainment Rebrands as 9 Story Media Group". Animation World Network. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  12. ^ "9 Story Media Group Acquires Award-Winning Animation Studio Brown Bag Films". 9 Story. August 18, 2015. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  13. ^ "Irish Producer Brown Bag Acquired". The Hollywood Reporter. August 18, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  14. ^ Vlessing, Etan (October 6, 2015). "MIPCOM: 'Barney & Friends' Set for Relaunch by Mattel, 9 Story". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  15. ^ "Mattel Inc Together with 9 Story Announce New Partnership to Relaunch Iconic Pre-School Brands 'Barney & Friends' and 'Angelina Ballerina'". 9 Story. October 6, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  16. ^ "9 Story Media Group Acquires Worldwide Rights to Iconic Series Garfield and Friends". 9 Story. May 25, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  17. ^ "9 Story acquires global rights to Garfield toon". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. May 25, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  18. ^ "9 Story Media Group Launches International Distribution Operation in Dublin, Ireland". 9 Story. October 21, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  19. ^ "9 Story Media Group Rebrands Toronto Studio To Brown Bag Films". 9 Story. October 15, 2017. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  20. ^ "Mipcom: 9 Story Media Group's Toronto Animation Studio Rebranding as Brown Bag Films (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. October 15, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
  21. ^ "9 Story Media Group Acquires Out of the Blue Enterprises". 9 Story. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  22. ^ "9 Story bolsters US presence with Out of the Blue buy". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  23. ^ "9 Story gets a New Look!". 9 Story. May 13, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  24. ^ Dickson, Jeremy (July 10, 2018). "9 Story buys Breakthrough's kids library and slate". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  25. ^ "9 Story Media Group Acquires Asian Animation Studio". 9 Story. February 4, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  26. ^ "9 Story Media Group Acquires BASE Animation Studio in Indonesia". Animation Magazine. February 4, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  27. ^ Dickson, Jeremy (April 1, 2019). "9 Story to distribute 230 hours of Scholastic content". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  28. ^ Atad, Corey (January 18, 2022). "Canadian Screen Award Academy Announces 2022 Special Award Honourees And Changemakers". ET Canada. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  29. ^ "Scholastic to Invest in 9 Story Media Group, Expanding Opportunities for Production and Global Licensing of Scholastic IP". Scholastic, Inc.. 2024-03-12. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  30. ^ Vlessing, Etan (2024-03-12). "Scholastic to Invest $186M in Animation Studio 9 Story Media". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  31. ^ "Scholastic Closes Investment in 9 Story Media Group, Award-Winning Creator, Producer and Distributor of Premium Children's Content". 9 Story Media Group. 21 June 2024.
  32. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (2023-08-01). "New 'Open Season' Series in the Works at 9 Story"
  33. ^ Schwarz, John (August 16, 2022). "Tubi Gets Adult Animated Series Breaking Bear". Bubbleblabber. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  34. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (May 8, 2025). "Tubi Animated Original 'Breaking Bear' Casts Brendan Fraser, Sarah Michelle Gellar & More". Animation Magazine. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  35. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (January 8, 2026). "Brown Bag Films Unveils New Leadership Structure, Innovation Lab & Refreshed Brand". Animation Magazine. Retrieved March 4, 2026.