Wildbrain

What Wildbrain does

WildBrain is a publicly traded (TSX: WILD) global kids and family entertainment company headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with operating offices in Vancouver, New York, London, and Shanghai. The company manages a portfolio of multi-generational entertainment franchises — including Strawberry Shortcake, Teletubbies, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Inspector Gadget, Degrassi, and In the Night Garden — through a full-lifecycle franchise management model spanning creative development, content production, licensing, and digital distribution.

The company generates revenue across four primary streams: Global Licensing of consumer products (WildBrain CPLG), Content Creation and Sales through WildBrain Studios (Vancouver), House of Cool (Toronto-based pre-production, acquired 2023 for CAD $15.5M), and a Live Action division; Digital Distribution via the WildBrain Network (YouTube, FAST, AVOD); and a now-discontinued Canadian broadcast business (Family Channel, Family Jr., WildBrainTV, Télémagino) shut down in August 2025. Q3 2026 continuing-operations revenue totaled $61.2M (down 16% YoY), with Global Licensing up 35% to $25.1M and Adjusted EBITDA of $5.8M (up 38%).

In December 2025, WildBrain sold its 41% stake in Peanuts Holdings to Sony for approximately $457M USD, eliminating all debt and retaining a multi-year service agreement for Peanuts licensing, production, and distribution. The company is now debt-free with approximately $113–119M in cash, an active share buyback program (up to 10% of public float), and a focused strategy of building higher-margin licensing and digital distribution around its owned IP portfolio.

Name

Wildbrain

Legal name

WildBrain Ltd.

Website

https://wildbrain.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

WildBrain is a global kids and family entertainment company that manages multi-generational franchises including Strawberry Shortcake, Teletubbies, and Inspector Gadget across content production (WildBrain Studios, House of Cool), consumer products licensing (WildBrain CPLG), and digital distribution (WildBrain Network) for broadcasters, streamers, and licensees worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Halifax

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Global Licensing: Revenue from licensing consumer products across franchises including Strawberry Shortcake, Teletubbies, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Inspector Gadget, and Degrassi. The segment showed 35% growth in Q3 2026.
2. Content Creation: Revenue from producing animated and live-action content through WildBrain Studios, House of Cool, Digital Studio, and Live Action divisions.
3. Broadcasting (Discontinued): Previously earned revenue from Canadian broadcast business including Family Channel, Family Jr., WildBrainTV and Télémagino. The company announced shutdown of this business in August 2025.
4. Digital Distribution: Revenue from YouTube, FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) and AVOD platforms through the WildBrain Network.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

WildBrain is a global kids and family entertainment company that owns and manages a portfolio of iconic entertainment franchises (Strawberry Shortcake, Teletubbies, Yo Gabba Gabba!, In the Night Garden, Inspector Gadget, Degrassi). The company grows these franchises across the full lifecycle, providing creative development, animation and live-action content production, content distribution to broadcasters and streaming platforms, consumer products licensing through WildBrain CPLG, and digital content distribution via the WildBrain Network (YouTube, FAST, AVOD).

Product overview

WildBrain is a global kids and family entertainment company operating a diversified portfolio business across franchise management, content production, and digital distribution. The company manages several flagship franchises (Strawberry Shortcake, Teletubbies, Yo Gabba Gabba!, In the Night Garden, Inspector Gadget, Degrassi) through a franchise management division, which oversees brand development, licensing, marketing, and consumer products. Content production is handled through WildBrain Studios (Vancouver-based animation), House of Cool (Toronto-based pre-production, acquired 2023), Live Action production, and Digital Studio units. Distribution occurs via the WildBrain Network (YouTube, FAST & AVOD), Content Sales division, and WildBrain CPLG (global licensing agency). The company previously operated linear broadcast channels in Canada (Family Channel, Family Jr., WildBrainTV, Télémagino) but exited this business in 2025. WildBrain also held a 41% stake in the Peanuts franchise, which was sold to Sony in December 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WildBrain CPLG: Licensing and brand management division operating globally
• WildBrain Studios
• WildBrain Spark
• WildBrain Network

Products and services

• Strawberry Shortcake Multi-generational kids and family entertainment franchise featuring the Strawberry Shortcake character and her "berry best friends." Spans animated series, specials, consumer products, and digital content across television and streaming platforms globally; licensed through WildBrain CPLG.
• Teletubbies Beloved preschool franchise featuring Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po. Spans original live-action series, Netflix live-action reimagining, and CG-animated YouTube series; operates as a lifestyle property with extensive activations and digital touchpoints.
• Yo Gabba Gabba! Music-driven entertainment brand for kids ages 3-6 blending animation, live action, and indie music cameos. Distributed via Apple TV+ as Yo Gabba GabbaLand!; features cult following spanning multiple generations.
• In the Night Garden BBC preschool series targeting children 6 months to 3 years, featuring Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, and Makka Pakka. Spans 100 live-action episodes, 1 million+ YouTube subscribers, and six CG ZinkyZonk Specials.
• Inspector Gadget
• Degrassi Groundbreaking Canadian teen drama franchise spanning generations since 1980, known for fearless portrayal of teen issues including identity, relationships, mental health, and social justice.
• WildBrain Studios Animation and content production studio based in Vancouver, creating and producing animated content for WildBrain's franchises and for third-party clients.
• House of Cool Toronto-based pre-production animation studio acquired by WildBrain in 2023, specializing in creative pre-production services including concept development, storyboarding, design, and pre-visualization for animation projects.
• WildBrain Live Action Production division focused on live-action content development and production, including the Netflix series Finding Her Edge.
• WildBrain Digital Studio Digital content production unit creating content for YouTube, streaming platforms, and digital-first distribution.
• WildBrain Content Sales Global content licensing and distribution service managing the sale and syndication of WildBrain's content catalog to broadcasters, streamers, and platforms worldwide.
• WildBrain Network (YouTube, FAST & AVOD) Multi-platform digital network distributing WildBrain content across YouTube, Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST), and AVOD platforms. Manages branded YouTube channels and digital content monetization.
• WildBrain Media Solutions Advertising and monetization solutions for brands seeking to reach kids and family audiences across WildBrain's digital network properties.
• WildBrain CPLG Global licensing agency and franchise management service (acquired via the purchase of CPLG) that manages brand licensing programs for WildBrain properties and third-party clients, handling consumer products, live events, and location-based entertainment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Global Licensing revenue grew 35% to $25.1M in Q3 2026
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Banijay Kids & FamilycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 March 2026Expanded YouTube channel network partnership enabling content sharing across their respective networks. WildBrain hosts Banijay titles including Totally Spies!, LoliRock, and Mister Maker Arty Party while Banijay's ZeeKay network incorporates WildBrain content such as In the Night Garden and Slugterra. Partnership builds on existing relationship distributing Mr. Bean.
• Various Toy Fair PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 5 February 2026WildBrain featuring Strawberry Shortcake CG update at New York Toy Fair with panel presentation and pop-up bakery event in SoHo.
• MGA EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2026L.O.L. Surprise! brand collaboration with WildBrain featuring Strawberry Shortcake x L.O.L. Surprise! Tots collectible dolls. Collection available globally at Target, Amazon, Walmart with MSRP $14.99.
• House of CoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 July 2023Acquired pre-production animation studio House of Cool for CAD $15.5 million. Key management from House of Cool joined WildBrain as co-general managers. The studio continues to operate under its current name in Toronto.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Hasbro: Hasbro owns Peppa Pig (via eOne), PJ Masks, and My Little Pony — a comparable portfolio of licensed children's IP globally — and operates a large consumer products licensing organization that overlaps directly with WildBrain CPLG and WildBrain's franchise management model.
• Mattel: Mattel owns Barbie, Hot Wheels, American Girl and is building franchises around its IP catalog across licensing, content, and consumer products — directly comparable to WildBrain's franchise-management-plus-licensing model for kids' brands.
• Nickelodeon (Paramount Global): Nickelodeon operates a large owned-IP portfolio (PAW Patrol co-owner with Spin Master, SpongeBob, Dora) and is a core buyer of kids' animation — directly comparable as both a competitor in kids' franchise IP and a channel/distribution counterpart to WildBrain's content and digital business.
• Warner Bros. Discovery (Cartoon Network / Kids): Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, and HBO Max Kids are major incumbent platforms competing for kids' attention and licensing shelf space that WildBrain's brands must compete against — also a comparable buyer/licensor of kids' content that overlaps with WildBrain Content Sales.

Direct peers

• Spin Master: Spin Master is a children's entertainment-to-toys company that combines IP ownership (e.g., Paw Patrol) with global licensing and content production; its model of monetizing owned kids' IP through content, licensing, and toys closely mirrors WildBrain's franchise-plus-licensing structure.
• Nelvana (Corus Entertainment): Nelvana, owned by Corus Entertainment, is a Toronto-based kids' animation studio and IP licensor that serves broadcasters and licensing partners worldwide — a directly comparable Canadian-headquartered kids' animation and franchise management peer.
• 9 Story Media Group: 9 Story Media Group is a Canadian kids' content producer and IP owner (Bluey, Wild Kratts distributor) with animation studios and a Zodiak Kids/Banijay-aligned distribution footprint — directly comparable to WildBrain Studios and the company's content production plus franchise distribution model.
• Banijay Kids & Family: Banijay Kids & Family holds kids' IP such as Totally Spies! and LoliRock and operates a YouTube channel network (ZeeKay) that recently entered a content-sharing partnership with WildBrain — directly comparable in kids' IP ownership, content production, and digital distribution.
• Boat Rocker Media: Boat Rocker Media is a Toronto-based independent entertainment company with significant kids and family content operations (including the LazyTown franchise) — directly comparable to WildBrain Studios as a North American indie kids' content producer and IP owner.

Emerging players

• MGA Entertainment: MGA Entertainment owns the L.O.L. Surprise! and Bratz franchises and recently entered into a direct co-branded collaboration with WildBrain (Strawberry Shortcake x L.O.L. Surprise! Tots) — comparable as an emerging player in toy-driven IP that overlaps with WildBrain's licensing-led monetization strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@teletubbies
• Facebookfacebook.com/WildBrainStudios
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wildbrain
• Instagraminstagram.com/wildbrainstudios
• Xx.com/wildbrainhq

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A10 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wildbrain