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Thunderbird Entertainment Establishes Thunderbird Brands to Further Grow Licensing Business

Thunderbird Brands will make its consumer products industry debut with four key properties at Licensing Expo, June 13 -15

Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc. (TSXV: TBRD, OTCQX: THBRF) (“Thunderbird” or the “Company”), a global award-winning, full-service multiplatform production, distribution and rights management company, has formalized its consumer products operations under the new Thunderbird Brands banner. Led by Thunderbird President of Global Distribution and Consumer Products, Richard Goldsmith, Thunderbird Brands represents product, experience and service licensing rights for the 20-year-old production company’s original series from its Atomic Cartoons (animation, kids and family), Great Pacific Media (unscripted) and Thunderbird Scripted (comedy, drama) labels and select third-party properties under the Company’s management.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230531005361/en/

Thunderbird Brands will make its industry debut at Licensing Expo (Booth #K236), the premier event for the global licensing and consumer products industry, taking place in Las Vegas, June 13 to 15. It is presenting four key properties/brands to potential manufacturing, retail and promotional partners at the show:

  • Mermicorno: Starfall: The brand-new epic original animated adventure-comedy for kids ages six to nine, created and produced by Atomic Cartoons in partnership with global design tastemaker tokidoki, will debut exclusively in the U.S. on WarnerBros. Discovery’s Max. The series invites viewers into a fantastical, magical undersea world, where eight unique Mermicornos (enchanting unicorn/mermaid creatures) join together on a quest, using their creative powers (art, dance, writing, photography, etc.) to save the ocean from the threat of the evil Ika Inkblot. In terms of licensing, collectability and themes of creativity will inspire product extensions for the mass-market program.
  • Mittens & Pants: Last year, Thunderbird Distribution acquired the global media distribution and licensing rights to this super-cute preschool series produced by Windy Isle Entertainment, which launched on television platforms in early 2023. The live-action series features the adventures of baby animals living in the tiny town of Kibble Corners as they explore the world around them. It was commissioned by CBC Kids in Canada and promptly acquired by Sky Kids in the U.K. and has had a successful first-season run on both platforms with more programming and international platforms to be announced soon. Mittens & Pants’ environments, houses and vehicles are inherently toyetic, making the series well-suited for toys, publishing, apparel and other key categories.
  • The Last Kids on Earth: In North America, Thunderbird Brands is now representing the property based on Max Brallier’s bestselling book series (10 million copies and counting), and the hit Atomic Cartoons Netflix series of the same name, and is looking to expand its consumer products presence. The Last Kids on Earth currently has several successful ancillary extensions, including The Last Kids on Earth and the Staff of Doom console video game (Outright Games); the DVD/digital releases of Books One to Three of the Netflix series (NCircle Entertainment); and a U.S.-based mini monster truck tour (Live a Little Entertainment).
  • Highway Thru Hell: The licensor is also dipping into its unscripted catalogue to bring Thunderbird-owned Great Pacific Media’s hit high-stakes documentary series Highway Thru Hell to the consumer products market for the first time. With 11 seasons on air, distribution in more than 170 countries and hundreds of daring rescues captured on film, Highway Thru Hell has attracted a legion of fans across the globe.

“Thunderbird Entertainment is a pure-play content company that employs 1,300 people focused on making outstanding scripted, unscripted, kids and family, and animated content for platforms worldwide. For the content we produce that generates significant brand awareness, we have a unique opportunity to market products to our fans, such as toys and apparel, and new content like books, video games, live entertainment and recorded music that will extend the franchises,” said Goldsmith. “Looking at our pipeline over the next few years, we are very excited about the opportunities for this key growth vertical for our company.”

ABOUT THUNDERBIRD ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Thunderbird Entertainment Group is a global award-winning, full-service multiplatform production, distribution and rights management company, headquartered in Vancouver, with additional offices in Los Angeles, Toronto, and Ottawa. Thunderbird creates award-winning scripted, unscripted, and animated programming for the world’s leading digital platforms, as well as Canadian and international broadcasters. The Company develops, produces, and distributes animated, factual, and scripted content through its various content arms, including Thunderbird Kids and Family (Atomic Cartoons), Thunderbird Unscripted (Great Pacific Media) and Thunderbird Scripted. Productions under the Thunderbird umbrella include The Last Kids on Earth, Molly of Denali, Highway Thru Hell, Kim’s Convenience, Reginald the Vampire and Boot Camp. Thunderbird Brands and Thunderbird Distribution manage global media and consumer products rights, respectively, for the Company. Thunderbird is on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @tbirdent. For more information, visit: www.thunderbird.tv.

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release, which has been prepared by management.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Thunderbird’s public communications may include written or oral “forward-looking statements” and “forward-looking information” as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation. All such statements may not be based on historical facts that relate to the Company’s current expectations and views of future events and are made pursuant to the “safe harbour” provisions of applicable securities laws.

Forward-looking statements or information may be identified by words such as “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “forecast”, “may”, “will”, “plan”, “project”, “should”, “believe”, “intend”, or similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements in this document include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: growing Thunderbird’s licensing business; timing for making a consumer products industry debut with four key properties; the intention to present four key properties/brands to potential manufacturing, retail and promotional partners at the Licensing Expo; plans for debuting Mermicorno: Starfall exclusively in the U.S. on WarnerBros. Discovery’s Max; the belief that Mermicorno: Starfall will inspire product extensions for the mass-market program; the expectation that more programming and international platforms will be announced soon for Mittens & Pants; bringing Highway Thru Hell to the consumer products market for the first time; and the opportunities for key growth verticals for the Company. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic and social uncertainties; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; product capability and acceptance; international risk and currency exchange rates; and technology changes. An assessment of these risks that could cause actual results to materially differ from current expectations is contained in the “Risks and Uncertainty” section of the Company’s current MD&A available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company’s profile. The foregoing is not an exhaustive list. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to Thunderbird or that management believes to be less significant may also adversely affect the Company.

The forward-looking statements or information contained in this document represent our views as of the date hereof and as such information should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this document. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

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