Thunderbird Entertainment

Thunderbird Entertainment Group (formerly Thunderbird Films) is a Canadian limited liability film and television entertainment company, with offices in both Canada and the United States.

Foundation of the company

Thunderbird Entertainment Group was founded as Thunderbird Films in 2003 by Tim Gamble and Michael Shepard.

In February 2012, it was announced that Lionsgate founder Frank Giustra had become a major shareholder in Thunderbird, and it was announced that the company would make significant investment into scripted television.

Corporate acquisitions and major partnerships

Sea to Sky Entertainment

In March 2012, Thunderbird Entertainment announced a new partnership with Lionsgate to form Sea to Sky Entertainment. The announcement came weeks after Frank Giustra became a major shareholder in Thunderbird Entertainment. Lionsgate and Thunderbird jointly manage the venture, which is designed to share production and distribution costs for all scripted projects picked up to series.

Reunion Pictures

On April 4, 2013, it was announced that Thunderbird Films had purchased Reunion Pictures.

Great Pacific Media

Great Pacific Media is a Vancouver-based production company that specializes in financing and the development, production and co-production of documentaries, game shows, and reality television. Great Pacific Media was named on Realscreen's Global 100 list of best production companies working in the non-fiction and unscripted visual content industry for the seventh year in a row. Its productions can be seen in more than 170 territories worldwide.

Great Pacific Media was founded by television veterans Blair Reekie and Mark Miller on May 1, 2010. It was acquired by Thunderbird Entertainment in December 2014, but retains its own distinctive corporate identity.

Miller retained his role as chief executive officer at Great Pacific Media after the acquisition, and was subsequently appointed co-president of Thunderbird Entertainment in 2016. In April 2016, it was announced that former Bell Media executive Paul Lewis had joined Great Pacific Media as president. In January 2019, television industry veteran Wendy McKernan was named vice president of Great Pacific Media.

Great Pacific Media currently produces the Discovery Canada series '' Highway Thru Hell'' and '' Heavy Rescue: 401'', which both also stream globally on Netflix. Other series include '' Save My Reno'' and '' Worst to First'', which airs on HGTV, and ''Queen of the Oil Patch'', which aired on Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN).

Thunderbird Releasing

In September 2014, it was announced that Thunderbird Entertainment had acquired Thunderbird Releasing. This is a London-based all-rights film distribution company, with a division in Canada, specializing in arthouse, independent and world cinema. Established in 2002 by Eve Gabereau and Edward Fletcher, the company releases 25-plus films a year and has a library of over 300 titles.

Films distributed in the UK and Ireland include Hirokazu Kore-eda's Palme d'Or and Golden Globes-winning film '' Shoplifters'' (2018), Sara Colangelo's award-winning drama '' The Kindergarten Teacher'' (2019), and May el-Toukhy's Sundance hit '' Queen of Hearts'' (2019).

Atomic Cartoons

On July 8, 2015, Thunderbird Entertainment bought the Vancouver-based animation studio Atomic Cartoons. Atomic Cartoons is now referred to as "Thunderbird's Kids and Family Division", though it also retains its own distinctive corporate identity.

Atomic Cartoons was founded in 1999 by Trevor Bentley, Mauro Casalese, Olaf Miller and Rob Davies. Atomic has worked with partners such as Marvel Animation, Netflix, Disney, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros., Lego, Mattel, Spin Master and Nelvana. Its productions include Emmy Award-winning '' Beat Bugs'', the Netflix series '' The Last Kids on Earth'', the Disney series ''101 Dalmatian Street'', '' Counterfeit Cat'', ''Minecraft Mini Series'', Marvel's '' Avengers Assemble'', ''Max & Ruby'', and '' Lego Jurassic World: The Secret Exhibit''.

Jennifer Twiner McCarron currently serves as chief executive officer, a role she was appointed to in 2016, after previously serving as Atomic's Head of Development. In 2018, Twiner McCarron was appointed chief executive officer for Thunderbird Entertainment Group, while also retaining the role of CEO at Atomic Cartoons.

In 2019, Mathew Berkowitz was named chief creative officer for both Thunderbird Entertainment and Atomic Cartoons.

In February 2020, the company announced the opening of its third animation studio and first in Burbank, California. The studio was to be led by Berkowitz. Aaron Behl and Kristin Cummings, co-vice presidents of Atomic Originals, also hold senior leadership roles. Atomic now has a capacity for 880 crew members across its three facilities (the other two studios are located in Vancouver, BC and Ottawa, ON).

Global Distribution and Consumer Products Division

In January 2021, Thunderbird announced the creation of a new Global Distribution and Consumer Products Division. Industry veteran Richard Goldsmith joined Thunderbird and Atomic Cartoons, the company's Kids and Family Division, to lead the new venture as president of Global Distribution and Consumer Products.

Initial public offering

Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc. became a publicly traded company on the TSX Venture Exchange on November 2, 2018. It trades under the symbol (TSXV: TBRD). Thunderbird's board is composed of Brian Paes-Braga (executive chair), Frank Giustra, Tim Gamble, Jennifer Twiner McCarron, Mark Miller, Frank Holmes, Paul Sparkes and Azim Jamal.

On December 16, 2019, the company appointed Marni Wieshofer as an independent board member and lead director of the board following the company's AGM. She previously served as CFO and EVP of corporate development at Lionsgate Entertainment, where she oversaw mergers, acquisitions and other strategic financial initiatives. The move reunited Wieshofer with fellow board member and Lionsgate founder Frank Giustra.

On November 10, 2020, it was announced that Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc. had qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc. upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink market.

In February 2021, Thunderbird reported that Linda Michaelson had joined the company as an independent member of its board of directors, with the resignation of a current board member, Frank Holmes.

Logo

The Thunderbird is a mythological creature born from the rich narrative tradition of Canada's First Nations people in the Pacific Northwest. It is often carved at the top of totem poles, which are monuments that traditionally bring communities together to illustrate their stories.

The artwork in the logo which depicts abstract elements of the Thunderbird legend was commissioned from First Nations artist Corrine Hunt.

Current productions

''Kim's Convenience''

Thunderbird Entertainment began production on a 13-episode first season of the new half-hour comedy series ''Kim's Convenience'', which premiered on October 11, 2016, on CBC. The series is based on the award-winning play by Ins Choi, who serves as series creator along with Kevin White ('' Schitts Creek'', ''Corner Gas''). Executive producers are Ivan Fecan, Tim Gamble, Alexandra Raffé, Leslie Lester, Albert Schultz, Ins Choi and Kevin White. Supervising producers are Sandra Cunningham and Robin Cass. The series stars Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Jean Yoon, Simu Liu, Andrea Bang, Andrew Phung and Nicole Power. Production on Season 5 had begun as of September 9, 2020, and was set to premiere on CBC TV and CBC Gem in the winter of 2021.

''Highway Thru Hell''

'' Highway Thru Hell'' debuted on Discovery Canada on Tuesday, September 4, 2012. This factual TV series follows the operations of a heavy vehicle rescue and recovery towing company, Jamie Davis Motor Trucking, based in Hope, British Columbia. Other companies involved in the series include Quiring Towing, Aggressive Towing, and Mission Towing. ''Highway Thru Hell'' focuses on the hardships of operating along the highways of the BC Interior, especially the Coquihalla Highway (Coq) and the work it takes to keep some of the most economically important, most travelled, and most inhospitable trucking routes in North America open. The series airs on Discovery Canada, streams globally on Netflix, and airs on the Weather Channel in the United States.

Season 9 premiered on Discovery on September 14, 2020.

''Save My Reno''

This television series is focused on helping homeowners complete renovations to transform their space on a limited budget. This series is hosted by contractor Sebastian Clovis, a former Canadian Football League player; and designer, editor, and TV personality Samantha Pynn.

The series premiered in 2014 under the title ''Tackle My Reno'', featuring Clovis assisting homeowners with renovations on his own. In 2016, the show relaunched as ''Save My Reno'', with Clovis and designer Sabrina Smelko hosting the retooled show as a duo. Season 4 premiered on HGTV Canada on Tuesday, March 16, 2021.

''Beat Bugs''

It was announced in February 2016 that Atomic Cartoons would be a co-producer on the series, which began streaming on Netflix August 3, 2016. The series features original characters and a world created by Australian native Josh Wakely, who directed, wrote, and produced the series, following a deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing for worldwide rights to record covers of the Beatles' song catalog.

'' Beat Bugs'' incorporates songs from the Lennon/McCartney "Northern Songs" catalog. The show features some of the best-known Beatles songs woven into the narrative of each episode, with Eddie Vedder, Pink, James Bay, Sia, the Shins, Of Monsters and Men, Chris Cornell, Regina Spektor, and James Corden each recording their rendition of a song. Among the songs featured are "Help!", "All You Need Is Love", "Come Together", "Penny Lane", "Yellow Submarine", "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds", "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", and "Magical Mystery Tour".

Season three of the series began streaming in November 2018.

''Queen of the Oil Patch''

''Queen of the Oil Patch'' is a Canadian documentary series that premiered in 2018. It follows the inspirational journey of one man with two spirits – Massey Whiteknife and Iceis Rain – working to break down barriers in the heart of Alberta oil country. Having faced both childhood sexual abuse and bullying as a teenager because he was gay, Whiteknife first created the drag persona of Iceis Rain after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. According to Whiteknife, Iceis Rain helped him to become more secure and confident in himself and his business career, and to heal from his childhood emotional trauma.

The series was produced for APTN in collaboration with Kah-Kitowak Films. Season two premiered on June 7, 2020.

''Worst to First''

'' Worst to First'' is a Canadian lifestyle series that features contractors Sebastian Sevallo and Mickey Fabbiano as they guide aspiring homeowners through the journey of purchasing and renovating undervalued and outdated homes in the Greater Vancouver area, aiming to transform them from the worst in the neighborhood to the best on the block. For the second season, Catherine Yuen, a Vancouver-based interior designer, was added to the series. It was produced for HGTV Canada.

''Heavy Rescue: 401''

'' Heavy Rescue: 401'' is a Canadian factual TV series that premiered on Discovery Canada in October 2016. It was the most-watched premiere in the Discovery network's history. It is an indirect spin-off of ''Highway Thru Hell''. The show focuses on the work of heavy recovery operators in Southern Ontario who work to keep the region's highways clear of wrecks and keep traffic moving. These roads are among the busiest in the world, with up to 400,000 vehicles passing through every day. In addition to airing on Discovery Canada, the series also streams globally on Netflix, and airs on the Weather Channel in the United States. Season 5 premiered on Discovery Canada in January 2021. Season 6 is currently in production.

''The Last Kids on Earth''

On September 26, 2017, it was announced that Thunderbird Entertainment's kids and family division, Atomic Cartoons, had optioned the screen rights on Max Brallier's book series ''The Last Kids on Earth'' with the intention of producing an animated television series.

On February 26, 2018, it was announced that Netflix had given the production series order. Executive producers include Brallier, Scott Peterson, Jennifer Twiner McCarron, and Matthew Berkowitz. Brallier and Peterson were expected to write the series as well. Production companies involved in the series include Thunderbird Entertainment's animation studio Atomic Cartoons.

On March 13, 2019, the series cast was announced, including Mark Hamill, Rosario Dawson, Catherine O'Hara, Keith David, Bruce Campbell, Garland Whitt, Montse Hernandez, Charles Demers, and Nick Wolfhard as the lead character Jack Sullivan.

The series premiered on Netflix in September 2019. Season 2 premiered in April 2020. Season 3 premiered on Netflix in October 2020.

On September 20, 2019, Atomic Cartoons, Cyber Group Studios and Outright Games announced a partnership to produce ''The Last Kids on Earth'' video game. The game was anticipated to launch in 2021 on consoles and PC.

In November 2020, it was announced that the game ''The Last Kids on Earth and the Staff of Doom'' was set to release for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC in the spring of 2021. The game was a collaboration between Outright Games, Atomic Cartoons, Stage Clear Studios, and Cyber Group Studios.

''High Arctic Haulers''

A series called '' High Arctic Haulers'' for CBC Television premiered in January 2020. The series examines Canada's resilient northern communities, and the determined men and women who help provide a lifeline to the outside world. These groups are linked together by the summer sealift, when ships loaded with critical cargo travel to the farthest reaches of the north to deliver food, clothing, supplies, and vital pieces of infrastructure.

''Mighty Express''

Netflix picked up Spin Master Entertainment's new CG-animated series '' Mighty Express.'' The 52 x 11-minute series was set to debut globally (excluding Canada) on the SVOD in September 2020. The animation will be provided by Atomic Cartoons. February 2021 marked the release of season 2 of ''Mighty Express'', and the next batch of episodes dropped on Netflix globally on February 2.

''Mud Mountain Haulers''

In July 2020, Thunderbird announced that production was underway on a new original factual series and the second spin-off of the global hit ''Highway Thru Hell'' franchise for Discovery. The new series, featuring Lebeau Brothers Logging, sheds light on the log hauling industry, and premiered on Discovery Canada in January 2021. The series was executive produced by Mark Miller.

''Princess Power''

In 2018, it was announced that Thunderbird's kids and family division, Atomic Cartoons, had acquired the IP for Savannah Guthrie and Alison Oppenhiem's ''New York Times'' bestselling book series, ''Princesses Wear Pants''. They produced an animated TV series titled ''Princess Power'', in collaboration with Drew Barrymore's Flower Films, which was released on January 30, 2023.

Upcoming productions

''Eerie''

In 2018, Atomic Cartoons announced a second collaboration with the bestselling author Max Brallier, based on his book series for young adults, ''Eerie Elementary''. The series will include live-action and feature animated elements. This is the second collaboration between Atomic Cartoons and Brallier, after '' The Last Kids on Earth''.

''The Marrow Thieves''

In 2019, Thunderbird confirmed that author Cherie Dimaline will work with TV writer and producer Jennica Harper to adapt Dimaline's award-winning novel, ''The Marrow Thieves'', for television.

''The Teenager and the Lost Mayan City''

''The Teenager and the Lost Mayan City'' is an episode for the CBC documentary series ''The Nature of Things''. It follows the journey of teenager William Gadoury, who in May 2016 made headlines around the world when he announced he had discovered the location of a lost Mayan city using NASA satellite images and an ancient Mayan map of the stars. The episode first aired on March 18, 2022, as Season 61, Episode 12. The show did find the remains of a Mayan village.

''Nate Create''

Atomic Cartoons partnered with the Jim Henson Company to develop an animated series called ''Nate Create''. This was created by Alex Rockwell (''Norman Picklestripes'', ''Word Party''), who also executive produces alongside Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford for the Jim Henson Company, and Jennifer Twiner McCarron and Matthew Berkowitz for Atomic Cartoons. Henson is working on the 52 x 11-minute preschool series with Atomic Cartoons, which is co-developing and co-producing the project out of its Vancouver studio and which will feature a variety of art styles like origami, watercolor, 2D, cut-out, stop-motion and CG.

''What If''

Great Pacific Media, the factual division of Thunderbird Entertainment Group, is in development on its first scripted project – a premium drama series about Nazi scientist Wernher Von Braun and his role in the US space program. Thunderbird's president Mark Miller will executive produce on behalf of Great Pacific Media. Thunderbird and Miller acquired the IP from the Smithsonian Institution last year.

''Von Braun: Dreamer of Space, Engineer of War''

Great Pacific Media, the factual division of Thunderbird Entertainment Group, is in development on its first scripted project, a premium drama series about Nazi scientist Wernher Von Braun and his role in the US space program. Thunderbird's president Mark Miller will executive produce on behalf of Great Pacific Media. Thunderbird and Miller acquired the IP from the Smithsonian Institution last year.

Recent and past productions

''Lego Star Wars Holiday Special for Disney+''

In August 2020, it was announced that Disney+ would be premiering a one-off Star Wars Lego animation. The special was set to premiere exclusively on Disney+ on November 17, 2020. Produced by Vancouver-based Atomic Cartoons (Thunderbird's Kids and Family Division), the Lego Group, and Lucasfilm, it was directed by Ken Cunningham and written by David Shayne, who was also a co-executive producer.

''Somewhere Between''

Thunderbird Entertainment commenced production on a 10-episode first season of the new drama-thriller '' Somewhere Between'' in March 2017. The series aired on ABC in 2017 and was written by Stephen Tolkin. Tolkin executive produced the series with Thunderbird's executive chair of the board Ivan Fecan and Joseph Broido.

''Blade Runner 2049''

Thunderbird Entertainment owns a 50 percent stake in the ''Blade Runner'' franchise and was an active partner in the production of ''Blade Runner 2049''. On August 18, 2011, it was announced that Ridley Scott had signed on to direct and produce the new instalment of ''Blade Runner''.

On February 27, 2015, it was announced that Canadian director Denis Villeneuve would direct the sequel, and on February 28, 2015, it was confirmed that Harrison Ford would reprise his role as Rick Deckard. On May 21, 2015, award-winning Cinematographer Roger Deakins joined the project.

The film also starred Ryan Gosling. Other cast members include Robin Wright, Dave Bautista, Jared Leto, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Carla Juri and Mackenzie Davis. Tim Gamble and Frank Giustra served as executive producers on behalf of Thunderbird Entertainment. The film was released in 2017.

''Package Deal''

On May 29, 2012, CityTV's original content team announced that it had commissioned ''Package Deal'', a new comedy series produced by Thunderbird Entertainment and created by Andrew Orenstein (''(Malcolm in the Middle'', ''3rd Rock from the Sun)''). ''Package Deal'' was a 13-episode, half-hour, multi-camera original comedy about three overly close brothers and the woman who comes between them. On April 1, 2013, it was announced that the show would begin airing on the CityTV network on Monday, May 6, 2013, at 8:30 pm PST. The second season premiered on CityTV on September 12, 2014.On April 20, 2015, Thunderbird announced that the sitcom would be made available to stream in the US on Hulu. ''Package Deal'' stars Randal Edwards, Harland Williams, Jay Malone, Julia Voth and Jill Morrison.

''Mr. Young''

Thunderbird Entertainment and Corus Entertainment commenced production on a 26-episode first season of the comedy series ''Mr. Young'' in October 2010. The series was created by Dan Signer (''The Suite Life on Deck'', '' A.N.T. Farm''), and stars Brendan Meyer, Matreya Fedor and Gig Morton. ''Mr. Young'' centers on child prodigy Adam Young (Meyer), who graduated from university at the age of 14. He decides to return to live the high school experience, but he becomes the science teacher at the school. With one foot in the lunchroom and the other foot in the staff room, it's Mr. Young's social life that's being put to the test.

On April 29, 2011 ''Mr. Young'' was renewed for a 26-episode second season. The series was renewed for a third season in April 2012. Thunderbird began production of a 28-episode third season on May 10, 2012. The show ended its run on November 28, 2013, with three seasons and 80 episodes. ''Mr. Young'' was broadcast on YTV in Canada and Disney XD in the United States. Now is it available to stream on Netflix, and on Nelvana's ''Keep It Weird'' YouTube channel.

''Some Assembly Required''

Thunderbird Entertainment and Corus Entertainment commenced production on a 26-episode first season of the comedy series '' Some Assembly Required'', which premiered on YTV on January 6, 2014. The series was created by Dan Signer (''The Suite Life on Deck'', '' A.N.T. Farm''), and Howard Nemetz (''Mr. Young'', ''The Suite Life of Zack & Cody'') and stars Kolton Stewart, Charlie Storwick and Harrison Houde. It tells the story of Jarvis Raines (Kolton Stewart), an average teenager who becomes a boss overnight after he sues a toy company over a defective chemistry set that blows up his house. Jarvis' first act as CEO of Knickknack Toys is to recruit a group of kids from his high school to help him run the company.

On January 5, 2015, ''Some Assembly Required'' returned to YTV for an 18-episode second season. The series was renewed for a third season in August 2015 and began production of 13 new episodes that same month. ''Some Assembly Required'' is broadcast on YTV in Canada. On February 25, 2015, it was announced that Netflix had acquired season one, which began streaming worldwide outside of Canada on June 19, 2015. On October 16, 2015, Netflix began streaming season two of the series. The third season aired a 13-episode season on March 14, and its series finale aired on YTV June 6, 2016, in Canada.

''Endgame''

'' Endgame'' is a drama series that was developed and produced by Thunderbird Entertainment. The series premiered on Showcase Television network on Monday, March 14, 2011. In the US, ''Endgame'' was broadcast exclusively on Hulu. The series follows former World Chess Champion Arkady Balagan, a genius who uses his analytical skills to solve crimes. It stars Shawn Doyle (''Big Love'', '' 24'') as Arkady Balagan and features Patrick Gallagher (''Glee''), Torrance Coombs ('' Heartland''), Katharine Isabelle (''Da Vinci's Inquest'', ''Supernatural'') and Carmen Aguirre (''The L Word'').

Awards

''Kim's Convenience''

For the 5th Canadian Screen Awards in 2017, ''Kim's Convenience'' garnered 11 nominations, including Best Comedy Series, Best Actor in a Comedy Series (Lee), Best Actress in a Comedy Series (Yoon and Bang), and Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Phung). Lee won the award for best actor in a continuing leading comedic role for his portrayal of Appa, and Phung won Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Kimchee.

''Kim's Convenience'' won two awards at the 2017 Toronto ACTRA Awards

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