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Hasbro Acquires Boulder Media Animation Studio

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Hasbro Acquires Boulder Media Animation Studio

Hasbro Expands TV and Feature Film Capabilities with Purchase of Irish Animation Studio

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) today announced that it has acquired Boulder Media, a multi-award winning Irish animation company based in Dublin. Boulder has produced a variety of award-winning series for Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Disney and BBC. As a wholly-owned subsidiary, Boulder will continue to produce animated series on behalf of third-party clients, in addition to producing animation projects for Hasbro’s best-known brands. Terms of the transaction, which closed on July 13, 2016, were not disclosed.

“At Hasbro, we’re building our brands through storytelling, and today, we’re telling richer stories across more platforms than ever before,” said Brian Goldner, Hasbro’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are also reinventing traditional modalities of animation production, both creatively and financially. With Boulder, we will deliver the highest quality animation that will engage our audiences with deep storytelling and great characters in a very cost-efficient manner.”

Founded in 2000 by Robert Cullen, Boulder is one of the fastest growing animation studios in Ireland with approximately 150 full-time employees. Boulder will retain its brand and report into Stephen Davis who leads Hasbro’s entertainment and consumer products licensing division. In February 2016, Hasbro was ranked No. 3 on Fast Company’s list of Most Innovative Companies in Hollywood.

“As one of the largest independent studios producing animation in Hollywood, the time is right for Hasbro to acquire its own animation studio, allowing us to expand our animation and storytelling capabilities even further,” said Stephen Davis, Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, Hasbro. “In Boulder, we have found one of the most progressive, innovative and creative teams in the business. We are thrilled to partner with Rob Cullen, Pete Lewis, Jenni MacNeaney and the entire Boulder team as we significantly enhance the execution of our story-led Brand Blueprint strategy.”

“Boulder and Hasbro have ambitious plans for growth, and working together, we will substantially expand our team and our business,” said Robert Cullen, Creative Director, Boulder. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to bring to life the Hasbro stories and characters that mean so much to our team, and join a company that’s emerging as an entertainment powerhouse.”

About Hasbro

Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global company committed to Creating the World’s Best Play Experiences by leveraging its beloved brands, including LITTLEST PET SHOP, MAGIC: THE GATHERING, MONOPOLY, MY LITTLE PONY, NERF, PLAY-DOH and TRANSFORMERS, and premier partner brands. From toys and games, television programming, motion pictures, digital gaming and consumer product licensing, Hasbro fulfills the fundamental need for play and connection with children and families around the world. The Company’s Hasbro Studios and its film label, Allspark Pictures, create entertainment brand-driven storytelling across mediums, including television, film, digital and more. Through the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, including philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to build a safe and sustainable world and to positively impact the lives of millions of children and families. Learn more at www.hasbro.com, and follow us on Twitter (@Hasbro & @HasbroNews) and Instagram (@Hasbro).

About Hasbro Studios and Allspark Pictures

Hasbro Studios is responsible for entertainment, brand-driven storytelling for Hasbro across television, commercial productions and short-form content. It develops, produces and distributes content based on Hasbro’s world class brands, including TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, and LITTLEST PET SHOP. Many of its series air on Discovery Family Channel and on networks and digital platforms in more than 190 territories globally. Since its formation in 2009, the studio has received ten Daytime Emmy wins.

On the film side through its film label Allspark Pictures, the Company has developed and produced a number of features based on Hasbro’s brands. Films in development or planned for release include OUIJA 2 (Universal), MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE (Lionsgate), MAGIC: THE GATHERING (21st Century Fox), PLAY-DOH (21st Century Fox), TRANSFORMERS 5, 6 and 7 (Paramount) and the Cinematic Universe (Paramount) which includes GI JOE, MICRONAUTS, M.A.S.K, ROM and VISIONARIES.

About Boulder Media

Boulder Media is a multi-award winning Irish animation company based in Dublin. One of Ireland’s largest animation studios, it has produced many great shows for Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, BBC and Disney, including Wander Over Yonder for Disney, and Go Jetters and Danger Mouse for BBC. Learn more atwww.bouldermedia.tv/.

© 2016 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Christopher Hicks

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Christopher Hicks, freelance writer/illustrator/toy designer.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
In college, one of the admins would pay me to watch her desk and phone while she ran off for quikies with one of the professors. I don’t think I was an Accessory to Home-wrecking, because at the time I was too dense to realize what was going on (not that I am any less dense now.)

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
A lot of stuff that has never seen the light of day, but I will always be proud of my comic book series Mister Blank, and the Mighty Muggs toy line I designed for Hasbro.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
Rocky Point a crap stain of a town on the north shore of Long Island.  Comics (see above) exposed me to Continue reading

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David Fain

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What is your name and your current occupation? David Fain, I’m currently work for Hasbro Studios as an animatic editor on “Transformers Prime”. I also do freelance stop-motion, Flash animation, and writing and directing for animation when the opportunity arises.   What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation? After high school I worked a couple of summers in a fish packing plant in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Also worked the counter in a bowling alley in Rhode Island after undergraduate school. That sucked big time. http://www.animationinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/FainShowreel_1109small.mov What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of? My hands down favorite was “Action League Now!” which was a segment of the old Nickelodeon anthology series “Kablam!”. I started as a stop-motion animator on the series and eventually got to write some episodes and direct the final 13. I also was a staff writer on “SpongeBob” way back in the day before it was very well known. I created a couple of original web shorts while at Warner Bros. Online divison called “Slim Chance: Intergalactic Zoologist”. Working on “G.I. Joe Renegades” and “Transformers Prime” has been a ball because they are my first action/adventure shows and let me reference my love of live action continuity cutting a bit more than comedies.   How did you become interested in animation? Like most baby boomers, I grew up watching a lot of TV. In the New England region there was a woman named Yvonne Andersen who ran an animation workshop where she helped kids make animated films. Sometimes Continue reading

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Tim Wolkiewicz

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What is your name and your current occupation? 

Tim Wolkiewicz – Production Coordinator at Hasbro on G.I. JOE

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I worked in a pet store for 7 years.  I have cleaned up and looked after almost every type of domestic animal and have been bitten by about the same number.  I then transitioned into sales at the store.  It was a good job and I learned a lot about how to interact with people and to know everything about what your selling.  It is easier to sell a product more then yourself though.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
I loved working on “Adventures from the Book of Virtues.”  Maybe it was because of those I worked with or maybe because it was my first job in the industry.  I was able to work on all aspects of the project and was trusted to work to my full potential.  Currently I work on G.I. Joe.  It’s awesome to be on a show I grew up watching as a kid and the people here are really great.

How did you become interested in animation? 
Growing up I would watch cartoons every Saturday morning and after school.  I started drawing at a very early age and encouraged to do so by my parents…even though Continue reading