New Live-Action Banner to Produce Family and Youth Entertainment; First Project, “Real Santa”
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Dec. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kartoon Studios (NYSE American: TOON), a global producer and distributor of children’s and family entertainment, and AETH Entertainment, a full service entertainment studio, today jointly announced they have teamed up to launch TaleSphere Studios, a joint venture that will produce live-action youth and family focused entertainment.
“This marks an exciting venture into live action films in keeping with our commitment to positive youth targeted content,” said Andy Heyward, founder and CEO of Kartoon Studios. “We couldn’t have found a better partner in AETH Entertainment. They are a leader in profitably producing great entertainment.”
“Kartoon Studios and AETH Entertainment are perfectly aligned in vision and passion, and together our complementary strengths will bring bold, inspiring live-action features to today’s youth and families,” said Carla Woods, co-founder and president of AETH Entertainment.
TaleSphere Studios is already in development on its first feature: Real Santa, which is based on William Hazelgrove’s bestselling novel of the same name. The film follows a devoted father who goes to extraordinary lengths to keep his daughter’s belief in Santa alive, capturing the heart and humor of the season. The film is being executive produced by Hazelgrove and Allan Grafman, President and CEO of All Media Ventures.
AETH is a full-service production studio specializing in cost-effective quality content. AETH’s founders have produced over 150 films to date, including Christmas with the Campbells, Crushed, Magic Carpet Rides, and Looking Through Water. AETH is represented by Gersh Agency.
Andy Heyward founded DIC Entertainment, the animation studio behind hits like Inspector Gadget, Strawberry Shortcake, Real Ghostbusters, Captain Planet and Sonic the Hedgehog; Heyward went on to establish Kartoon Studios as a major force in children’s entertainment. Now, through TaleSphere Studios, the joint venture with AETH, he is expanding Kartoon Studios’ portfolio into live action.
The family and children film genre has rapidly emerged as one of the most promising categories in entertainment. In 2024, nearly one in three U.S. films that earned more than $100 million at the box office came from this genre, an increase from 20 percent in 2022, according to a recent study from Celluloid Junkie.
About Kartoon Studios
Kartoon Studios (NYSE AMERICAN: TOON) is a global leader in children’s and family entertainment, delivering premium content and high-value intellectual property to millions of viewers worldwide. The Company’s portfolio features globally recognized brands including Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, Shaq’s Garage, Rainbow Rangers, and Llama Llama. Kartoon Studios holds a controlling interest in Stan Lee Universe and operates Mainframe Studios, one of North America’s largest animation producers, with more than 22,000 minutes of award-winning programming delivered.
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