Blue Ant Media to Buy Thunderbird Entertainment in $63 Million Deal

Indie studio Blue Ant Media has unveiled a deal to acquire Vancouver-based rival Thunderbird Entertainment Group as part of an Can$89 million (US$63 million) cash and stock deal.

Thunderbird backs multiple projects filming in Vancouver for U.S. studios and streamers produced on a production fee-for-hire basis, while also making its own proprietary content. The company’s Atomic Cartoons division has been at work on Marvel’s Iron Man and his Awesome Friends and Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends for Disney Junior, and Dr. Seuss’s Red Fish, Blue Fish for Netflix.

The proposed takeover deal shakes up a Vancouver film and TV production sector where major studios and streamers are attracted by generous tax credits, currency savings and an expanding network of local soundstages and post-production facilities close to Los Angeles.

Thunderbird’s unscripted pipeline includes series like Timber Titans and Highway Thru Hell for USA Network.