Genius Brands International has appointed award-winning agency Brands with Influence as its exclusive licensing agent in the U.K. for the Company’s portfolio of IP.

Brands with Influence will be responsible for creating licensing, merchandising and retail programmes for Genius Brands’ slate of properties, including the Stan Lee brand, from the legendary Marvel creator, which the global media children’s company manages and controls following a joint venture announced in 2020 with Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment.

Additional IP from the Genius Brands’ catalogue that Brands with Influence will represent include Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rainbow Rangers, and more.

Genius Brands’ Chief Brand Officer Kerry Phelan says: “Stan Lee is a global icon who inspirational messages of hope, diversity and inclusivity have resonated globally for decades. It is of vital importance to us to find partners that understand our vision for the Stan Lee brand and can be trusted to deliver on Stan’s values and lasting legacy. We are thrilled to bring Brands with Influence on board to develop programmes across the U.K. for Stan Lee and our entire portfolio of brands and look forward to more exciting developments in the months to come.”

Martin Lowde, MD Brands with Influence, says: “Like millions across the world, we are massive fans of the legendary work of Stan Lee – he is the ‘Godfather of Marvel Comics’. We look forward to working with Kerry and the Genius Brands team to create a consumer products programme that honours his legacy, as well as developing unique programmes for their library of original children’s brands.”