Quavo, Marginal Mediaworks & Imagine Kids Announce New Animated Series

Pictured (L-R): CEO of Quality Control Music Pierre “P” Thomas, CEO of Marginal Media Works Sanjay Sharma, COO of Quality Control Music Coach K Lee, President of Imagine Kids + Family Stephanie Sperber, Quavo, SVP of Capitol Music Group Brian Nolan, VP of Capitol Music Group Ryan Allingham and President of Motown Records Ethiopia Habtemariam

Marginal Mediaworks, Imagine Entertainment’s recently launched independent content company, along with Imagine Kids+Family, jointly announced today with major recording artist Quavo, Quality Control Music and Motown, that they have partnered to develop a new animated franchise series for kids [age 8-12], rooted in the world of Atlanta’s hip hop music and culture scene. The series will be executive produced by Imagine Entertainment chairman Brian Grazer, Marginal Mediaworks CEO & founder Sanjay Sharma, Imagine Kids+Family president Stephanie Sperber and Quavo. It will be produced by Quality Control Music‘s CEO Pierre “Pee” Thomas and COO Kevin “Coach K” Lee, Capitol Music Group’s SVP Brian Nolan and VP Ryan Allingham, and Dan Altmann.

“I have long seen how hip hop as well as our music (Migos) really impacts kids” said Quavo. “I’ve loved animation my whole life whether on TV or in movies and I wanted my first jump into this premium content world to be a show just for kids. It will definitely reflect the creativity, love and families in and around the NAWF side of Atlanta where we grew up.”

“We have always believed in the power of storytelling that not only entertains, but resonates culturally and has the power to effect change at a personal level,” said Grazer. “Atlanta’s music scene is dynamic and partnering with Quavo, one of the biggest breakout artists of our time, has the potential to create a transformative franchise in the kids space.”

Quavo is a multi platinum selling artist with numerous hits topping the charts year-round, and has reached far beyond rap to collaborate and perform with pop culture icons like Madonna. His solo album Quavo Huncho released in 2018 came out to global buzz. He is a celebrated member of the Grammy-nominated multi-platinum trio Migos, who are considered one the most influential groups in modern music. Their seminal album, the RIAA Certified Platinum CULTURE, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Charts. Migos released their second consecutive #1 album on Billboard‘s Top 200 Chart, CULTURE II, in January of 2018. The RIAA Certified Platinum album amassed 225.6 million streams in its first week alone and debuted at #1 in 62 countries on Apple Music.

Arguably the most powerful rap label in the world as recognized by The New York Times, The New Yorker as well as Billboard‘s Executives of the Year in 2018, Quality Control Music has begun its expansion in film and television.

“What’s important and inspiring to me is that all kids will be seeing themselves in the faces and situations of these episodes. When I was growing up there was very little media that had brown and black skinned kids feeling heard or seen and the ones that did stood out and served as a crucial roadmap through our childhoods,” said Coach K. “I’m about inclusive stories that address all kinds of situations that kids of ALL ethnic and financial backgrounds experience and to give them a common tool to learn and grow. These episodes will impact because they are educational and positive but with the dopest visuals and sounds our iconic rap culture can provide!”

“We see such synergy and overlap between the transformative power of hip hop as a driver of modern global culture, and the dynamic and growing world of childrens’ programming,” said Sharma and Sperber, jointly. “This partnership with Quavo, Quality Control Music & Motown Records signifies exactly the type of mold-breaking we aim to do across Imagine.“

Photo credit: Lester Cohen

In late 2018, Imagine Entertainment made a strategic investment in Marginal Media, a new content company that develops and produces content with an emphasis on popular storytelling genres from outsider and underrepresented voices across all platforms including indie film, scripted, unscripted, animated and interactive series, and podcasts.

Imagine Kids+Family was started in January of this year by Imagine Entertainment, and is run by Sperber. The division recently announced a partnerships with James Patterson’s kids division JIMMY Books; with LIFE to develop LIFE for Kids, an animated series to bring history to life using images from the preeminent picture magazine; and with Breyer International to develop a live-action horse-themed television series. Imagine Kids+Family also recently announced taking an equity stake in The Tiny Chef Show to develop content, as well as a global consumer products program.

While details of the series are being kept under wraps, the project is envisioned to be part of a larger franchise, including consumer products, merchandise, and original music.

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