Under the Creative Direction of Famed Author Jeff Kinney – StoryArc Media is Unveiled as Model Brand for Today’s Kids
StoryArc Media to Reimagine Legendary Brands – Poptropica, Funbrain
and Galactic Hot Dogs – into the Foremost Kids’ Media and Entertainment
Company
BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#Funbrain–The more students read for fun, the better they do in school and
eventually in life1.
It’s this vision – to ignite a love of reading and storytelling for all
children across all media – that drives the newly formed company StoryArc
Media under the creative direction of Diary of a Wimpy Kid
author Jeff Kinney and the leadership of long-time interactive
entertainment executive Jen MacLean. StoryArc Media was formerly part of
Family Education Network (FEN), which reaches over 25 million kids,
parents and teachers each month – making it a favorite destination for
learning and play.
“Our brands are a springboard for kids to explore the world around them
and to develop their imagination and creativity,” said Jeff Kinney,
newly named Chief Creative Officer for StoryArc Media. “We know reading
for fun is the secret to growing a life-long reader and that content
today is being consumed across all media – print, digital, and mobile.”
“StoryArc Media is the realization of our storytelling history and
extension of the success of our many gems – including Poptropica and
Funbrain – with an ample dose of hilarity, respect, and learning, that
children love and parents and teachers value,” said StoryArc Media
President Jen MacLean. “From a brand perspective, StoryArc gives us a
solid platform to expand our storytelling to every touch point – school,
home and on the go – and seamlessly weave our fans’ favorite characters
and stories across the platforms of today and tomorrow.”
Some of the most popular digital youth brands under the StoryArc Media
umbrella include:
-
Poptropica:
A multiplayer online adventure game in which kids explore a chain of
story-based islands, travel back in time, battle monsters, solve
mysteries, complete quests and even encounter their favorite
characters from literature (Wimpy Kid, Charlie Brown, Big Nate).
Created by Kinney, Poptropica is a kidSAFE-certified game enjoyed by
more than 10 million registered players worldwide. Since it was
created in 2008, players have visited the islands in Poptropica more
than 1 billion times. -
Funbrain:
The go-to destination for teachers and students looking for fun,
educational games since 1997. Created for kids preschool through
eighth grade, Funbrain offers more than 100 engaging interactive games
that develop academic skills, plus online books and comics. The site
includes seven new games and has been recently redesigned so teachers
and students can quickly and easily find games and stories by age and
topic that appeals most.
Additionally, StoryArc Media has published several must-read books and
graphic novel series that capture both the avid and the reluctant reader
alike, including:
-
Poptropica:
Mystery of the Map is a thrilling new adventure and New
York Times Bestseller, which lifts the veil from the secret origin of
the fictional island that gave rise to the game Poptropica. -
Galactic
Hot Dogs: The Wiener Strikes Back hits book stands in May
and is the second in the series that tells a story of friendship and
courage, wrapped in a deceptively dangerous cosmic circus and humorous
journey through the galaxy via the Neon Wiener space ship.
Readers can take their book adventures online, where dedicated islands
for both Mystery of the Map and Galactic Hot Dogs can be
found in the Poptropica game.
About StoryArc Media
StoryArc Media delivers engaging, interactive experiences that combine
ample fun and learning through inspired creativity perfectly suited for
today’s digital native. StoryArc Media and its sister company, FEN
Learning, are owned by Sandbox Partners, which is changing the way the
world plays and learns. For more information on StoryArc Media, visit www.storyarc.media
or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/StoryArcMedia
or Twitter @StoryArcs.
About Sandbox Partners
Sandbox
Partners is an industry-focused investor committed to building and
supporting businesses at the intersection of the digital, learning and
media sectors. Founded in 2014, the partners of Sandbox have a long
track-record of acquiring, transforming and scaling businesses and
brands internationally for multinationals including Viacom, P&G and
Pearson.
Contacts
Zebra Partners for StoryArc Media
Michele Spring Fajeau,
925-634-8289
Michele@zebrapartners.net
