Bakugan reboot to launch within the next two years
Back in 2015, Toronto-based toy company Spin Master announced that they were developing a reboot of Bakugan. Carried by an anime series produced by TMS Entertainment and Nelvana, the boys action franchise meant big business between 2007 and 2012. Bakugan centred around a game played with plastic marbles that would transform when rolled over a metal card. Since that revival tease two years ago, Spin Master’s been silent about their plans for the franchise, but have just recently shared a tiny morsel of information.
During the company’s third quarter 2017 financial call, which was hosted on November 8th, Spin Master Global President and Chief Operating Officer Ben Gadbois stated, “We are also working on several exciting TV shows in our entertainment group for 2018 and 2019, including Bakugan, which we are working hard on with our partners of both the toy line and TV show.” That vague release window was the only detail shared about the Bakugan relaunch.
Later in the call, the company’s co-CEO and co-founder Ronnen Harary mentioned the brand when the discussion about purchasing external properties came up. Spin Master is focused on building internally created brands, like Bakugan, but would leap at the chance to buy a legacy I.P. with a proven track record at a reasonable price. Harary specifically mentioned Viacom’s 2009 purchase of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise as something they would’ve been interested in, had the company been at its current size back that brand was up for sale.
Key entertainment focused internal brands for Spin Master’s future include the ongoing Paw Patrol (a theatrical feature was teased as being in early development during the call) and Rusty Rivets lines, as well as the upcoming Abby Hatcher and Bakugan relaunch. The company’s even looking into creating content for their Hatchimals toy.
Earlier today, Spin Master revealed to Kidscreen what it hopes becomes another one of those pillars: an adaptation of the Robert Kirkman (yes, The Walking Dead guy) and Jason Howard comic book series Super Dinosaur. Produced by Spin Master Entertainment with animation done by Vancouver’s Atomic Cartoons, the boys action series was described as:
As for the story, its eponymous hero is a walking, talking, armored-up T-Rex. With robotic arms and his best friend Derek, Super Dinosaur works continually to save the world from a group of mutated dinos and their evil leader, Max Maximus.
Jennifer Dodge, Executive Vice President of Spin Master Entertainment stated the show would be a mix of “action-adventure, with lots of comedy and heart.” Super Dinosaur is set to launch sometime in 2018 and is aimed at ages 6-11. An unspecified Corus Entertainment channel has picked it up for broadcast in Canada.
Just recently, a former Spin Master employee who helped create Bakugan, Paw Patrol, Tenkai Knights and Redakai has partnered up with Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana and two Japanese firms to create a new animated series called D.N.Ace.
Source: Spin Master Corp. Third Quarter 2017 Earnings Conference Call Transcript (pg. 21 and 37)
I Miss Bionix 
I loved this cartoon growing up
👍