Wanda Acquires Sony’s Stake in Octonauts and Seeks New Platform Deals for Upcoming Seasons 7 and 8

Wanda Studios Acquires Full Ownership of Octonauts Franchise from Sony

Wanda Studios has successfully acquired Sony’s $49 million stake in Vampire Squid Productions (VSP), the rights holder for the popular Octonauts series. This move gives the Chinese studio complete ownership of the franchise.

The acquisition follows a prolonged legal dispute in which Sony filed a lawsuit against Wanda for failing to fulfill an agreement to buy the remaining 49% stake in VSP, previously held by Sony’s Silvergate Media. Wanda had already controlled a 51% interest in VSP. In a ruling last year, the London High Court mandated that Wanda pay Columbia Pictures the $49 million, paving the way for this year’s finalized deal.

VSP is currently promoting 52 completed episodes from the seventh and eighth seasons of Octonauts, focusing on growth through merchandising, partnerships, and live experiences. Previous seasons have been successfully sold to broadcasters and streaming platforms, including BBC and Netflix, with the BBC already airing season seven. Reports indicate that seven new seasons have been scripted and are prepared to enter production.

The Octonauts series has seen over 2.2 billion views on YouTube globally and ranks among the top children’s programs in China. It is noted to be in the top 10% of children’s shows worldwide in terms of demand, according to Parrot Analytics.

Set in an ‘Octopod’ home base, the animated series follows a team of undersea explorers on their adventures to discover new underwater worlds, rescue marine life, and protect the ocean ecosystem. The ensemble features Captain Barnacles the bear, along with Kwazii the kitten, Peso the penguin, and Dr. Shellington the sea otter. The show is intended for preschoolers and is inspired by a book series of the same name.

Seasons seven and eight continue the Octonauts: Above & Beyond theme, centered around the brand’s motto of "explore, rescue, protect,” and will delve into diverse terrestrial and aquatic environments while emphasizing themes of biodiversity conservation.

Terry Chow, COO of VSP and VP of Wanda Studios, is set to collaborate with Michael Ikeda, Tai Truesdell, and Simon Swart of HomeWorld Entertainment to spearhead the franchise’s strategic direction.

Chow expressed enthusiasm about the future of the Octonauts franchise, stating, “The Octonauts is the flagship brand for Wanda Kids, and we know that children and families around the world will be thrilled by where we are taking this beloved franchise. Together, we’re charting a bold new course—expanding and consolidating The Octonauts into new territories, new stories, and new experiences that will inspire the next generation of young explorers. We are delighted to team up with Simon and Tai and the incredible team at HomeWorld.”

Simon Swart, Managing Partner and CEO of HomeWorld Entertainment, reflected on the franchise’s potential, stating, “The Octonauts is a franchise with both heart and scale. Its unique blend of science, storytelling, and adventure has earned the trust of parents and the love of children worldwide. With global rights now consolidated under Wanda Studios and Vampire Squid Productions, The Octonauts is positioned for a new era of platform partnerships and franchise consolidation and expansion. With Wanda Studios and VSP, we will bring this iconic brand to even greater heights across every platform and market.”