Knights Of gets first public investor as 9 Story acquires stake

Nine Story Media Group has acquired a minority equity stake in Knights Of, becoming the inclusive publisher's first public investor.

The creator, producer and distributor of family-focused animation and live action content will have exclusive first-look rights to acquire audio-visual, merchandising, theatrical and ancillary rights to Knights Of’s book properties. 

Knights Of's roster includes Elle McNicoll, whose children's book A Kind of Spark was named Blackwell's Book of the Year in 2020, Kelly Yang, Jason Reynolds and Sharna Jackson. 

The group and its Oscar-nominated studio Brown Bag Films are known for children’s shows such as "Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood", "Blue’s Clues & You", "Wild Kratts", and "Doc McStuffins" as well as newcomers "Ada Twist", "Scientist" and "Karma’s World". The firm has offices in Toronto, Dublin, New York and Bali.

“We are thrilled to partner with Knights Of, which is changing the face of publishing by putting inclusion at the center of everything they do,” said Vince Commisso, president and c.e.o. of 9 Story Media Group. “Their mission to make books for every kid closely aligns with 9 Story’s core values and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We are excited to collaborate with the Knights Of team and bring new stories from diverse voices to life on screen, so that no child is left behind.”

Aimée Felone (pictured), m.d. of the publishing house said: “Partnering with 9 Story is an absolute joy for us at Knights Of. Bringing investors on board has always gone beyond financial motives for us, so to bring on board a company, who is not only at the forefront of their media sector, but also so closely aligned with our ethos was an incredible opportunity for everyone involved. We’re so excited to see how this partnership will further our mutual growth!”