Sony Pictures Kids Zone
| Formerly | Sony Kids' Music/Video (1992–1993) Sony Wonder (1993–2020) Sony Pictures Family Fun (2015–2020) |
|---|---|
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | February 1992 |
| Founder | Linda Morgenstern |
| Headquarters | , United States |
| Products | Family films |
| Owner | Sony Corporation of America |
| Parent | Sony Music Entertainment (1992–2004) Sony BMG Music Entertainment (2004–2007) Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007–present) |
| Website | kidszone |
Sony Pictures Kids Zone serves as the children’s and family entertainment division under Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. It was formerly a record label operated by Sony Music Entertainment.
Although the name is similar, Sony Wonder has no direct affiliation with the previous Sony Wonder Technology Lab, an interactive museum owned by Sony focused on technology and entertainment.
History
In February 1992, Sony Music Video introduced the Sony Kids' Music and Sony Kids' Video imprints under SMV Children's Library, featuring artists such as Dan Crow and Tom Chapin. Following the dissolution of Sony Music Video in October, these labels were transferred to Epic Records in January 1993. On May 22, 1993, a long-term distribution agreement was established between Nickelodeon and Epic Records for home video and audio releases through Sony Music.
By July 3, 1993, the Sony Kids' Music and Video labels consolidated into Sony Wonder, with Ted Green appointed president. Green focused on forging key partnerships like the Nickelodeon deal. In April 1995, a collaboration formed between Children's Television Workshop and Sony Wonder to distribute Sesame Street content. Meanwhile, Columbia Pictures produced Muppet films that were released on video by Columbia TriStar Home Video. Additionally, Sony Wonder assumed distribution responsibilities for titles from Random House Home Video.
On July 29, the Nick Jr. Video label was launched jointly by Nickelodeon and Sony Wonder, featuring series such as Eureeka's Castle, Gullah Gullah Island, and Allegra's Window. An accompanying audio collection was introduced in March 1996. After Viacom's acquisition of Paramount Communications in 1996, Sony Wonder's agreement with Nickelodeon expired, resulting in Nickelodeon's videos being distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment.
On August 2, 1997, Sony Wonder entered a worldwide joint venture with Together Again Video Productions to produce new episodes of Kidsongs. Later that year in December, a partnership was formed with Golden Books Family Entertainment to release titles from their catalog; this agreement persisted under Classic Media following their acquisition of Golden Books.
Sony Wonder also served as the Canadian distributor for home video releases of series produced by CINAR, including Arthur, Caillou, among others.
The acquisition of Sunbow Entertainment, recognized for its Hasbro toy line adaptations but less successful original content, occurred on May 4, 1998. In March 2000, Sony Wonder secured a first-look distribution agreement with German company TV-Loonland AG, targeting German-speaking and Eastern European regions. Subsequently, a UK home video deal was arranged with Maverick. On October 3, TV-Loonland acquired Sony Wonder’s television division along with Sunbow’s programming; however, Sony retained North American home video rights and international audio rights. Hasbro later purchased Sunbow properties based on its brands in May 2008; these are now part of Hasbro Entertainment.
Following TV-Loonland’s bankruptcy filing in 2009, its catalog was sold to m4e AG in 2011. In February 2017, Studio 100 obtained majority ownership of m4e AG, thereby acquiring most television rights related to Loonland titles including those from Sunbow and Sony Wonder.
On March 13, 2007, Sony BMG announced plans to discontinue Sony Wonder to concentrate on its core music operations. By June of that year, the label transitioned into a division within Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, becoming its dedicated kids and family entertainment branch. Distribution agreements for Classic Media, Sesame Workshop, and Random House videos were sold to Genius Products, which later transferred them to Vivendi Entertainment. The home media rights for Caillou moved to Vivendi Canada; since 2012 DVDs have been distributed by Entertainment One. Sesame Workshop properties shifted distribution first to Warner Home Video in 2010 and then to Shout! Factory in 2018.
In 2012, Classic Media was acquired by DreamWorks Animation for $155 million and rebranded as DreamWorks Classics. After NBCUniversal purchased DreamWorks Animation in 2016, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment assumed distribution duties for Classic Media’s portfolio.
The Sony Wonder brand was renamed Sony Pictures Family Fun in 2015 before being incorporated into Sony Pictures Kids Zone in 2020. The Sony Wonder name continued to appear on direct-to-video releases of The Swan Princess movies until that year.