UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 8, 2020

GENIUS BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (310) 273-4222

________________________________________________________

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2 below):

o      Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o      Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS

On September 2, 2020, Genius Brands International, Inc. (“Genius Brands” or the “Company”) announced its acquisition of licenses for two animated children’s series, ‘Adventures of Sonic The Hedgehog’ and ‘PAC-MAN and The Ghostly Adventures’. The Company has since learned that another licensor also claims rights to the license for Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog conveyed to Genius Brands. As a result, and upon further consideration, the Company has made a business decision only to move forward with the PAC Man property which is already on the air, not the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, and it has canceled that agreement. The anticipated license fee expense for the Sonic series will be re-allocated to the acquisition of other titles for Kartoon Channel! of similar standing. The Company remains focused on aggressively expanding its content library through new license agreements, and expects to announce a number of other important programs as soon as the agreements are finalized.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.