9 Story Media acquires Toronto-based producer & distributor Portfolio Entertainment

Lisa Olfman (Source: 9 Story)

Doc McStuffins and  Octonauts outfit 9 Story Media Group has acquired the library, production slate, and development projects of fellow Canadian firm Portfolio Entertainment.

Founded in 1991 by Lisa Olfman and the late Joy Rosen, Toronto-based Portfolio is a production, distribution, and animation company spanning factual, lifestyle, drama, and children’s programming. Olfman will join 9 Story in an executive producer capacity, reporting president & CEO Vince Commisso, and will continue to oversee all active Portfolio projects.

Lauren Evans-Bell, associate producer at Portfolio, will also be joining as a development manager/associate producer at 9 Story, working with Olfman to shepherd the Portfolio development and production properties going forward.

As part of the acquisition, 9 Story will take over production on Breaking Bear (8 x 22 min), an adult animated series currently in pre-production with Cartel Entertainment and Tom DeLonge’s To The Stars for Tubi. 9 Story will take on Portfolio’s development slate, with Breaking Bear and other broadcaster-led development projects led by Olfman.

Portfolio’s distribution library holds more than 550 half-hours of content, including kids and family titles such as The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That, Hero Elementary, Addison and Carl Squared. Recent titles include the live-action family series Homeschooled, as well as the prime-time animated comedy Doomsday Brothers.

The acquisition brings 9 Story’s total distribution library to almost 5,000 half-hours.

“We are so pleased to be working with Lisa to bring the Portfolio library and current slates under the 9 Story umbrella,” said Commisso. “Lisa and Joy created an incredible legacy of entertainment properties, and we are honored to continue this work in partnership with Lisa.”

Last year, 9 Story restructured its top team after Angela Santomero stepped down as chief creative officer following five years with the company, with Wendy Harris named SVP & head of creative affairs,