|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Kartoon Studios (NYSE: TOON) has climbed 37.93% since November 20, 2025, following a strong close on elevated trading volume, as speculation intensifies that the company could emerge as a potential acquisition target amid Hollywood’s escalating takeover war.
Along with Kartoon Studios (NYSE: TOON), see other Stocks to Watch Now: Agape ATP Corporation (NASDAQ: ATPC) Peraso Inc. (NASDAQ: PRSO), WORK Medical Technology (NASDAQ: WOK), Surgepays Inc (NASDAQ: SURG) and VS MEDIA Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ: VSME) all active in intraday trading sessions.
With Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) and Paramount Sky (NYSE: PSKY) now battling to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD), investors are increasingly re-evaluating the strategic value of smaller studios with premium family IP and global streaming reach.
Netflix’s bid reportedly includes Warner Bros.’ studio and streaming assets, while Paramount CEO David Ellison has taken the unusual step of launching a hostile takeover, appealing directly to WBD shareholders. Hostile bids—unlike friendly mergers—bypass management and attempt to secure control through shareholder pressure. The aggressive nature of the competing offers has highlighted the rising value of timeless, ownable content libraries, particularly in children’s entertainment.
That dynamic has pushed Kartoon Studios into the conversation. The company will debut its major new franchise, “Hundred Acre Wood’s Winnie and Friends,” on December 16, 2025 at Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre. CEO Andy Heyward describes the series as one of the company’s most valuable long-term assets. Built as a global 360° franchise, the property includes short-form episodes, holiday specials, consumer products, and experiential extensions, supported by a world-class creative team including Linda Woolverton, Danny Elfman, and Elise Allen.
With premium IP, a top-ranked kids’ streaming platform, and one of North America’s largest animation studios, TOON’s recent stock surge suggests investors are positioning ahead of broader industry consolidation. Whether Kartoon Studios becomes the next acquisition target remains uncertain, but market sentiment now reflects growing confidence in the company’s long-term strategic value. See Entire News Release.