Mind Candy, the company best known for the Moshi Monsters franchise, has acquired fellow U.K.-based studio Origami Blue.
Terms were not disclosed, but what’s known about the deal is interesting. Origami Blue’s founders Edd Smith, Mark Knowles-Lee and James Ovnik now join Mind Candy to lead a newly established research and development studio called Candy Labs, where they will focus on innovative entertainment ideas for children.
All three are former employees of Disney’s Black Rock Studios. One of their projects as Origami Blue is a research-based game that teaches touch-typing to children (see video, below).
“The ideas will be a mix of digital and non-digital entertaiment. Some of the concepts will be acquired from third parties, but most will originate in-house,” according to the Mind Candy blog. The company has already expanded Moshi Monsters into comics, merchandise and other areas.
Michael Acton Smith, CEO and founder of Mind Candy, said: “We clicked creatively with the Origami Blue guys from the outset and are hugely excited to bring them onboard. Developing new IP has always been part of the plan to expand Mind Candy. We have lots of ideas bubbling away and can’t wait to see the new visions come to life.”
Related links:
MindCandy – blog post
Mind Candy – http://www.mindcandy.com
Origami Blue – http://www.origamiblue.com
Gamasutra – Mind Candy pushes for innovation in kids’ games with new acquisition
KidScreen – Mind Candy acquires UK games studio Origami Blue
TechCrunch – Mind Candy Acquires Origami Blue Games Studio To Become Its Labs Arm
PocketGamer.biz – Moshi Monsters outfit Mind Candy acquires UK games studio Origami Blue
