Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments with initial maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. 

Reverse Stock Split

On April 2, 2014, we filed a certificate of amendment to our Articles of Incorporation to affect a reverse split of our issued and outstanding common stock on a one-for-one hundred basis. The reverse stock split was effective with FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) on April 7, 2014. All common stock share and per share information in this Form 10K, including the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, have been adjusted to reflect retrospective application of the reverse split, unless otherwise indicated

Business Combination

On November 15, 2013, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Merger Agreement”) with A Squared Entertainment LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“A Squared”), A Squared Holdings LLC, a California limited liability company and sole member of A Squared (the “Parent Member”) and A2E Acquisition LLC, our newly formed, wholly-owned Delaware subsidiary (“Acquisition Sub”). Upon closing of the transactions contemplated under the Merger Agreement (the “Merger”), which occurred concurrently with entering into the Merger Agreement, our Acquisition Sub merged with and into A Squared, and A Squared, as the surviving entity, became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.  As a result of the Merger, the Company acquired the business and operations of A Squared.  

The audited financial statements have been prepared using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, Business Combinations.

See Note 3 – Business Combination for additional information.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Genius Brands International, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary A Squared Entertainment, LLC. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.

Financial Statement Reclassification

Certain account balances from prior periods have been reclassified in these consolidated financial statements so as to conform with current year classifications.

Significant Accounting Policies

Allowance for Sales Returns - An Allowance for Sales Returns is estimated based on average sales during the previous year.  Based on experience, sales growth, and our customer base, the Company concluded that the allowance for sales returns at December 31, 2013 and 2012 should be $43,000 and $53,000, respectively.

Inventories - Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (average) or market and consist of finished goods such as DVDs, CDs and other products.  A reserve for slow-moving and obsolete inventory is established for all inventory deemed potentially non-saleable by management in the period in which it is determined to be potentially non-saleable. The current inventory is considered properly valued and saleable.  The Company concluded that there was an appropriate reserve for slow moving and obsolete inventory of $93,607 and $57,305 established as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Property and Equipment - Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation on property and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from 5 to 39 years. Maintenance, repairs, and renewals, which neither materially add to the value of the assets nor appreciably prolong their lives, are charged to expense as incurred. Gains and losses from dispositions of property and equipment are reflected in the statement of operations.

Intangible Assets - Intangible Assets acquired, either individually or with a group of other assets, are initially recognized and measured based on fair value.  In the 2005 acquisition of the assets from Genius Products, fair value was calculated using a discounted cash flow analysis of the revenue streams for the estimated life of the assets. In the 2013 acquisition of the identifiable artistic-related assets from A Squared, fair value was determined through an independent appraisal. The Company determined that these assets are indefinite-lived. Additional, the Merger transaction with A Squared gave rise to goodwill representing the future economic benefits arising from the assets of A Squared that could not be individually identified and recognized.

The Company develops new video, music, books and digital applications, in addition to adding content, improved animation and songs/features to their existing productions.  The costs of new product development and significant improvement to existing products are capitalized while routine and periodic alterations to existing products are expensed as incurred.  The Company begins amortization of new products when it is available for general release.  Annual amortization cost of intangible assets are computed based on the straight-line method over the remaining economic life of the product, generally such deferred costs are amortized over five years.

The Company reviews all intangible assets periodically to determine if the value has been impaired following the guidance of ASC 350-20 – Goodwill and ASC 350-30 – General Intangibles Other Than Goodwill.

Capitalized Production Cost - The Company capitalizes production costs for episodic series produced in accordance with ASC 926-20, Entertainment-Films - Other Assets - Film Costs. Accordingly, production costs are capitalized at actual cost and then charged against revenue based on the initial market revenue evidenced by a firm commitment over the period of commitment. The Company expenses all capitalized costs that exceed the initial market firm commitment revenue in the period of delivery of the episodes.

The Company capitalizes production costs for films produced in accordance with ASC 926-20, Entertainment-Films - Other Assets - Film Costs. Accordingly, production costs are capitalized at actual cost and then charged against revenue quarterly as a cost of production based on the relative fair value of the film(s) delivered and recognized as revenue. The Company evaluates their capitalized production costs annually and limits recorded amounts by their ability to recover such costs through expected future sales.

The Company also develops new videos, music, books and digital applications in addition to adding content, improved animation and bonus songs/features to its existing product catalog. In accordance with ASC 350 - Intangible Assets and ASC 730 - Research and Development, the costs of new product development and significant improvement to existing products are capitalized while routine and periodic alterations to existing products are expensed as incurred.

Revenue Recognition - The Company recognized revenue related to product sales when (i) the seller’s price is substantially fixed, (ii) shipment has occurred causing the buyer to be obligated to pay for product, (iii) the buyer has economic substance apart from the seller, and (iv) there is no significant obligation for future performance to directly bring about the resale of the product by the buyer as required by ASC 605 - Revenue Recognition.

Revenues associated with the sale of products, are recorded when shipped to customers pursuant to approved customer purchase orders resulting in the transfer of title and risk of loss.  Cost of sales, rebates and discounts are recorded at the time of revenue recognition or at each financial reporting date.

The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC 926-605, Entertainment-Films - Revenue Recognition. Accordingly, the Company recognizes revenue when (i) persuasive evidence of a sale with customer exists, (ii) the film is complete and has been delivered or is available for delivery, (iii) the license period of the arrangement has begun and the customer can begin its exploitation, exhibition, or sale, (iv) the arrangement fee is fixed or determinable, and (v) collection of the arrangement fee is reasonably assured.

For its distribution, TV, and home entertainment income the Company generally enters in to flat fee arrangements to deliver multiple films or episodes. The Company allocates revenue to each film or episode based on their relative fair market values and recognizes revenue as each film or episode is complete and available for delivery.

The Company’s licensing and royalty revenue represents both (a) variable payments based on net sales from brand licensees for content distribution rights.  These license agreements are held in conjunction with third parties that are responsible for collecting fees due and remitting to the Company its share after expenses. Revenue from licensed products is recognized when realized or realizable based on royalty reporting received from licensees and (b) licensing income the Company recognizes revenue as an agent in accordance with ASC 605-45, Revenue Recognition - Principal Agent. Accordingly, the Company’s revenue is its gross billings to its customers less the amounts it pays to suppliers for their products and services.

Shipping and Handling - The Company records shipping and handling expenses in the period in which they are incurred and are included in the Cost of Goods Sold.

Stock Based Compensation - As required by ASC 718 - Stock Compensation, the Company recognizes an expense related to the fair value of our stock-based compensation awards, including stock options, using the Black-Scholes calculation as of the date of grant.

Advertising Costs - The Company’s marketing and sales costs are primarily related to advertising, trade shows, public relation fees and production and distribution of collateral materials.  In accordance with ASC 720 regarding Advertising Costs, the Company expenses advertising costs in the period in which the expense is incurred.  Marketing and Sales costs incurred by licensees are borne fully by the licensee and are not the responsibility of the Company.  Advertising expense for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $113,879 and $54,454, respectively.

Earnings Per Share - Basic earnings (loss) per common share (“EPS”) is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, plus the assumed exercise of all dilutive securities using the treasury stock or “as converted” method, as appropriate. During periods of net loss, all common stock equivalents are excluded from the diluted EPS calculation because they are antidilutive. Stock options to purchase 37,150 shares of common stock at December 31, 2013 have not been included as they would be anti-dilutive.

Income Taxes- Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using presently enacted tax rates.  At each balance sheet date, the Company evaluates the available evidence about future taxable income and other possible sources of realization of deferred tax assets, and records a valuation allowance that reduces the deferred tax assets to an amount that represents management’s best estimate of the amount of such deferred tax assets that more likely than not will be realized.

Concentration of Risk - The Company’s cash is maintained at one financial institution and from time to time the balances for this account exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (“FDIC’s”) insured amount.  Balances on interest bearing deposits at banks in the United States are insured by the FDIC up to $250,000 per account. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had one account with an uninsured balance of $123,053. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had one account with an uninsured balance of $135,971.

For fiscal year 2013, the Company had three customers whose total revenue exceeded 10% of the total consolidated revenue. These customers account for 21.5%, 19.8%, and 13.7% of total revenue, respectively. Those three accounts made up 0%, 6.3%, and 39.2% of accounts receivable, respectively. For fiscal year 2012, the revenue from two customers comprised 43.8% and 17.7% of the Company’s total revenue.  Those two accounts made up 0%, and 28.5% of the total accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2012, respectively. The major customers for the year ending December 31, 2013 are not necessarily the same as the major customers at December 31, 2012.   There is significant financial risk associated with a dependence upon a small number of customers.  The Company periodically assesses the financial strength of these customers and establishes allowances for any anticipated bad debt.  At December 31, 2013 and 2012, no allowance for bad debt has been established for the major customers as these amounts are believed to be fully collectible.

Fair value of financial instruments - The carrying amounts of cash, receivables and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to the short-term maturity of the instruments.

We adopted ASC 820 as of January 1, 2008 for financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis. ASC Topic 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC Topic 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). These tiers include:

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists” (“ASU No. 2013-11”). ASU No. 2013-11 requires an entity to present an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, with limited exceptions. ASU No. 2013-11 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2013 and may be applied retrospectively.

Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not effective, accounting standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on the accompanying consolidated financial statements.