Annual report pursuant to section 13 and 15(d)

Note 1: The Company and Significant Accounting Policies

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Note 1: The Company and Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
Note 1:  The Company and Significant Accounting Policies

Organization and Nature of Business

Genius Brands International, Inc., f/k/a Pacific Entertainment Corporation, (“we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company”) provides music-based products that are entertaining, educational and beneficial to the well-being of infants and young children.  We create, market and sell children’s DVDs, CD music, toy, and book products in the United States by distribution at wholesale to retail stores and outlets and directly to consumers on our website and through “deal for a day” sites.  We license the use of our brands internationally to others to manufacture, market and sell the products, whereby we receive advances and royalties.

The Company commenced operations in January 2006, assuming all of the rights and obligations of its Chief Executive Officer, Klaus Moeller, under an Asset Purchase Agreement between the Company and Genius Products, Inc., in which we obtained all rights, copyrights, and trademarks to the brands “Baby Genius,” “Little Genius,” “Kid Genius,” “123 Favorite Music” and “Wee Worship,” and all then existing productions under those titles.  On October 17, 2011 and October 18, 2011, Genius Brands International, Inc., f/k/a Pacific Entertainment Corporation, filed Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada and with the Secretary of State of the State of California, respectively. As previously described on the Company’s Schedule 14C Information Statement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 21, 2011, by filing the Articles of Merger, the Company (i) changed its domicile to Nevada from California, and (ii) changed its name to Genius Brands International, Inc. from Pacific Entertainment Corporation (the “Reincorporation”).  Pursuant to the Articles of Merger, Pacific Entertainment Corporation, a California corporation, merged into Genius Brands International, Inc., a Nevada corporation that, prior to the Reincorporation, was the wholly owned subsidiary of Pacific Entertainment Corporation. Genius Brands International, the Nevada corporation, is the surviving corporation.  In connection with the Reincorporation, on October 12, 2011, the Company filed an Issuer Company-Related Action Notification Form with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). In November 2011, our trading symbol changed from “PENT” to “GNUS”. 

In August 2009, the Company launched a line of Baby Genius pre-school toys.  The line of 24 Baby Genius toys, manufactured by toy manufacturer Battat Incorporated (“Battat”), includes musical, activity, and role-play toys that incorporate the Baby Genius principle of music as a core learning tool to engage and encourage children to communicate, connect, discover, and use their imagination.  The Company cancelled the agreement in December 2010 according to the terms of the contract, permitting Battat to continue selling the current line of toys until late spring 2011.  The final royalty payment from this license was received for the three month period ended March 31, 2011.  The Company experienced a reduction in royalty income during the remainder of 2011 and estimates it will continue to experience a reduction during the first and second quarters of 2012 until the new licensed toy line is introduced at retail.

On January 11, 2011, the Company signed an agreement with Jakks Pacific’s Tollytots® (“Tollytots®”) division for a new toy line. As a result of the five-year agreement, Tollytots® immediately began development on a comprehensive line of musical and early learning toys, incorporating the music, characters and themes of the Baby Genius series of videos and music CDs. The new toy line will cover a broad range of exclusive categories, including learning and developmental toys, most plush toys, and musical toys, as well as several other non-exclusive categories and we anticipate the line will be introduced at retail in the third quarter of 2012.

The Company also obtains licenses for other select brands we feel we can market and sell through our distribution channels.   

On September 20, 2010, the Company entered into a joint venture agreement between the Company and Dr. Shulamit Ritblatt to form Circle of Education, LLC (“COE”), a California limited liability company, for the purpose of creation and distribution of a curriculum to promote school readiness for children ages 0-5 years.  The Company commissioned research into the use of music-based curriculum through San Diego State University over the past three years based on certain unregistered copyrights and trademarks, confidential information, designs, ideas, discoveries, inventions, processes, research results and work product it had developed. Dr. Ritblatt, who holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Child Development and Family Relations has conducted research into child development and has experience developing early learning curriculum for children. In March 2012, the Company and Dr. Shulamit Ritblatt agreed to terminate the joint venture agreement.  COE transferred equal right of ownership in the intellectual property developed as of the date of termination (“IP”) to each of the Company and Dr. Ritblatt, and in exchange for the rights to the IP, Dr. Ritblatt transferred her units of COE to the Company.  Each party will have the right to continue development of the IP and products based on the IP with no further obligation to the other party.  Subject to certain limitations for specific channels of distribution reserved for each party for a period of twelve months from the execution of the agreements, both parties have non-exclusive and non-restrictive rights to the use, sublicense or sale of the IP and products created based on the IP.

During 2010, the Company launched a line of classic movies and television programs, “Pacific Entertainment Presents”.  Initially consisting of seven titles, each focusing on a specific genre such as Horror, Western, SciFi, Action, Mystery, War, and Gangster, an additional six titles were added in late 2010 expanding the line with the Super Hero’s collection as well as Family Favorites.  During 2011, the Company also signed distribution agreements with five studios whereby we sell their existing products through our channels of distribution.  The agreements range in length from three to five years.

The Company’s Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  These require the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses reported in the financial statements, as well as amounts included in the notes thereto, including discussion and disclosure of contingent liabilities.  Although the Company uses its best estimates and judgments, actual results could differ from these estimates as future confirming events occur.

Liquidity

Historically, the Company has incurred net losses.  As of December 31, 2011, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $8,135,049 and a total stockholders’ deficit of $1,115,267.  At December 31, 2011, the Company had current assets of $1,935,648, including cash and cash equivalents of $405,341, and current liabilities of $1,629,712, resulting in a working capital excess of $305,936.  For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company reported a net loss of $1,366,893 and net cash used by operating activities of $326,603.  Management believes that its increasing sales, cash provided by operations, together with funds available from short-term related party advances, will be sufficient to fund planned operations for the next twelve months.  However, there can be no assurance that operations and operating cash flows will continue at the current levels or improve in the near future.  If the Company is unable to obtain profitable operations and positive operating cash flows sufficient to meet scheduled debt obligations, it may need to seek additional funding or be forced to scale back its development plans or to significantly reduce or terminate operations.

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.

Cash Equivalents

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

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2010 have been reclassified to conform to the presentation as of December 31, 2011.

Significant Accounting Policies

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 Revenue Recognition Topic 605 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification.

Revenues associated with the sale of branded CDs, DVDs and other 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’s licensing and royalty revenue represent 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.

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.

Principles of Consolidation - The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, and its 75% owned subsidiary: Circle of Education LLC.  All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

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 $42,309 and $5,972 established as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, 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 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.

The Company develops new music and video products, 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 by recent financial transactions using the discounted cash flow analysis of revenue stream for the estimated life of the assets.

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

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.

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 the FASB Topic 720-35 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 year ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 was $116,079 and $139,060, respectively.

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, 2011 and December 31. 2010 should be $84,000 and $76,000, respectively.

Concentration of Risk - The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are 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 institution.  The Dodd-Frank Deposit Insurance Provision provides that all funds in noninterest-bearing transaction accounts held at FDIC-insured depository institutions (“IDIs”) will be fully insured from December 31, 2010 through December 31, 2012.   As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, there were no uninsured balances.

For fiscal year 2011, the revenue from one customer comprised 28.5% of the Company’s total revenue.  This account made up 1.1% of the total accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2011.   For fiscal year 2010, the revenue from three major customers comprised 27.6%, 16.3% and 14.1% of the Company’s total revenue.  Those three major customers made up 39.1%, 0%, and 0% of the total accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2010, respectively.  The major customer for the year ending December 31, 2011 is not necessarily the same as one of the major customers at December 31, 2010.  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, 2011 and 2010, no allowance for bad debt has been established for the major customers as these amounts are believed to be fully collectible.

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. The Company had stock options outstanding to purchase 14,995,000 shares of common stock as of December 31, 2011.

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.

Litigation

We are not a party to any legal or administrative proceedings, other than routine legal activities incidental to our business that we do not believe, individually or in the aggregate, would be likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.