<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001683168-16-000338.txt : 20161018
<SEC-HEADER>0001683168-16-000338.hdr.sgml : 20161018
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20161018165428
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001683168-16-000338
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20160913
FILED AS OF DATE:		20161018
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20161018

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Genius Brands International, Inc.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001355848
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MOTION PICTURE & VIDEO TAPE PRODUCTION [7812]
		IRS NUMBER:				204118216
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		301 N. CANON DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 305
		CITY:			BEVERLY HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90210
		BUSINESS PHONE:		310-273-4222

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		301 N. CANON DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 305
		CITY:			BEVERLY HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90210

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PACIFIC ENTERTAINMENT CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20060310

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Hershinger Rebecca D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001623999

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-54389
		FILM NUMBER:		161941291

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GENIUS BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
		STREET 2:		9401 WILSHIRE BLVD. #608
		CITY:			BEVERLY HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90212
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>hershinger_f4-091316.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-09-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001355848</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Genius Brands International, Inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GNUS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001623999</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hershinger Rebecca D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GENIUS BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>301 NORTH CANON DRIVE, SUITE 305</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CFO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-09-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>195250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-09-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>195250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>195250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-09-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>60008</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2016-09-13</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-09-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>60008</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60008</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This stock option was granted pursuant to the Issuer's 2015 Incentive Plan, as amended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The stock options have the following exercise prices: $2.00 for options that vest on April 18, 2017, $3.00 for options that vest on April 18, 2018 and $4.00 for options that vest on April 18, 2019.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The stock options shall vest as follows: options to purchase 55,000 shares shall vest on April 18, 2017, options to purchase 110,000 shares shall vest on April 18, 2018 and options to purchase 30,250 shares shall vest on April 18, 2019.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Rebecca Hershinger</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-10-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
