<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001683168-22-000365.txt : 20220121
<SEC-HEADER>0001683168-22-000365.hdr.sgml : 20220121
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20220121084351
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001683168-22-000365
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20211207
FILED AS OF DATE:		20220121
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20220121

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Heyward Andy
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001591978

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-37950
		FILM NUMBER:		22544220

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9401 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 608
		CITY:			BEVERLY HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90212

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HEYWARD ANDREW A
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20131114

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:		190 N. CANON
		STREET 2:		4TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BEVERLY HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90210
		BUSINESS PHONE:		310-273-4222

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		190 N. CANON
		STREET 2:		4TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BEVERLY HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90210

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PACIFIC ENTERTAINMENT CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20060310
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>ownership.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-12-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001591978</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Heyward Andy</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GENIUS BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>190 N. CANON DRIVE, FLOOR 4</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO and Chairman</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-12-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>937500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14401782</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>990728</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Note</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1234</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Note</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-12-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>937500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>937500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14062500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of GNUS common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person indirectly owns 990,728 shares of common stock over which the Reporting Person holds voting and dispositive power.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Reporting Person indirectly owns 990,728 shares of common stock over which the Reporting Person holds voting and dispositive power.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">On December 7, 2020, the Reporting Person was granted 15,000,000 restricted stock units pursuant to a restricted stock unit agreement, of which (i) 7,500,000 shares vested in four equal installments on the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of December 7, 2020, and (ii) 7,500,000 shares (characterized as Performance Shares in previous Form 4) vested in four equal installments on the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of December 7, 2020, based on the achievement of certain performance goals, each subject to the Reporting Person's continued employment. Such agreement was amended and restated in June 2021 to revise the vesting provisions so that (i) an aggregate of 3,750,000 shares vested in four equal installments on the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of December 7, 2020, and (ii) an aggregate of 11,250,000 shares vested based on achievement of certain performance goals, each subject to the Reporting Person's continued employment.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Andy Heyward</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2022-01-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
