Superheroes for a Divided World: THE 99 Relaunches with $5M to Combat Intolerance

VANCOUVER, BC and DUBAI, UAE – February 18, 2026 – A groundbreaking superhero franchise, once silenced by the very intolerance it sought to combat, is mounting a global comeback. 99 Kids Holdings Co., a dual Canada-UAE entertainment company, has secured a $5 million Series A funding round to relaunch THE 99, the pioneering comic book and animated series featuring Islam-inspired heroes who embody universal values.

Led by impact investor Exponential Ventures, the funding resurrects a brand that, from its 2006 debut, captured global attention before its operations were suspended in 2014 amidst political backlash and extremist threats. The reboot aims to introduce the franchise's message of empathy, justice, and compassion to a new generation of children, delivering its content for free across the globe in a direct challenge to what its backers call an “epidemic of intolerance.”

A Mission for Today's World

The timing of the relaunch is deliberate. In a world grappling with deep-seated division and rising xenophobia, the creators and investors see THE 99 not merely as entertainment, but as a necessary cultural antidote. The franchise centers on 99 heroes from around the world who are empowered by mystical Noor Stones, with each hero personifying one of the 99 attributes of God in Islam, such as wisdom, generosity, and strength—values that resonate across all cultures and faiths.

“The world faces an epidemic of intolerance. THE 99 provides an antidote: stories that teach kids tolerance, empathy, kindness and understanding at critical developmental stages,” said James Drage, Partner of Exponential Ventures, who now serves as Chairman of 99 Kids Holdings. He revealed the reboot was the culmination of years of discussion with the IP's creator. “After years of conversations through YPO, Dr. Naif and I agree: not rebooting THE 99 would let intolerance win.”

That creator, Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the project's renewed purpose. “We proved superheroes can transcend faith, culture and geography using universal values,” Al-Mutawa stated. “Now we'll reintroduce this message to kids who will build bridges, not walls.”

From Acclaim to Adversity: The Fall and Rise of THE 99

The story of THE 99 is a compelling narrative of resilience. Following its launch, the franchise achieved unprecedented international success for an Arab-originated IP. It was lauded by Forbes as a top global trend and became a case study at Harvard Business School for its innovative approach to cross-cultural storytelling. Its reach was extensive, with 52 animated episodes broadcast to over 50 million viewers in more than 60 countries.

A major milestone was its crossover with DC Comics, which saw the heroes of THE 99 team up with Superman, Batman, and the Justice League of America in a six-issue series that brought the characters to a mainstream Western audience. The franchise also expanded into a theme park in Kuwait and a range of licensed products.

However, this success was met with fierce opposition. The very concept of deriving superheroes from Islamic attributes drew fire, and in 2014, operations were suspended. The company cites “political backlash and extremist threats” as the cause, a turn of events that, as the new backers note, ironically proved the urgent need for the franchise's message. The shutdown left a void in children's media for a mainstream, values-driven hero narrative from the Muslim world.

The Business of Empathy: A New Model for Global Impact

The $5 million investment is not a traditional venture capital play. Exponential Ventures, the lead investor, operates on a philosophy of funding companies with a “Massive Transformative Purpose” (MTP)—enterprises that aim to create measurable societal impact alongside financial returns. THE 99 is the fund's first foray into media and entertainment, signaling a belief that storytelling can be a scalable tool for social change.

“THE 99 isn't just entertainment—it's a scalable solution for raising empathetic global citizens,” said Salim Ismail, Co-Founder of Exponential Ventures, who will join the company's advisory board. This philosophy is embedded in the relaunch strategy, which prioritizes reach over initial revenue.

The core of the plan is a massive free content distribution. Launching just ahead of Ramadan 2026, the original 52 animated episodes, remastered in 4K with enhanced audio, will debut on YouTube and select broadcast partners. The content will be localized in English, Arabic, Indonesian, Urdu, Hindi, and other languages to ensure it reaches its target audience of 6-to-12-year-olds in over 99 countries.

The long-term roadmap reveals a multi-pronged approach to building a top-10 global children's IP. Following the initial free content drop, 99 Kids Holdings plans to launch a Roblox game, new comics, and an animated special in 2026. From 2027 onwards, the vision expands to include an entirely new original animated series with new global characters, a graphic novel series, and eventual adaptations into live-action television and film, creating a sustainable commercial ecosystem built on a foundation of free, accessible content.

Reaching a New Generation with Technology and Scale

To achieve its ambitious goals, the new funding will accelerate localization, broadcaster partnerships, and the development of what the company calls “AI-powered tools for personalized fan content.” While specifics are forthcoming, the use of AI is intended to deepen fan engagement and streamline the complex process of adapting content for dozens of cultural contexts. This could range from generating personalized story elements for young fans to rapidly translating and dubbing new content, allowing the franchise to scale its message more efficiently than ever before.

By leveraging modern platforms like YouTube and Roblox, THE 99 aims to meet young audiences where they are, competing in a crowded digital landscape but with a unique and timely value proposition. As it re-emerges from a forced hiatus, the franchise is not just rebooting a story; it is reigniting a mission to foster a generation of empathetic, globally-minded citizens. With its global launch platform secured, THE 99 is poised to prove once again that the most powerful heroes are those who build bridges, not walls.