# The Amazing Digital Circus

## Overview
YouTube-native animated series by Glitch Productions. Independently funded, no corporate commissioning. 1B+ total YouTube views.

## Distribution Strategy
Primary distribution via YouTube (free). Theatrical release via Fathom Entertainment for series finale, with theatrical window preceding YouTube release. Netflix partnership for additional distribution (no creative control transfer).

## Commercial Scale
- **Retail:** Hot Topic (600+ locations nationwide), global retail presence, Japan-specific merchandise (crane games, gachapon)
- **Theatrical:** $5M in presales in 4 days for The Last Act (April 2026), breaking Fathom Entertainment's all-time presale records

## Timeline
- **2026-04-10** — Announced The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act theatrical release. Trailer released early April. $5M in presales in 4 days. Fathom Entertainment expanded from 900 theaters (4 days) to 1,800+ theaters (2 weeks).
- **2026-06-04** — Scheduled theatrical release (June 4-7, extended to 2 weeks). Combines episode 8 with new hour-long episode 9 (series finale). YouTube release follows theatrical window.

## Model
Content-as-loss-leader: free YouTube content drives theatrical event demand and retail merchandise sales. Fans pay for collective theatrical experience and physical goods rather than content access.