Sec Form 4 Filing - Heyward Andy @ Genius Brands International, Inc. - 2022-12-07

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Heyward Andy 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol Genius Brands International, Inc. [ GNUS] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X __ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) CEO and Chairman (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O GENIUS BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC., 190 N. CANON DRIVE, FLOOR 4 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 12/07/2022 (Street) BEVERLY HILLS, CA90210 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share 12/07/2022 M 937,500 A 15,339,282 D Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share 990,728 I See Footnote( 2 ) Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share 1,234 I See Footnote( 3 )

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Restricted Stock Units ( 1 ) 12/07/2022 M 937,500 ( 4 ) ( 4 ) Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share 937,500 $ 0 13,125,000 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Heyward Andy C/O GENIUS BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC. 190 N. CANON DRIVE, FLOOR 4 BEVERLY HILLS, CA90210 X CEO and Chairman Signatures /s/ Andy Heyward 12/09/2022 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of GNUS common stock. ( 2 )The Reporting Person indirectly owns 990,728 shares of common stock over which the Reporting Person holds voting and dispositive power. ( 3 )The Reporting Person indirectly owns 1,234 shares of common stock held by Heyward Living Trust. ( 4 )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.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

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