Exhibit 10.2
Executive Employment Agreement
Between Kartoon Studios, Inc. and Michael Jaffa
| 1. | Effective Date |
| Effective Date | November 14, 2025 |
| 2. | Parties |
| Company | Kartoon Studios, Inc. a Nevada corporation with principal offices at 190 N. Canon Drive, Floor 4, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 (“Company”). |
| Executive | Michael Jaffa, residing at XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXX , XXXXXXX, XX, XXXXX (“Executive”). |
| 3. | Position and Duties |
| Title | Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel |
| Reporting | Reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (Andy Heyward). |
| Duties | Oversight of the Company’s business and legal operations and such other duties as assigned consistent with the title. |
| Exclusivity |
Full-time devotion to Company affairs. Executive is exclusive in the entertainment industry. Subject to that restriction, Executive may engage in limited, non-competitive outside activities that do not interfere with Company duties. |
| 4. | Term of Employment |
| Initial Term | Three (3) years from Effective Date, unless earlier terminated as provided herein. |
| Extension | Only by mutual written agreement of both parties. |
| Post-Term Employment | If continued after expiration, employment shall be at-will. |
| Notice | 3-month notice of non-renewal |
| 5. | Compensation and Benefits |
| Base Salary |
$450,000 per annum, payable in accordance with normal payroll practices; 5% annual increase on each anniversary of the Effective Date. |
| Non-Discretionary Bonus | $50,000 for each fiscal year of the Term in which Company EBIDA exceeds $2,000,000. |
| Guaranteed Bonus | $50,000 payable in December 2025 (and in no future years) |
| Equity Grant | 750,000 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) under Company’s Equity Plan, pursuant to a Restricted Stock Unit Agreement. The RSUs will vest in Three (3) equal installments at the end of each year of the Term. |
| Benefits |
Eligibility for a.II standard executive benefit and perquisite programs (health, welfare, retirement, deferred compensation, severance, etc.), consistent with senior executives generally offered by the Company to its executives. |
| Expense Reimbursement | Reimbursement of reasonable and properly documented business expenses per Company policy. |
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| 6. | Clawback Rights |
| Scope | Applies to all bonuses, equity awards, and other incentive-based compensation (“Clawback Benefits”), |
| Triggers | (a) Financial restatement due to material non-compliance with securities laws; (b) Material breach of confidentiality, non-competition, non-solicitation, or other policy causing material harm; or (c) Termination for Cause. |
| Duration | During employment and for three (3) years following termination. |
| Administration | Determined by Compensation Committee; intended to comply with Dodd-Frank Act clawback provisions. |
| 7. | Termination |
| Death |
Payment of accrued salary, unused vacation, earned but unpaid bonuses, vested equity, and reimbursable expenses. |
| Disability |
Termination after 120 consecutive or 180 cumulative days of incapacity; continued salary until disability benefits commence; partial “Disability Payments” for up to six (6) months post-termination; continued health benefits during such period. |
| Termination for Cause |
Immediate termination with payment of accrued base salary only. ‘Cause’ includes willful failure to perform, material breach, fraud, or commission of a felony. All unpaid bonuses and unvested equity forfeited. |
| Resignation for Good Reason |
Permitted upon (i) material salary reduction, (ii) relocation >50 miles, (iii) material diminution of duties/title, or (iv) successor’s failure to assume this Agreement. Requires written notice and 30-day cure period. |
| Change of Control | If Executive is terminated without Cause or resigns for Good Reason following a Change in Control: (a) lump-sum payment of two (2) times current Base Salary; (b) full vesting of all equity, and (c) continued Company-paid health benefits for eighteen (18) months. |
| 8. | Confidentiality and Intellectual Property |
| Confidential Information |
Executive shall maintain strict confidentiality of all non-public information relating to the Company, during and after employment. |
| Return of Property | All Company documents, records, and media must be returned upon termination. |
| Work Product/ IP |
All materials and inventions created in the course of employment are “works-made-for- hire” and owned exclusively by the Company. |
| CA Labor Code §2870 | Exempts inventions created entirely on Executive’s own time without use of Company resources and unrelated to Company business. For purposes of clarity, any work related to the entertainment industry falls within the Company’s sphere of business. |
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| 10. | Restricted Activities |
| Non-Compete |
During employment, Executive shall not directly or indirectly participate in any business competing with the Company or its Subsidiaries. |
| Post-Termination Non-Use |
Executive shall not use Company Confidential Information to compete for twenty-four (24) months after termination or until such information becomes public. |
| Non-Solicitation | Executive shall not solicit or induce any employee, contractor, customer, or vendor of the Company during employment. |
| 10. | Miscellaneous |
| Assignment |
Neither party may assign without written consent; Company may assign to successor or acquirer. |
| Governing Law | State of California. |
| Amendment/ Waiver | Must be in writing and executed by both parties. |
| Severability | Invalid provisions modified to the maximum lawful extent. |
| Entire Agreement | Supersedes all prior agreements between the parties. |
| Counterparts | May be executed in multiple originals, including by electronic signature. |
| 13. | Binding Effect |
This Term Sheet represents the material binding terms agreed between the parties and shall serve as the definitive Executive Employment Agreement.
SIGNATURES
| KARTOON STUDIOS, INC. | MICHAEL JAFFA |
| By: /s/ Andy Heyward | /s/ Michael Jaffa |
| Name: Andy Heyward | Date: 11/24/2025 |
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | |
| Date: 11/24/2025 |
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