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July 27, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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How It Works • Games & Tech

Angry Birds

Angry Birds is a Finnish video game series and media franchise that began with a puzzle game released in 2009.

Updated July 27, 20261 min readCited sources

Angry Birds is a Finnish video game series and media franchise that began with a puzzle game released in 2009. It centers on birds using a slingshot to defeat green pigs that have stolen their eggs.

What it is

Angry Birds is a puzzle game franchise owned by Rovio Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sega. The first game launched on December 11, 2009, for iPhone and iPad, created by designer Jaakko Iisalo. Players launch birds from a slingshot to destroy structures and defeat green pigs, recovering stolen eggs.

Why it matters

The franchise expanded far beyond its original game, with more than twenty entries by late 2024, plus films, books, toys, and other merchandise. It became a global pop culture phenomenon, widely distributed in Canada through mobile devices, consoles, and related media.

Key details

Rovio Entertainment, the Finnish developer, owns the franchise and operates under Sega. The series includes numerous spin-offs and adaptations, including theatrical films. The core gameplay remains consistent: slingshot birds at pig-built fortifications.

In short

  • First released December 11, 2009, for iPhone and iPad.
  • Gameplay: launch birds at pigs to recover stolen eggs.
  • Over 20 game entries by late 2024, plus films and merchandise.
  • Owned by Rovio Entertainment, a Sega subsidiary.
Canadian angle

Angry Birds has been widely distributed in Canada through mobile devices, consoles, and related film and merchandise releases, making it familiar to Canadian audiences as part of global pop culture.

Quick questions

What is Angry Birds?
A Finnish video game series and media franchise that started with a puzzle game in 2009.
Who created Angry Birds?
Finnish game designer Jaakko Iisalo.
Who owns Angry Birds?
Rovio Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sega.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds
    Supports: Series overview, ownership, creator attribution, first release date, and franchise scope
  2. Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds
    Supports: First release date and franchise description
  3. Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds_(video_game)
    Supports: Original game's release date, premise, and franchise origins
  4. French Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_Birds
    Supports: Ownership, genre, and franchise expansion into films and merchandise
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Angry_Birds_Movie
    Supports: Film adaptation and franchise expansion into cinema