Tag Archives: children’s content

CoComelon passes 100 million YouTube subscribers, 100 billion views and sees ‘sell-out success’ of Jazwares toy line

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Moonbug Entertainment has hit several record-breaking milestones for its wildly popular CoComelon brand having surpassed 100 million subscribers on YouTube and clocked nearly 100 billion views on the social media platform.

According to Forbes, CoComelon has also just broken records on Netflix where it pre-school series debuted on June 1 this year and, as of December 5th, made 100 consecutive appearances on the Top 10 in the US, outpacing all content categories for both kids’ and adult programming.

The new records have been set all within what has been earmarked by Moonbug Entertainment ‘as an unprecedented year of growth for the brand.’

“The brand ethos of CoComelon is simple: make kids happy and smart through fun and relatable content. That’s been our brand’s mission since creation, which is why CoComelon has not only remained a family favorite but has seen such exponential growth,” said Patrick Reese, general manager at Moonbug, CoComelon.

“Our content speaks to children through relatability and the age-appropriate nature of the show keeps them entertained and parents relieved.”

In addition to on-screen popularity, the CoComelon toy line with consumer products leader Jazwares has reportedly ‘been flying off the shelves.’

Moonbug and Jazwares have been working with retailers including Amazon, Target and Walmart to replenish stock so parents can access the products. The line features characters and items inspired by the show and includes a wide array of categories, such as plush, vehicles, figurines and role play.

“JJ, his friends and family have been a bright light for children since the brand’s inception,” added René Rechtman, co-founder and CEO, Moonbug. “As kids across the globe look to CoComelon for relatable content, we’re continuing to grow the show. This is just the beginning of the brand’s global growth as we work to expand the franchise both on and off the screen.”

CoComelon teaches children how to take on everyday activities and role models positive behavior with a sense of enthusiasm. Kids can easily relate to the universal themes and everyday narratives such as eating your vegetables, learning to tie your shoes and getting ready for bed.

With its bright and bold colors and cheerful nursery rhymes and phrases, CoComelon attracts children aged one to four to sing and dance along with Baby JJ and his siblings as they learn letters, numbers, animal sounds, colors and more.

CoComelon is available on all major platforms including Amazon, Spotify, Apple Music, Roku and Netflix.

Moonbug Entertainment welcomes former Disney director David Levine to head of studio role

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The digital media company, Moonbug Entertainment, has named the former Disney director, David Levine as its head of studio. He joins from his previous role as VP of kids programming, Disney Channels Europe and Africa, UK and Ireland.

In his new position with Moonbug, Levine will focus on driving the company’s IP expansion by taking properties like CoComelon and Blippi to new formats, markets and platforms to support the company’s continued growth. He will report to René Rechtman, co-founder and CEO, Moonbug.

“David’s track record at Disney as a visionary executive specializing in children’s original content makes him uniquely well-suited to lead Moonbug’s creative, production and content strategies,” said Rechtman.

“This is a key position for Moonbug as we look to expand our content offerings around the world and develop more IP that delivers fun, educational and relevant programming families love.”

Levine brings more than 20 years experience in the media and entertainment industries to Moonbug. During his tenure at The Walt Disney Company, he was an integral member of the senior leadership team that built the Disney Channel Brand and led all strategic and operational aspects of kids’ programming across Disney Channels Europe and Africa.

Levine oversaw the direction of original production and developed and commissioned a number of shows including First Class Chefs, The Lodge, 101 Dalmatian Street and the Emmy-nominated TV series Evermoor. He also launched and commissioned multiple seasons of global hits PJ Masks and Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir.

Additionally, Levine was responsible for spearheading LGBTQ+ inclusive representation in Disney’s programming, with LGBTQ+ characters and themes in commissions such as The Lodge and Best Bugs Forever.

“Kids content is playing an increasingly vital role in early childhood development, and now more than ever parents are looking for safe, inclusive, educational content they can trust. Moonbug is at the forefront of this transformation,” said Levine.

“It’s an exciting time to join the company, and I look forward to building on our strong producer and studio relationships while also increasing the diversity and representation in our content and on our creative teams.”

Prior to joining The Walt Disney Company, Levine was vice president at Ragdoll USA. He also served at The itsy bitsy Entertainment Company, supporting the billion dollar Teletubbies franchise in North America and South America.

Big Picture Licensing named UK and Eire licensing agent for Brave Bunnies as portfolio plans get underway

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Big Picture Licensing has been appointed the exclusive licensing agent for the UK and Eire, and master agent across EMEA and APAC for the animated pre-school series Brave Bunnies.

Created and developed by the Ukrainian creative production hub, Glowberry, the new series aims to blend the traditional feel of a pre-school property with modern and relevant themes of diversity and inclusivity. It follows the adventures of two brave and curious bunnies who journey through their world on the Bunny Bus in search of new friends.

52 episodes make up season one that, thanks to a partnership with Aardman as global content distributor, has already been placed with the likes of Milkshake and Nick Jr in the UK, SuperRTL in Germany, ABC in Australia, SVT in Sweden and more. The  show has already gone live in some territories, with further international roll-out scheduled during  Q1 2021.

On a global scale, Brave Bunnies has appointed a portfolio of licensing agents that includes DeAgnostini in Italy, and LaPanaderia, the master agent for the property in Latin America. Meanwhile, Big Picture Licensing has signed up a roster of leading agents in their respective regions, including CPLG for Benelux, Nordics, CEE, and Southern Europe, CLM for Africa, Centa IP in Australia and New Zealand, and Mediogen in Israel.

Brave Bunnies licensed products are set to roll out from Easter 2022, with Spin Master leading the charge as the property’s global master toy licensee. The firm will develop a range of pre-school toys based on the series. On top of this, Big Picture Licensing has signed up Penguin Random House as a strategic multi-territory licensee, joining Planeta Libra as publishing partners.

Brave Bunnies has already gone live in some territories, with further international roll-out scheduled for Q1 2021. A complimentary and comprehensive digital content plan is also in development. At MIPCOM last month, Brave Bunnies was the second most viewed show in the MIP Junior Screenings  Library (and number one in its preschool target-demo), and unsurprisingly interest is brewing in the licensing  arena. 

Sergey Molchanov, CEO at Glowberry, said: “We have taken a lot of care to ensure that Brave Bunnies has received the best quality treatment from the off, and we are delighted to maintain that  standard across our key commercial partner appointments.

“We’re grateful for the support and the  broad positive response to our property, and we’re just getting started.” 

Dan Frugtniet, MD at Big Picture Licensing, added: “We’re extremely proud and excited to be  working with Glowberry on this wonderful property, and delighted, but not at all surprised at the strong start – without exception, everybody who we have showed Brave Bunnies to has been  overwhelmingly positive about it.

“As well as finalising APAC agency appointments, we’re now  looking to secure UK licensing partners in all major product categories. Please get in touch to discuss  how you can hop on the Brave Bunny Bus.”

Bulldog Licensing signs Bioworld for Care Bears apparel and accessories

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Bioworld is on board to create and launch a range of apparel and accessories inspired by the popular Cloudco Entertainment brand, Care Bears, targeting kids of all ages as the Care Bears licensing programme continues to grow.

Fast approaching its 40th anniversary, Care Bears continues to appeal to a wide range of fans, encouraged in their purveyance of the brand by an ever-increasing licensing portfolio, managed in the UK by Bulldog Licensing. The latest partnership with Bioworld will act to leverage the universal love for the property.

Fashion partners for the Care Bears brand already include the likes of Tikiboo and its athleisure range, Irregular Choice and its footwear line, and Dolls Kill with its clothing collection. The brand even returned to the kids’ aisles earlier this year when Basic Fun launched its toy line.

Having been met with strong sales and keen reception in the US market, Basic Fun recently launched its toy range to the UK where it is currently experiencing very strong sell-through already. The range is being supported with a heavyweight marketing campaign featuring two TVCs for both its plush and interactive Care Bears.

Meanwhile, the Care Bears’ broadcast partner Tiny Pop is supporting the series Care Bears: Unlock the Magic with daily slots on the channel. New partnerships with Sky and Moonbug now further position Care Bears for significant growth in the kids market here in the UK.

Bioworld joins other children’s partners, including Zak for homewares, Whitehouse Leisure, Redan, Aardvark, Crackerjack, and the Fun to Learn magazine.

Rob Corney, MD of Bulldog Licensing, said: “We’re thrilled to have Bioworld on board for Care Bears apparel. The brand has built a strong following over the past 38 years and has devoted fans who grew up with Care Bears, as well as an ever-growing following of little ones who are discovering the brand for the first time.” 

Roubina Tchoboian, VP of international licensing, added: “Bioworld joins at an exciting time for Care Bears, as the brand is continuously building with a range of best-in-class partners creating show-stopping ranges and collaborations.”

ZAG names former MGA director Sarah Boyer is new VP or retail for North America

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The award-winning global independent animation studio ZAG has named the former MGA Entertainment director, Sarah Boyer, its new vice president, retail, North America. The announcement was made today by Julian Zag, executive vice president, global operations.

“We are entering the next phase of tremendous growth for ZAG and especially our flagship global brand phenom, Miraculous! Given the roster of new licensees coming on board, it is the ideal time to welcome an executive of Sarah’s caliber in the retail space to our robust consumer products’ team,” commented Zag.

“We have a wide range of new products slated to hit retail shelves in 2021 and 2022, culminating with the $100M theatrical release of Miraculous Ladybug And Cat Noir The Awakening and the launch of seasons four and five of the series. Miraculous continues to build across all touch points – television, retail, digital, theatrical – and we couldn’t be more thrilled with how our brand continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.”

Reporting directly to Kirk Bloomgarden, the ZAG’s SVP, global licensing, Boyer will manage strategic relationships across all tiers of retail for all of the properties under the ZAG Heroez label – an umbrella brand franchise that brings together the superheroes from ZAG’s animated properties.

She will continue our work in building best-in-class licensed programs, supporting licensees with product placement and promotion, working alongside our growing team of recent appointments, including Rebekah Belzer, VP, new business and retail development, Lisa Foster, VP, licensing, North America, and Elinor Schops, VP of games and interactive experiences.

“It is such an exciting time at ZAG with the global growth of the Miraculous brand, in particular, and I am excited to work with Julian, Kirk and the ZAG team to develop even stronger retail relationships to bring a wide range of products across all of the  ZAG Heroez™ brands to market in the coming years,” said Boyer.

Boyer’s immediate remit is to work with retailers for ZAG’s Miraculous™: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, for which over 150M products have been sold during the past three years.

The new toyline from ZAG Labs and Playmates will debut in 2021 in North America.  Additional new products to rollout include books from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (LBYR), a division of the Hachette Book Group; costumes and accessories for wholesale retailers from InSpirit Designs,a division of lifestyle retailer Spencer Spirit Holdings that owns and operates Spencer’s and Spirit Halloween.

Other new products soon to be available include bedding and home décor from Jay Franco, Bentex and Bioworld for apparel, Komar Brands for sleepwear, underwear from Handcraft Manufacturing, Hot Topic for DTR apparel program, PPE Foundation for face masks, Peachtree Playthings for craft and activity, Inkology for stationery, AXNY for smart watches, and Taste Beauty for beauty products.

Boyer will also work with ZAG Lab and Playmates across its portfolio of brands, including Power Players and Ghostforce, the company’s newest property, currently in production for Disney Channel EMEA, TF1, and Discovery Kids Latin America.

Acamar Films eyes further digital and international growth for Bing with new chief content officer

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Acamar Films, the independent studio behind the International Emmy Award-winning pre-school series Bing, has appointed Jodie Morris to the newly created role of chief content and audiences officer with immediate effect.

Morris joined Acamar two years ago and has been instrumental in leading the organisation’s successful development and implementation of a global strategy across a range of digital platforms and content formats. Reporting to Mikael Shields, Acamar’s CEO and producer and series voice director of Bing, Morris will take on an expanded leadership role within the company, overseeing the future strategy, planning and operation of the global distribution of Bing content.

She will also be responsible for driving audience growth across all platforms.

Under Morris’ leadership, Bing has already achieved substantial digital audience growth. The last 12 months in particular have witnessed exponential rises in views across a global YouTube network, significant growth across social media channels and over 750,000 downloads of Acamar’s proprietary Bing: Watch, Play, Learn app – an on-demand and games offering, launched in September 2019 and currently available in the UK, Italy and Poland.

With a wide range of major new local language productions now underway, Acamar is committed to deepening its relationship with the global pre-school audience – with a focus on broadening its Bing content offering, building a series of strategic platform-partnerships and expanding Bing’s geographic reach.

Bing continues to deliver outstanding performances across global linear and on-demand platforms, with the BBC having confirmed over 66 million iPlayer requests for Bing within just three months in 2020. A new series of Bing is currently enjoying high ratings as it launches internationally.

As chief content and audiences officer, Morris will work closely alongside Mikael Shields, Sandra Vauthier-Cellier (chief commercial officer), Julie Fitzjohn (chief operations officer) as well as the broader Acamar leadership team to build on the organisation’s remarkable success.

Hasbro partners with the World Taekwondo Federation for Get Active with the PJ Masks campaign

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Hasbro has struck a multi-territory partnership that will see its popular animated property, PJ Masks, join forces with the World Taekwondo Federation for a partnership designed to engage children around the world in the Korean martial art.

The campaign, called Get Active with the PJ Masks, will span multiple markets and feature 12 World Taekwondo top athletes.

The campaign aims to combine the global appeal of the popular animated series with the fun and accessibility of taekwondo to encourage children to take part in the sport. A unique digital tutorial series and interactive website have been created to help young fans of World Taekwondo and PJ Masks get active, have fun and master their own taekwondo inspired superpowers.

“There couldn’t be a better time to get kids active and excited about sport and movement,” said eOne’s Rebecca Harvey, EVP global marketing, Family & Brands. “Action, heroism and integrity are central to the PJ Masks brand and these values are perfectly aligned with the World Taekwondo Federation’s mission to teach taekwondo to kids around the world and channel their youthful energy into skills that will build strength and resilience.”

Taekwondo heroes from 12 countries have been selected as hero ‘Get Active’ hero ambassadors to create 12 Let’s Get Active taekwondo movements that will  encourage children to try and recreate them at home. They are Bianca Walkden (Great Britain), Dae-hoon Lee (Korea), Hatice Kubra Ilgun (Turkey), Jingyu Wu (China), Joel Gonzalez (Spain), Magda Wiet Henin (France), Maria Espinoza (Mexico), Milena Titoneli (Brazil), Panipak Wongpattanakit (Thailand), Pauline Lopez (Philippines), Tahir Guelec (Germany) and Vito Dell’Aquilla (Italy).

The partnership aims to amplify the reach of both brands and increase participation of the sport in the three to eight year age group through a reward focussed syllabus that teaches co-ordination and discipline skills.

World Taekwondo President Dr. Chungwon Choue, commented: “We are delighted to partner with Hasbro to bring together our shared values and the skills of our world and Olympic stars. World Taekwondo is committed to connecting with young people around the world and getting them to practice taekwondo and live healthy lifestyles.

“Partnering with the most loved and internationally recognised children’s shows in the world, is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate how fun and rewarding taekwondo can be. I want to thank each of these World Taekwondo Heroes for bringing smiles to the faces of children and families everywhere.”

Sutikki to develop animated and live action series based on the Digital Dream Labs’ hit Cozmo robot

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The children’s entertainment company, Sutikki – best known for the popular UK series, Moon & Me – has inked a new partnership with the US-based educational technology company, Digital Dream Labs, to create, develop and distribute an animated series and live action content based on the robot duo Cozmo and Vector.

Under the partnership, Cozmo has taken its first steps from best-selling toy brand to entertainment franchise with the premiere of its first animated featurette, making its debut on the newly launched Cozmo & Friends YouTube channel

The journey from best-selling toy brand to entertainment franchise starts today with the premiere of the first animated featurette which debuts on the newly launched Cozmo & Friends YouTube channel.  The hub will host a steady flow of innovative and creative content that will further explore Digital Dream Labs’ revolutionary robot creations.

Sutikki’s initial focus will be on Cozmo, an expressive little robot with a mind of its own and a one-of-a-kind personality that evolves and learns over time. Cozmo blazed a trail when it launched in 2017 earning the top spot for the best-selling toy on Amazon US two years in a row and the best-selling toy on Amazon in the UK and France in 2017.

Sutikki plans a comprehensive content campaign, initially on its dedicated YouTube channel, leveraging its experience and expertise in building highly engaging brand franchises that speak to the discerning, tech savvy kids of today. The short-form videos will tap into the production company’s ability to engage consumers through compelling storytelling and to showcase IP on a global scale.

Beyond plans for new video content, Sutikki is planning to launch a global consumer products program. Digital Dream Labs’ pre-order for updated versions of both of their popular consumer robots opens on 20th November 2020 ahead of the holiday season with the new robots hitting retail in Spring 2021.

“We’re looking forward to introducing Cozmo and friends to the world,” said Hannah Mungo, CEO, Sutikki. “Cozmo is an extraordinary character who is not only an educational asset and friend for children, but also full of play and exploration. We are extremely excited to tap into the unique characteristics of DDL’s amazing robot line through creative content and bold new consumer products that will form the blueprint for what is certain to be one of entertainment’s most exciting future franchises.”

Digital Dream Labs is a global leader of creating hands-on educational technology for children of all ages. The high-tech firm specializes in creating engaging, language and system-agnostic products that connect with kids of all ages. Its line of robots are more than simple educational tools and have already gained an online following that sets the stage for a successful evolution into the entertainment realm.

“It’s been a real pleasure for our team to watch the animators capture Cozmo’s unique personality,” added co-founder and CEO of Digital Dream Labs, Dr. Jacob Hanchar. “We’re really excited to see this partnership grow and know that families around the world will welcome Cozmo into homes across many different interactive touchpoints.”

Giraffe Insights: ‘Covid-19 fuels trends to digital kids content, but TV is still king for advert inspiration’

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Covid-19 has been a significant factor in accelerating existing trends towards digitalisation in the children’ market, with over half of all kids across nine European countries now regularly accessing video content online and via on-demand services.

These are the findings of a new study from the UK-based specialist kids, youth, and family research agency, Giraffe Insights, who – to mark World Children’s Day today (Friday, November 20th) – has conducted a ‘ground-breaking international study’ into family viewing, surveying over 3,500 families across nine European markets.

The research has found that children in major European markets, including the UK, Netherlands, Germany, and the Czech Republic, are now more likely to watch a video on demand or online than on live TV.

According to Giraffe Insights, the UK is the closest to a totally digital future with two thirds of kids watching video content via on demand services, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney + and over half also watching content through online platforms such as YouTube.  This contrasted with the fact that less than half of UK kids said they had watched content live on the TV channel in the week prior to this research being conducted.

In markets such as the Czech Republic, online viewing is booming, with almost two thirds of children viewing online video content. Even in more traditionally linear dominant markets such as Poland and Italy, online videos now make up a significant proportion of their weekly content intake.

However, Giraffe Insights states that ‘it’s not all doom and gloom for non-digital channels’ and that TV is still king for inspiration.

TV adverts and shows are still kids’ top source of inspiration across Europe for Christmas gifts (48 per cent), surpassing YouTube ads and videos (37 per cent), shops (35 per cent), friends (29 per cent) and online searches (24 per cent).

Maxine Fox, managing director at Giraffe Insights, said: “This exciting piece of research comes at a time where brands need to understand and respond to the changing environment and the impact this is having on consumer behaviour across the globe.

“Whilst this study highlights the acceleration in kids digital viewing across Europe, it also acts to remind us that not everything is changing, with live TV still king for inspiration.

“We have been tracking behaviours among kids and parents throughout this period to be able to provide our clients with strategic insights not currently available anywhere else.”

This research was conducted with 3,500 kids and parents across 9 markets – UK, Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands and Czechia.  For more information about this research and our expertise please contact: maxine.fox@giraffeinsights.co.uk 

Sesame Street prepares to launch 51st season to HBO Max this week

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Sesame Workshop is gearing up for the launch of Sesame Street’s 51st season this Thursday, November 12th on HBO Max, marking the first season of the popular pre-school series to debut on the streaming platform. A run of 35 episodes will be available on the platform, ahead of the season’s launch onto PBS Kids next autumn.

“We are proud to announce our newest episodes of Sesame Street, designed to entertain and educate kids as we help them build curiosity, creativity, and persistence – an especially crucial focus as families continue to face unprecedented challenges,” said Steve Youngwood, Sesame Workshop’s president of media and education and COO, who becomes the nonprofit’s CEO in January 2021.

“This season debut on HBO Max marks another key moment in our partnership with WarnerMedia. We are grateful to them and our longstanding partners at PBS for their continued support as we work together to help children grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.”

 Tom Ascheim, president, Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics, added: “Sesame Street has a longstanding legacy of doing incredibly important things for children by shaping culture and sparking important conversations among all of us.

“For me personally, I’m thrilled to be reunited with all the exceptional people that make Sesame Workshop the force that it is.”

Sesame Street’s latest season marks the beginning of a two-year curriculum focused on playful problem-solving, designed to build critical thinking skills in young children and better equip them to handle challenges in school and beyond. As Sesame Street Muppets, human cast members, and guest stars alike face obstacles – while building a castle, staging a circus, fixing the inner workings of a grandfather clock, and more – they approach these problems with curiosity, creativity, and perseverance.

A new anthem – “I Wonder, What If, Let’s Try” – performed by celebrity guest Hailee Steinfeld, brings this curriculum to life and makes its season debut on Thursday, November 26. The anthem will appear in Sesame Street episodes through the year.