Most popular kids’ videos on YouTube revealed

Website hosting platform hosting.co.uk has been looking into the kid-friendly YouTube videos with the most views.

According to its research, YouTube’s most popular children’s video – with 9.8B views – was ‘Baby Shark’ on the South Korean Pinkfong channel. Not only is this the most-watched kids’ video, it’s also the most-watched video of all time on YouTube.

Aside from Baby Shark, ‘Johny Johny Yes Papa ’, on the channel LooLoo Kids, was the most watched video, with 6 billion views. The video is of a popular nursery rhyme that encourages children to be honest after Johny gets caught eating sugar by his father.

Next up was ‘Bath Song’ on ‘Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes’. Despite being third on the most-watched list, ‘Cocomelon’ was the most subscribed-to kids YouTube channel with 122M subscribers.

The top 10 most-watched YouTube videos from the most subscribed-to kids’ channels were:

  • Pinkfong Baby Shark – Kids’ Songs & Stories, Baby Shark Dance: 9.8B
  • LooLoo Kids – Nursery Rhymes and Children’s Songs – Johny Johny Yes Papa: 6B
  • Cocomelon – Bath Song: 4.7B
  • Masha and the Bear – Recipe for Disaster: 4.4B
  • ChuChu TV Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs – Phonics Song with TWO Words – A For Apple – ABC Alphabet Songs with Sounds for Children: 4.3B
  • Little Baby Bum – Wheels On The Bus: 2.4B
  • Infobells – Hindi – Chal Chal Gurram: 2.1B
  • Super Simple Songs – This Is The Way: 2B
  • Kids Diana Show – LIKE IT: 1.6B
  • El Reino Infantil – El Gallo y la Pata: 1.5B

In 2019, Ofcom found that children between the ages of 5 and 15 were more likely to choose YouTube over other services such as Netflix. They also discovered that children between the ages of 3 and 4 using Youtube had more than doubled between 2015 and 2019.

CEO of hosting.co.uk Frederick Schiwek says: “YouTube is host to some of the most popular and watched videos in the world.

“Children often have their own devices and they know exactly how to navigate their way around and find their favourite videos. Children-themed channels are some of the most subscribed-to on the platform and we expect to see this continue to increase in coming years.”

Read hosting.co.uk’s full report here.

 

Pocket.watch teams up with YouTube superstars Toys and Colors for global franchise ‘Kaleidoscope City’

Family entertainment company pocket.watch, which specializes in extending kids and family YouTube stars and characters into global franchises like the mega-hit Ryan’s World, has slated spring 2022 for the launch of its latest project.

Kaleidoscope City will be based off Toys and Colors, the popular YouTube channel which amasses 1.5 billion views per month. The ensemble Asian-American cast features young friends Wendy, Alex, Emma, Jannie and Andrew, in addition to a host of Aunties and Uncles familiar to the channel’s massive audience.

Kaleidoscope City will come to life in an original live action/animated series, consumer products, gaming, podcasts, live events, and much more. The City is a magical world of colour where kids learn to see things from a new perspective and learn about diversity, varied points of view, conflict management and empathy.

“We are thrilled to partner with the incredible ensemble of Toys and Colors and we are so excited to introduce Kaleidoscope City as our next global kids and family franchise. This partnership reinforces our mission to bring kids more of what they love and to ensure that kids around the world see themselves in pocket.watch,” says Kerry Tucker, Chief Marketing and Franchise Officer of pocket.watch. “Our success in bringing franchise economics to the world’s most popular YouTube creators and produce, license and distribute original IP to every consumer touchpoint gives us the distinct opportunity to reach diverse audiences across the globe. Toys and Colors is a perfect addition to the pocket.watch family.”

Production is underway on an original hybrid live action/animation series created by pocket.watch Chief Content Officer, Albie Hecht, entitled “Toys and Colors in Kaleidoscope City”, featuring the Toys and Colors ensemble as live action characters against virtual photorealistic backgrounds combined with MOCAP CG animated characters – all produced in real time in the Unreal Game Engine. The franchise also introduces a cast of new animated characters who run various world bazaar shops and help the Toys and Colors crew navigate Kaleidoscope City. Baby Rainbow, Matcha, Dax and Chi Chi all have unique perspectives and personas and will serve as the inspiration for gaming, consumer products, podcasts, live events and more.

“We are so excited to join pocket.watch as their partners in becoming the next big global franchise for kids and families,” says Tim Nguyen of Toys and Colors. “After seeing what pocket.watch has done with brands like Ryan’s World and Love, Diana, and hearing about their incredible plans for Kaleidoscope City, we can’t wait to bring this new franchise to our fans all over the world.”

 

 

YouTube star Like Nastya to launch Jazwares toy line and NFT collection

The YouTube sensation, Like Nastya, has detailed the autumn launch of her first toy line, a range developed by the international toy maker, Jazwares in a partnership brokered by the global licensing agency, IMG.

The seven-year-old social media star’s toy line represents the latest expansion of Nastya’s universe in which Nastya and her parents play, learn, sing, explore, and share their life experiences on social media. Her YouTube videos cover topics from songs, nature, and animals, to the importance of eating healthily.

Like Nastya currently enjoys more than 220 million subscribers on YouTube, 5 million followers on TikTok, and a thriving Instagram channel.

The toy space is not the only sector into which the Like Nastya brand is expanding this season as IMG has also secured an NFT collection with Gary Vaynerchuk’s VaynerNFT.

Nastya, who at birth was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which inspired her first YouTube video and has since significantly improved, and her family will be donating a portion of proceeds from her NFT collection to the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.

Eyal Baumel, CEO of Yoola and Nastya’s manager, said: “Millions of kids and families around the world embrace Nastya as a friend and role model, and we are excited to expand Nastya’s universe into the physical world with the new toy line, and in the metaverse with our unique NFT program.

“This will allow Nastya’s community to own a collectible memory of Nastya, but to also use some of the unique utility NFTs to engage with her in the most special ways, including birthday greetings, connecting on social media, shoutouts, and even a live video call.”

Laura Zebersky, president of Jazwares, said: “Based on Nastya’s unbelievable success as a young content creator and role-model, imaginative play is the focus in our toy line so we are bringing to life and extending Nastya’s colorful adventures and positive messages.”

The toy line has been created to appeal to girls aged four to six years old and features Nastya’s Fancy Princess Surprise Doll, an eight-inch doll in the likeness of Nastya and it includes 50 unique surprises such as outfits, wear-and-share accessories, and more.

Other toys in the line include themed Nastya eight-inch dolls such as Sleepy Time, Princess and Rock Star, 12 distinctive three-inch Collectible Figures, a Nastya Bedroom Playset, plush toys and headbands. The toys will range in price from $4.99 to $39.99 and will be available in the US and UK at retailers including Target, Amazon, Walmart.com and Claire’s starting this autumn, before being released worldwide in different drops through spring 2022.

Nastya’s NFT collection, meanwhile, presents a new way for Nastya to engage with her community; and capitalise on the hyper-growth NFT market. With multiple tiered price points, and plenty of surprise and delight activities, “Nastya’s Originals’ collection is designed to bring a smile to the face of her fans, and extend the Like Nastya community into the metaverse.

“There are very few people on earth that have ever amassed an audience the size of Nastya and we are thrilled to work with her and her family,” said Gary Vaynerchuk, CEO of VaynerNFT, who recently launched his own successful VeeFriends project in May, 2021.

“The fact that her circle is thoughtfully thinking about how to bring her audience value through an NFT project instead of trying to make a quick buck is exactly why we wanted to work with them and is exactly the way that VaynerNFT wants to structure projects.”

Van Kokeh, Associate VP, Licensing, IMG, added: “Nastya’s engaging content, reach and musical talent allows us to expand her licensing program across all key areas and categories. Our unique strategy to launch her toy program with Jazwares, alongside her first NFTs, is just the start of the incredible program we have planned for the long-term growth of the Like Nastya brand globally.”

Hexbug builds Junkbots “metaverse” spanning toys, YouTube series, and Roblox story game

The award winning toy company Hexbug has launched a new project that merges toys with entertainment technology through a new eight part digital series and game on the Roblox platform based on its Junkbots brand.

Developed in partnership with the multimedia company Wind Sun Sky Entertainment, Junkbots aims to ‘converge the best in play, story, entertainment, and technology,’ enabling fans to ‘immerse themselves’ in the Junkbots brand ahead of the launch of season two of the toy line.

The new wave of Junkbots toys will launch with a new environment-based Junkbots Factory Collection of play-sets, while the new eight part series and Roblox game will follow a new adventure that all kicked-off when Junkbot Jack Static received a cryptic radio transmission.

“We are always looking to innovate and the expansion into Roblox and a larger presence on YouTube is a prime example of our forward thinking,” said Tony Norman, co-founder, and CEO, Innovation First International.

“We took our cue directly from kids and delivered an expansive new play experience that spans across multiple platforms that truly immerses them into the Junkbots metaverse through the blend of gaming, play and entertainment.

“Our partnership with multi-platform entertainment company Wind Sun Sky has allowed us to take this to a whole new level.”

The new Junkbots toy line, eight part YouTube series and Roblox story game is all scheduled to land this summer, designed to ‘create a thrilling, multi-platform experience’ for kids. The comedy and adventure series will allow fans the chance to immerse themselves in the Junkbots universe, and join the race to save the city in the multi-chapter Roblox game.

‘All combined, these awesome content extensions are positioned to support and expand the toy line that includes custom codes embedded into the packaging that allow kids to unlock exclusive Roblox swag online,’ read a description from the firm.

“I can proudly say that the Junkbots universe roll out is a rich, engaging and boundary pushing cross-platform narrative experience for fans and future fans of this amazing toy,” said CEO and EP Catherine Winder, WSS.

“Storytelling and world building is our expertise, and the Junkbots web series by our phenomenal team dares to take things a step further cross platform. Fans will laugh and become inspired as they watch in awe, then continue the story on Roblox and with their toys.”

The Junkbots Roblox game offers multiple mini-games within each Mission and dozens of playable set pieces. Players can immerse themselves with a unique “playground experience” where they can come together, socialise, customise their worlds, and explore in between playing story episodes.

Meanwhile, the Junkbots toy line includes multiple sets in the collection – each depicting a unique interactive environment. Season two of the toy line will see 16 new Junkbots to collect, each featuring power modules for light and motion. With an interlocking pipe-building system, kids can deconstruct and reconstruct their play-sets for alternative builds.

Fans will be able to get in on the action as JUNKBOTS launches on Roblox and YouTube in late July 2021 and in-store late August.

Moonbug and Jazwares launch Squishmallows-inspired animated YouTube series Squishville

Jazwares and its Kellytoy subsidiary are expanding the world of Squishmallows with the launch of a new animated YouTube series Squishville, developed in partnership with Moonbug Entertainment.

The original content, produced by the award-winning global entertainment company behind CoComelon, will kick off with the launch of its first episode on June 26th, with new episodes released every Saturday through to October this year.

This new development for the franchise follows hot on the heels of the retail debut of Squishville, a line of Squishmallows-inspired collectable plush and soft fabric play-sets and accessories. The range arrived in stores earlier this year.

Since launching in 2017, more than 86 million Squishmallows have been sold with the brand expecting to reach its 100 million milestone in the next couple of months. The debut of Squishville comes at a time when the popularity of Squishmallows is at an all-time high, having exploded into a TikTok toy sensation with more than 2.8 billion organic video views.

Squishville will follow the adventures of characters Fifi, Lola, Cam, and Winston as they take on Squishville with a few of their friends like Jeanna, Sharie, Leonard, and Hans.

“The launch of Squishville speaks volumes to the growth in popularity Squishmallows has had  over the last year,” said Laura Zebersky, president of Jazwares. “With original animated content, fans can now engage with the Squishmallows Squad and experience their adorable, colorful personalities like never before.”

Global toy craze Cats vs. Pickles lands first longer form animated series in Cepia LLC partnership

Cats vs. Pickles, the global collectable toy craze that has rocketed to success across the world’s toy markets in recent months, has landed its first extended original TV series, a move that is expected to ‘unlock the IP’s potential for international marketing, licensing, and additional consumer products.’

The move is part of a new alliance formed between Curiosity Ink Media and its owner Grom Social Enterprises, and Cepia LLC, who will also be eyeing ancillary publishing extensions for the toy brand this year and beyond.

In the world of Cats vs. Pickles, Cats are afraid of Pickles, but Pickles are misunderstood, they just want to be friends. The Cats vs. Pickles brand has already established vast appeal among a global audience through its range of collectable bean-filled toys, as well as its hit YouTube series of animated shorts and app game.

Details of the brand’s move into longer form, 11-minute animated content, as well as its publishing plans, were revealed this week by Cepia LLC’s founder and CEO, James Russell Hornsby, and Curisity Ink Media’s chief content officer, Russell Hicks.

The partnership represents both companies’ foray into the worlds of content distribution and publishing – offering new revenue streams for both – unlocking the potential for attendant ancillary businesses including international marketing, licensing and additional consumer products.

The alliance will develop Cats vs. Pickles into a recurring series in 11-minute installments, as well as create revenue-generating extensions beginning with published content for consumer purchase. With no dialogue, Cats vs. Pickles will benefit from having no language or cultural barriers to navigate, with ‘potential for immediate global distribution.’

Simultaneously, Curiosity and Cepia will collaborate to produce a collection of picture, board and activity books expected to hit shelves in 2022.

In the tradition of the classic cartoon, Tom & Jerry, Cats vs. Pickles tells its story without the use of dialogue as the misunderstood, dim-witted pickles – Joe Pickle, Hank Pickle, and Fitzgherkin – plot complex but doomed-to-fail schemes to get close to cats while in the pursuit of friendship.

The colorful cast of cats -including Paw-Purr-Oni, Water-meow-lon and Galacticat – are too self- absorbed to realize the pickle pursuit until it’s too late and react to the pickles with frightening alarm.

“Cats vs. Pickles has the elements of a franchise hit including a simple premise: loveable characters, endless storytelling possibilities and brand extension opportunities,” said Hicks. “Curiosity Ink Media is very excited to partner with the brilliant minds from Cepia to elevate this online sensation from cult hit to global powerhouse at a time when the world could definitely use a laugh, a smile and a message about acceptance.”

Hornsby added: “At its core, Cats vs Pickles is a love story that everyone can relate to because, at some point, we’ve all been pickles ourselves. We are thrilled to team up with the exceptional storytellers at Curiosity Ink, whose rich biographies in entertainment include cultivating powerhouse franchises like SpongeBob and Dora the Explorerto expand Cats vs. Pickles into its next nine lives.”

British stationery brand Manuscript Pen Company launches online preschool series Lionheart Tales

The Great British stationery brand, Manuscript Pen Company, has entered the children’s animation sector with the launch of a new preschool series based on its successful Lionheart Collection early learners craft brand.

Manuscript launched its Lionheart Collection in 2019, with a range of arts and craft products for children aged three to 10 years old, specially designed to support development, learn new skills and offer additional benefits, such as pen control, concentration and mindfulness for young learners.

Following the success of the range, the company has now decided to bring The Lionheart Collection to life with a series of animations about the characters, aimed at children aged three to five years old, as well as extend the current product range.

The Lionheart Tales animations will feature on YouTube, and include Arthur, the Mayor of Lionheart Town and his friends, who will each have a heartfelt message to help children develop.

The first episode, called ‘Tummy Flutter-Byes’ is now available to view online.  Coinciding with the launch, Manuscript Pen Company will be supporting the children’s mental health charity Place2Be and non-for-profit global reforestation organisation, Creating Tomorrow’s Forests by donating a percentage of sales from its Lionheart Tales website towards their efforts.

Manuscript will be sharing a series of short, easily digestible mental health and wellbeing blogs with tips and advice from Place2Be, using The Lionheart Tales characters to encourage mental wellness with young audiences early. The move is particularly poignant following findings into the negative impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the mental health of children in the UK.

Manuscript Pen Company has also donated £1,000 of products to Place2Be’s Art Room, where art is utilised to enhance children and young people’s wellbeing.

Charlie Stockbridge, managing director at Manuscript Pen Company, said: “Our Lionheart Collection has continued to prove popular with parents and children alike, so we are delighted to build upon this success and launch our new The Lionheart Tales animation by working in conjunction with creative storytellers, 3Megos.

“It was really vital for us that we created a fun and engaging animation series which positively promotes diversity and inclusivity, and introduces children to different family types and personal characteristics that they may be able to identify with. We hope children love The Lionheart Tales as much as we do and there will be plenty to keep them occupied as our website is going to have lots of activities and learning opportunities too.

“We’re thrilled to have established strong relationships with both larger retailers and smaller outlets since the launch of our Lionheart Collection in 2019, and with new products now available to coincide with the launch of The Lionheart Tales, we look forward to speaking with any additional stockists who may be interested in the range.”

For further information on The Lionheart Tales, visit www.thelionhearttales.com

Moonbug Entertainment partners with Amazon Kids+ on original new content slate

Moonbug Entertainment has teamed up with Amazon Kids+ to create, produce, and distribute a whole new portfolio of entertaining and educational children’s content, starring a cast of popular characters.

The first joint project under the partnership includes an original production of Arpo Robot Babysitter, based on the hit YouTube show Arpo. The production will premiere on Amazon Kids+ alongside a new Arpo mobile game.

“Our partnership with Amazon Kids+ expands Arpo’s world and takes children on new adventures,” said Andy Yeatman, Managing Director of the Americas at Moonbug. “Arpo’s unique format makes it accessible to kids across the globe, making them laugh as they meet new characters and sharpen their problem-solving skills.”

Veronica Pickett, head of Amazon Kids+ original series, added: “The arrival of Arpo into the Amazon Kids+ offering is a joyful example of our commitment to deliver content that kids and families will love.

“The heart and humor at the core of Arpo creates so many LOL moments that are inspiring the world of entertainment we’re building with the new original series and game.”

Arpo is an animated show based on slapstick humor for children three to seven years old. Its non-dialogue format entertains kids who speak all languages. The original production coming to Amazon Kids+ takes kids on a series of adventures as Arpo faces new challenges, between caring for Danny’s adopted Korean baby sister Cookie and adjusting to a team of new robots built by Mom.

On YouTube alone, Arpo has more than 5 million subscribers, 110 million views per month, and 1.9 billion lifetime views.

In addition to the new Amazon Kids+ relationship, Moonbug has brokered partnership deals for its programs with over 100 streaming platforms on a local and global scale, including Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, Sky and Tencent, and has category-leading viewership on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube.

Boxing icon Floyd Mayweather Jr enters the NFT ring ahead of Logan Paul bout this summer

The boxing icon, Floyd Mayweather Jr is the latest name to enter the licensed NFT ring.

In conjunction with IronBend – a provider of digital NFTs for prominent personalities – the five weight 12-time world champion has teamed up with Reality Gaming Group, a publisher of mobile games and blockchain-based digital entertainment, and Zytara Labs, to release exclusive NFT collector’s items.

The NFTs will drop ahead of the highly anticipated bout with the YouTuber-turned-boxer, Logan Paul.

The launch will feature a limited-edition digital collection celebrating the legacy of Floyd Mayweather’s life and career, including animations, artwork and rare memorabilia from Mayweather’s personal keepsakes. Each piece in this unique collection will be secured and protected using blockchain technology, enabling the verification of ownership and authenticity of each collector’s item.

 The pieces are being designed by Reality Gaming Group in partnership with Iron Bend and Zytara Labs, and will be launched on May 26, 2021, ahead of Mayweather vs. Paul fight scheduled for June 6th. Reality Gaming has done NFT collections for the hit TV Show Dr. Who and is in partnership with the British Broadcasting Company in a variety of NFT initiatives.

 Speaking about his NFT launch, Floyd Mayweather said: “I started from nothing and beat all the odds to achieve what I did in my career and I think that’s the American dream. I don’t look at myself as a celebrity – I look at myself as an icon, one who made it. My name will always live on for the things that I did and the mark that I left in sports. These digital collectibles give everyone a chance to be part of the Mayweather Legacy.”

 Dan Sobol, co-founder and CEO of IronBend, added: “We’re incredibly grateful to be selected by Floyd Mayweather as his exclusive partner in this journey of celebrating his life’s legacy in the digital universe.

“We are excited to be collaborating with a great team to present Floyd’s timeless digital collectibles to generations of his fans to memorialize the legend of this iconic athlete.”

 Morten Rongaard, CEO of Reality Gaming, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be working with Floyd Mayweather to create a unique NFT collection that will be loved by his fans around the world. The officially licensed content will be of the highest quality and fans can start collecting the limited-edition items secure in the knowledge that they will own a unique piece of Floyd Mayweather’s legacy.”

For more information about the upcoming Mayweather NFT drop, please visit https://floydnft.com

The Emoji Company and WildBrain launch new 2D series Emojitown in major brand extension

The Emoji Company and WildBrain have forged a new, far-reaching content and licensing partnership to launch Emojitown, a new digital first series and consumer products extension of Emoji.

Under the partnership, WildBrain’s AVOD network and digital studio, WildBrain Spark has teamed up with Emoji to develop and co-produce Emojitown, a new 2D series targeting teens and young adults.

WildBrain Spark holds exclusive global distribution rights to the new series and will premiere Emojitown on YouTube with a dedicated channel launching at the end of May, when viewers will be able to enjoy the first four episodes of the fast-paced, language-agnostic show, followed by additional episodes rolling out weekly.

Tapping into its expertise in brand management on YouTube, WildBrain Spark and the Emoji Company have created the series for AVOD audiences and is supporting the launch with extensive digital-marketing, paid-media campaigns and dedicated social-media strategies.

WildBrain Spark will also exclusively handle branded content opportunities and advertising sales for Emojitown on YouTube.

Meanwhile, WildBrain CPLG will handle the worldwide licensing and merchandising rights for Emojitown, building on the agency’s successful programme for the Emoji brand across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and other territories.

Marco Huesges, founder and CEO of emoji company, said: “This is a significant development for the Emoji brand, bringing our globally recognizable icons into the digital-content space. With their preeminent reputation on digital platforms, including YouTube, and their deep understanding of licensing and brand amplification, WildBrain Spark and WildBrain CPLG are the ideal collaborators for our push into new content creation and consumer products for the teen and young-adult audience. Together we will take this hugely exciting step in the evolution of Emoji.”

Maarten Weck, EVP and MD of WildBrain CPLG, said: “Building on our strong relationship with the emoji company, this expanded partnership combines the strengths of the much-loved emoji brand with our creative and collaborative capabilities across consumer products licensing, digital-content production, and AVOD management.”

Rachel Taylor, commercial director of WildBrain Spark, added: “With its universal appeal, the Emoji brand is ideal for the creation of an animated digital-first content offering, and our creative team has produced a funny, wry and edgy series, underpinned by bespoke data and insights drawn from our premium YouTube network.

“We’re delighted that the emoji company saw us as the right partner to co-develop and launch this extension of its brand for today’s digital-savvy audience of modern teens.”

In Emojitown we see daily struggles and nightmares ranging from the mundane to the absurd. The perils of dating apps, the instant regret of a DIY haircut, the cringe of a poolside bikini fail and more, are all played out in 2D-animated color. The story will focus on Jo, a girl in her late teens who, despite trying to “live her best life” with a cheery, optimistic outlook, simply cannot stop encountering the everyday “horrors” of modern life. Throughout it all, Jo is the relatable underdog, as she, along with her emojitown pals, navigate the pitfalls of life.

Joining Jo in Emojitown are Jaya, Jon, Jess, Jay, Julia and Joanie, plus the bizarre duo of Poophead and Unicorn Man. The cast has been develop to represent not just characters to sympathise with, but for viewers to actively see themselves or someone they know in. They have been developed to represent “real people” – the kind encountered every day, reflecting attitudes, style, ethnicity, gender, ability and sexuality as diverse and representative as real life.