Moonbug Entertainment Ltd.
TypePrivate limited company
IndustryAnimation studio
Media distribution
Founded9 February 2018 (2018-02-09) in London, England,[1] United Kingdom
FounderRené Rechtman
Headquarters
3-6, 2nd Floor, LABS Upper Lock, Water Ln, London NW1 8JZ
,
United Kingdom
Key people
René Rechtman (CEO)
John Robson (COO)[2]
ProductsSee List of shows
Revenue£39.6 million (US$ 53.8 million)[3] (2020)
OwnerCandle Media
Number of employees
~309 employees[4] (2021)
SubsidiariesEl Bebe Productions Limited[5]
Websitemoonbug.com

Moonbug Entertainment (often abbreviated to Moonbug /ˈmuːnˌbʌɡ/) is a British children's media company and multi-channel network headquartered in London, with an overseas office in Los Angeles, United States[6][7] which creates, produces, and distributes children's video and audio content. It is currently owned by Candle Media, an American media company led by Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs. Moonbug distributes children's entertainment intellectual property, including the YouTube channels Cocomelon and Little Baby Bum and YouTube series such as Mia's Magic Playground, Blippi, and My Magic Pet Morphle.

Since being founded in 2018, the company has distributed many series and franchises across animation, live-action and puppet shows. Moonbug shows can also be found on many streaming services.[8] Moonbug programming is distributed on more than 100 platforms and is available in 26 languages around the world.[9]

History

Moonbug Entertainment logo from 2018 until 2023

Moonbug Entertainment was co-founded in 2018 by René Rechtman, the former president of international at Maker Studios (now Rogue Rocket and formerly known as Disney Digital Network),[10] and John Robson, the former managing director of WildBrain (now WildBrain Spark).[11] The company was incorporated on 9 February 2018, under the name Project ABC Holdings Limited.[1]

In December 2020, Moonbug appointed former vice president of children's programming for Disney Channels in Europe and Africa/UK & Ireland, David Levine, to head the studio.[12][13] On 19 October 2021, a company backed by The Blackstone Group is said to be interested in buying Moonbug.[14] Later, on 5 November 2021, Moonbug acquired by an unnamed company led by Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs which also backed by Blackstone.[15] Later, in January 2022, it is revealed that the current holding company of Moonbug was named Candle Media.[16]

On 1 March 2023, Moonbug worked with brand agency DixonBaxi to rebrand their logo.[17] In December 2023, Moonbug laid off "a shade under 30 people" and canceled a number of shows to focus on Cocomelon and Blippi as a strategic measure. Moonbug would be experimenting artificial intelligence and other new technologies, but also focusing more on music and video games.[18]

Acquisitions

In September 2018, YouTube channel Little Baby Bum was acquired by Moonbug for an estimated US$9 million.[19] My Magic Pet Morphle (formerly by Morphle TV)[20] was acquired on 11 February 2019,[21] while Supa Strikas on 6 August 2019.[22] On 31 July 2020, Cocomelon and Blippi were purchased together for US$120 million.[23][2]

In February 2020, South Korean animated series Arpo: The Robot for All Kids created by Toonzip, which first aired on 2012 by MBC TV,[24] was bought by Moonbug.[25][26] As of 2021 Canary Islands-based studio 3Doubles Producciones produces the show for Moonbug on YouTube.[27] The ownership of Arpo, however, is not really clear since another South Korean animation studio Anyzac (which owns Zombiedumb), founded by former Toonzip executives in 2013, also claimed that series.[28]

On 10 February 2022, Moonbug acquired the YouTube network Little Angel.[29] On 24 May 2022, Moonbug acquired Singapore-based media company One Animation, producer of Oddbods and Rob the Robot.[30]

Partnerships with Moonbug

On 13 October 2019, Moonbug signed a content deal with Nordic Entertainment Group to create an animated series entitled Mia's Magic Playground.[lower-alpha 1][31] On 24 August 2020, Moonbug announced a partnership with HBO Max to release Moonbug's original series Mia's Magic Playground, which consists of 24 episodes.[32][33] On the same day, Moonbug also announced another partnership with MGA Entertainment to create an animated series based on the Cozy Coupe toy line, titled Let's Go Cozy Coupe.[34]

In April 2020, Moonbug partnered with Chinese video platform Xigua Video to bring Little Baby Bum to a Chinese audience. Later that year, in September, the company signed another distribution deal with Tencent Video, a streaming platform owned by the Chinese internet company Tencent, to host four of Moonbug's programs: Go Buster, Playtime with Twinkle, KiiYii, and The Sharksons.[35]

On 18 August 2020, it was confirmed that Moonbug had signed a deal with Cloudco Entertainment to operate the Care Bears YouTube channel and to co-produce a web series based on the franchise, titled Care Bears: Unlock the Music.[36] This deal expired in 2022, and Cloudco reverted to operating the channel with their previous management partner Little Dot Studios later on in the year.[37]

On 21 August 2020, Moonbug launched a Little Baby Bum FAST channel on Pluto TV.[38]

On 23 September 2020, Moonbug announced an agreement with Virgin Media to distribute its shows.[39] On 7 January 2021, Moonbug Entertainment and licensing company The Point. 1888 secured six companies for Blippi-branded merchandise.[40][41] On 3 February 2021, Moonbug Entertainment partnered with children's TV channel Spacetoon to distribute its shows via Spacetoon Go.[42]

A partnership with global talent and entertainment company United Talent Agency was formed in September 2020 to expand domestic publishing and video game rights of kids' products in North America.[43]

In January 2021 "Future Today," a publishing platform, expanded its partnership with Moonbug when it launched five omni-platform streaming channels to host Moonbug's most-watched children's series, including Blippi, Cocomelon, Little Baby Bum, My Magic Pet Morphle and Supa Strikas.[44][45][46] Moonbug also partnered with Jazwares, Creative Kids, Texco, Round Room and DJ Murphy to create Blippi branded products.[47]

Also in January 2021, Moonbug also launched a partnership with Poetic Brands to create branded children's clothing based on Moonbug's program Blippi.[48][49] Other licenses acquired by The Point.1888 for Blippi are: Scholastic Publishers, as a master publisher; Misirli, an underwear company, to manufacture Blippi branded socks; TDP Textiles and Aykroyds & Sons, manufacturers of swimwear and nightwear, to make Blippi bathing suits and pajamas; RMS International, to create puzzles;[47] and Zak to make branded lunch boxes.[50] Wow! Stuff launched a partnership with Moonbug to create electronic toys based on the Cocomelon brand.[51] Later that month, the company appointed Redibra, a brand licensing company, to be the licensing agent for its properties in Brazil.[52]

On 8 April 2021, Moonbug announced partnership with Israeli company Noga Communications to launch the Moonbug Kids channel on their on-demand platform BIGI.[53] In June 2021, Moonbug partnered with Jazwares to release the YouTube animated series Squishville which is based on the Squishmallows toy franchise.[54] On 13 July 2021, the toy producer WowWee announced partnership with Moonbug to release Arpo: The Robot for All Kids-branded toys.[55] On 19 August 2021, Universal Music Group (UMG) declared global partnership with Moonbug Entertainment to bring the Moonbug's library.[56]

On 28 October 2021, Moonbug secured a partnership with the costume manufacturing company Rubies, and the costumes will available as of 2022 across EMEA.[57] In October 2022, Fairmont Hotel at Jakarta, Indonesia launched tens of Cocomelon-themed rooms with Moonbug partnership.[58]

On 4 May 2023, Moonbug announced they had secured a partnership with Audible to launch two new podcast series based on Little Baby Bum and Lellobee City Farm.[59]

Divisions

Moonbug Kids

Former logo of Moonbug Kids

Moonbug Kids is a multi-channel network owned by Moonbug Entertainment. Moonbug Kids channels can be found on YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Roku, Amazon Prime Video,[60] Sky UK,[61] Joyn (Germany), Mediaset (Italy),[62] Cignal (Philippines), Astro (Malaysia),[63] and OSN (Middle East).[64] On YouTube, this consists of 22 main channels branded as Moonbug Kids (e.g. Moonbug Kids – After School Club – Kids Cartoons), while 12 other channels are in other languages. Moonbug also owns a YouTube channel named MyGo! of which aims on the Moonbug library in sign language.

El Bebe Productions

El Bebe Productions is a Moonbug subsidiary founded in August 2011 which owns the Little Baby Bum YouTube channel.[65]

List of shows

Many of Moonbug's shows were aired on YouTube and other streaming media services. However, Moonbug's version of Arpo: The Robot for All Kids was also aired on the Pakistani-based children's interest channel Champion TV, and Cocomelon was also aired by Cartoonito in UK since April 2021, and Super RTL in Germany.[66]

Moonbug also showcases several shows on channels they operate, such as BoBoiBoy Galaxy, Care Bears: Unlock the Magic, Care Bears & Cousins, Thomas & Friends, Mr. Bean: The Animated Series and Real Wheels.

Original shows

Distributed shows

Shows based on licensed properties

YouTube channels

Criticism and controversies

Performing rights

In March 2022, The Ivors Academy and Musicians' Union in the UK criticised the "letters of direction" used by Moonbug to get composers to assign the company their performing rights royalties.[72][73]

LGBT content

A gay couple with their child were featured in a Lellobee episode, caused criticism in Indonesia after being aired by IndiKids (an in-house channel produced by Indihome) in August 2023.[74]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Part of Little Baby Bum per Moonbug Locks in Deals with HBO Max MGA
  2. ↑ Co-produced with the Italian company Rainbow S.p.A.[69]
  3. 1 2 3 4 Part of Little Baby Bum.
  4. ↑ Original version was released by Toonzip on 2012, while the YouTube shorts from 2019 to 2020.
  5. ↑ Originally titled Mila and Her Magic Pet.
  6. ↑ Originally titled ToyLabTV.
  7. ↑ Based on Care Bears franchise.
  8. ↑ Originally titled checkgate, then ThatsMeonTV, and ABC Kid TV.

References

  1. 1 2 "MOONBUG ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED". beta.companieshouse.com.
  2. 1 2 "Moonbug". craft.co.
  3. ↑ "Kids music brand Moonbug made $53.8m of revenues in 2020". Musically. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  4. ↑ "Moonbug". Craft.co.
  5. ↑ "El Bebe Productions". pitchbook.com.
  6. ↑ Spangler, Todd (2019-01-17). "Andy Yeatman, Former Netflix Head of Kids Content, Lands at Startup Moonbug (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  7. ↑ Spangler, Todd (7 January 2019). "Andy Yeatman, Former Netflix Head of Kids Content, Lands at Startup Moonbug (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  8. ↑ "YouTube Kids' Powerhouse CoComelon Acquired by Moonbug, Which Raises $120M in New Funding". Variety. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  9. ↑ Weiss, Geoff (4 September 2020). "Moonbug Pushes Further Into China Via Content Pact With Tencent Video". Tubefilter.
  10. ↑ "Maker Studios exec: 'TV will be dead in 10 years'". Business Insider. 30 April 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  11. ↑ "Joyn Moonbug join forces". c21media.net. 14 May 2020.
  12. ↑ Dudok de Wit, Alex (10 December 2020). "Former Disney Executive David Levine Joins Moonbug As Head Of Studio". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  13. ↑ Layton, Mark (10 December 2020). "Disney alum David Levine joins Moonbug as studio head". TBI. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  14. ↑ "Blackstone Mulls Moonbug Entertainment Purchase". Pitchbook. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  15. ↑ "'Cocomelon' Owner Moonbug Entertainment Sells to Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs' Blackstone-Backed Company". Yahoo! News. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  16. ↑ "Candle Media Enlists Key Executives Amid Hollywood Buying Spree". The Hollywood Reporter. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  17. ↑ "Moonbug Reveals Vibrant New Rebrand". Licensing.biz. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  18. ↑ "'Cocomelon' Is in Trouble". newsweek.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  19. ↑ "How Little Baby Bum inspired a music-driven biz". kidscreen.com. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  20. ↑ "Acquisition of Morphle TV by Moonbug Entertainment". bdo.co.uk. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  21. ↑ "Moonbug Acquires Magic Pet Morphle, Toddler Fun". businesswire.com. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  22. ↑ "Moonbug Acquires Global Kids Animated Soccer Brand". businesswire.com. 6 August 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  23. ↑ "Moonbug acquires CoComelon, Blippi". kidscreen.com. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  24. ↑ m.imbc.com/program/1002713100000100000
  25. ↑ "Deals You Missed: Spin Master, Zuru, Moonbug". kidscreen.com. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  26. ↑ "Moonbug Acquires Korean Hit Animated Series "ARPO"". PR Newswire (Press release).
  27. ↑ 3Doubles (2019-11-18). "3Doubles Producciones is working in "ARPO The Robot" Youtube series". 3 Doubles Producciones (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-08-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  28. ↑ "완성도 높은 국산 캐릭터 '좀비덤' 한국 콘텐츠의 우수성 알리는 홍보대사 되다". Global Window. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  29. ↑ "Moonbug acquires Little Angel YouTube network".
  30. ↑ "Moonbug Acquires 'Oddbods' Studio One Animation". 24 May 2022.
  31. ↑ "Moonbug Viaplay team on animated original series Mia's Magic Playground exclusive". Variety. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  32. ↑ "Moonbug Original Series 'Mia's Magic Playground' To Launch Exclusively On HBO Max". PR Newswire (Press release).
  33. ↑ "Moonbug locks in deals with HBO Max & MGA".
  34. ↑ Zahn, James (August 24, 2020). "Little Tikes' Cozy Coupe Gets Animated for 'Let's Go Cozy Coupe'". The Toy Book.
  35. ↑ "Moonbug Pushes Further Into China Via Content Pact With Tencent Video". Tubefilter. 2020-09-04. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  36. ↑ "Care Bears gets YouTube series". c21media.net. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  37. ↑ "A Round up of 2022 from the Little Dot Studios Management Team".
  38. ↑ "Moonbug Launches the Little Baby Bum Channel on Pluto TV Featuring Content From Its Popular Nursery Rhyme Universe". PR Newswire (Press release).
  39. ↑ "Moonbug content on Virgin Media". September 23, 2020.
  40. ↑ "The Point. 1888 and Moonbug Entertainment Sign Six New Partners for Pre-School Hit Blippi". licensing.biz. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  41. ↑ "RMS International named puzzles partner for popular pre-school property Blippi". toynews-online.biz. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  42. ↑ "Spacetoon Partners with Moonbug Entertainment to Bring CoComelon in MENA". Broadcast Prome. February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  43. ↑ "Moonbug Partners with UTA to Expand Kids' Products in North America". aNb Media, Inc. 2020-09-15. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  44. ↑ Milligan, Mercedes (2021-01-19). "Moonbug Teams with Future Today to Launch 5 New Kids Channels". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  45. ↑ "Moonbug Entertainment, Future Today Expand Kids Content Arsenal". licenseglobal.com. 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  46. ↑ "Moonbug Expands Partnership with Future Today". aNb Media, Inc. 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  47. 1 2 "RMS International named puzzles partner for popular pre-school property Blippi". ToyNews. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  48. ↑ "Poetic Brands Readies Blippi Apparel Line". aNb Media, Inc. 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  49. ↑ "Poetic Brands Stitches Blippi Apparel Deal". licenseglobal.com. 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  50. ↑ "The Point.1888 Grows Blippi Licensee List". licenseglobal.com. 2021-01-08. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  51. ↑ "Wow!Stuff Reveals Spring 2021 Toy Lineup • The Toy Book". The Toy Book. 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  52. ↑ "Moonbug Appoints Redibra as Brazilian Licensing Agent". licenseglobal.com. 2021-01-29. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  53. ↑ "Moonbug expands into Israel". www.licenseglobal.com. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  54. ↑ "Jazwares and Moonbug Entertainment launch Squishville animated YouTube series". ToyNews. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  55. ↑ "WowWee Named Master Toy Partner for Arpo: Robot Babysitter". Licensing Magazine. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  56. ↑ "Moonbug Entertainment and Universal Music Group Partner Exclusively to Bring Vast Library of Educational Music to Kids Worldwide". Universal Music Group. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  57. ↑ "Rubies Joins Cocomelon Family Dress Across EMEA". LicenseGlobal. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  58. ↑ "Hotel Fairmont Jakarta Hadirkan Pengalaman Menginap Bertema Cocomelon". Republika. 14 October 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  59. ↑ "Audible Launches Moonbug Original Family-Listening Podcasts". LicenseGlobal. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  60. ↑ "Moonbug Kids". brandsoftheworld.com.
  61. ↑ "Moonbug launches VOD content on Sky Kids". Broadband TV News. 2020-06-16. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  62. ↑ "Moonbug Names Nicolas Eglau as Head of EMEA". Bloomberg.com. 2019-09-25. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
  63. ↑ "Popular Moonbug Kids channel debuts on Astro". corporate.astro.com. 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  64. ↑ "OSN to launch first Moonbug Kids channel in MENA". Arab News. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  65. ↑ "El Bebe Productions". Apollo.io. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  66. ↑ "Moonbug Entertainment brands to arrive front-of-store in Asda this Christmas". Licensing.biz. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  67. ↑ "Blippi Wonders Now Playing on YouTube". Animation World Network. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  68. ↑ "Blippi Wonders - Blippi Learns Rainbow Colors! ... — Blippi - Educational Videos for Kids". YouTube.
  69. ↑ "Blippi Wonders". Rainbow CGI. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  70. ↑ "A Message from the Glove and Boots Creators". Reddit. 9 February 2019.
  71. ↑ Milligan, Mercedes (May 11, 2021). "Cloudco & Moonbug Tune Up S2 of 'Care Bears: Unlock the Music'".
  72. ↑ "Moonbug faces criticism over performing rights royalties". Musically. 17 March 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  73. ↑ "Concern Over Moonbug Entertainment's Performing Rights Royalties". Musicians' Union. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  74. ↑ "Kartun Anak Memuat Konten LGBT Ditayangkan Layanan Indihome TV". terkini.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-08-23.
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