Moonbug Entertainment

Moonbug Entertainment /muːnˌbʌɡ/ (also known as just Moonbug, stylised as all-lowercase moonbug) is a British media company based in London. Moonbug also owns children's YouTube channels, including third-most subscribed channel on YouTube Cocomelon, and Little Baby Bum.

"Moonbug" redirects here. For the band who owns Moonbug soundtrack, see The The.
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
1st Floor 10 Parkway, London, NW1 7AA
,
United Kingdom
Key people
René Rechtman (CEO)
John Robson (COO)[2]
ProductsSee Shows
Number of employees
161 employees[3]
SubsidiariesEl Bebe Productions Limited[4]
Websitemoonbug.com

Some of them are distributed by Moonbug through YouTube, including BoBoiBoy Galaxy and Care Bears: Unlock the Magic. Since being founded in 2018, the company has acquired many animated series and franchises. Alongside YouTube, Moonbug also aired its shows on Netflix, Apple TV+, Roku, and other streaming services.[5] Moonbug Entertainment has a branch office located in Los Angeles, US.[2]

History

Moonbug Entertainment was co-founded in 2018 by the former president of Maker Studios (now Disney Digital Network),[6] René Rechtman; and former managing director of WildBrain Spark, John Robson.[7] The company was incorporated on 9 February 2018, under the name Project ABC Holdings Limited until 13 November 2018.[1] Prior to that; Rechtman sold Maker Studios to Disney for US$675 million, and Goviral to AOL for US$100 million.[8]

Acquisitions

In September 2018, YouTube channel Little Baby Bum was acquired by Moonbug for an estimated US$9 million.[9] My Magic Pet Morphle (formerly by Morphle TV[10]) was acquired on 11 February 2019,[11] while Supa Strikas on 6 August 2019.[12] On 31 July 2020, Cocomelon and Blippi were purchased together for US$120 million.[13][2]

In February 2020, South Korean animated series Arpo: The Robot for All Kids which created by Toonzip, which first aired on 2012 by MBC TV;[14] was bought by Moonbug.[15][16] Currently, YouTube non-dialogue shorts with same name produced by Moonbug Entertainment, with animation done by Canary Islands-based studio 3Doubles Producciones.[17] However, Moonbug has uploaded episodes of Arpo: The Robot for All Kids since July 2018 on YouTube.

Partnerships with Moonbug

In 13 October 2019, Moonbug signed content deal with Nordic Entertainment Group to create an animated series entitled Mia's Magic Playground.[lower-alpha 1][18] 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.[19][20] In 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.[21]

In 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.[22] Three days later, Moonbug launched Little Baby Bum channel on Pluto TV.[23]

In 23 September 2020, Moonbug announced agreement with Virgin Media to distribute its shows.[24] In 7 January 2021, Moonbug Entertainment and licensing company The Point. 1888 secured six companies for Blippi-branded merchandises.[25][26] In 3 February 2021, Moonbug Entertainment partnered with children's TV channel Spacetoon to distribute its shows via Spacetoon Go.[27]

Units

Moonbug Kids

Moonbug Kids is a multi-channel network owned by Moonbug Entertainment. In YouTube itself, 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, including sign language.

Alongside YouTube, Moonbug Kids has channels on Netflix, Hulu, Roku, Prime Video, and others.[28]

Shows

Many of them was aired via YouTube and other streaming media services. However, Moonbug version of Arpo: The Robot for All Kids also aired by Pakistani-based children's interest channel Champion TV.[29] Moonbug has also uploaded show which not created by Moonbug itself like BoBoiBoy Galaxy, Care Bears: Unlock the Magic, Thomas & Friends, and Mr. Bean, but not included in this section.

Original shows

Acquired shows

Shows based on licensed properties

YouTube channels


Notes
  1. Part of Little Baby Bum per kidscreen.com/2020/08/25/moonbug-locks-in-deals-with-hbo-max-mga/
  2. Part of Little Baby Bum.
  3. Original version was released by Toonzip on 2012, while the YouTube shorts from 2019 to 2020.
  4. Originally titled Mila and Her Magic Pet.[31]
  5. Originally titled ToyLabTV.[32]
  6. Based on Care Bears franchise.

References
  1. "MOONBUG ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED". beta.companieshouse.com.
  2. "Moonbug". craft.co.
  3. "Moonbug". dealroom.co. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  4. "El Bebe Productions". pitchbook.com.
  5. "YouTube Kids' Powerhouse Cocomelon Acquired by Moonbug, Which Raises $120M in New Funding". variety.com. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  6. "Rene Rechtman". linkedin.com.
  7. "Joyn Moonbug join forces". c21media.net. 14 May 2020.
  8. alejandrocremades.com/rene-rechtman/
  9. "How Little Baby Bum inspired a music-driven biz". kidscreen.com. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  10. "Acquisition of Morphle TV by Moonbug Entertainment". bdo.co.uk. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  11. "Moonbug Acquires Magic Pet Morphle, Toddler Fun". businesswire.com. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  12. "Moonbug Acquires Global Kids Animated Soccer Brand". businesswire.com. 6 August 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  13. "Moonbug acquires CoComelon, Blippi". kidscreen.com. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  14. m.imbc.com/program/1002713100000100000
  15. "Deals You Missed: Spin Master, Zuru, Moonbug". kidscreen.com. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  16. www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/moonbug-acquires-korean-hit-animated-series-arpo-301010241.html
  17. www.3doubles.com/2019/11/18/3doubles-producciones-is-working-on-production-arpo-the-robot/
  18. "Moonbug Viaplay team on animated original series Mia's Magic Playground exclusive". variety.com. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  19. www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/moonbug-original-series-mias-magic-playground-to-launch-exclusively-on-hbo-max-301116804.html
  20. kidscreen.com/2020/08/25/moonbug-locks-in-deals-with-hbo-max-mga/
  21. toybook.com/little-tikes-cozy-coupe-gets-animated-for-lets-go-cozy-coupe/
  22. "Care Bears gets YouTube series". c21media.net. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  23. www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/moonbug-launches-the-little-baby-bum-channel-on-pluto-tv-featuring-content-from-its-popular-nursery-rhyme-universe-301096923.html
  24. advanced-television.com/2020/09/23/moonbug-content-on-virgin-media/
  25. "The Point. 1888 and Moonbug Entertainment Sign Six New Partners for Pre-School Hit Blippi". licensing.biz. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  26. "RMS Internation Named Puzzles Partner for Popular Pre-School Property Blippi". toynews-online.biz. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  27. "Spacetoon Partners with Moonbug Entertainment to Bring Cocomelon in MENA". Broadcast Prome. February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  28. "Moonbug Kids". brandsoftheworld.com.
  29. "Watch Arpo The Robot On C-TV — Champion TV". youtube.com.
  30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEGzA49wJho
  31. "Jingle Bells.. — Morphle TV". youtube.com.
  32. "Play Doh Surprise Eggs... — T-Rex Ranch – Dinosaurs for Kids". youtube.com.
  33. "Care Bears – The Magic of Caring Song!... — Care Bears". youtube.com.
  34. "Bandit Bus is Lonely... — Cozy Coupe – Cartoons for Kids". youtube.com.
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