BBC’s effort to reach kids on YouTube is working
The pubcaster's modernized strategy is helping it stay relevant with younger British viewers, media watchdog Ofcom reports.
Kidscreen
The next Godzilla will be an anime boy
Toho Animation has pulled back the curtain on a new adventure for the King of the Monsters that taps into what kids are looking for.
Part 1: How Canada left kids content by the wayside
"The canary's dead!" The country’s funding mechanisms have fallen apart, and there are too few broadcasters left to pick up the pieces.
VOTE: Which of these 6 orgs had the best week in the biz?
A new kids powerhouse. A bid to get more girls in the driver’s seat. A whole country standing up for itself. Who should win Kidscreen’s Gold Star?
DEALS: WBD renews Clawlolo and expands it to EMEA
Why were YouTube videos on Disney+?
In a partnership with pocket.watch, the streamer quietly tested adding creator content as an innovative way to tap into UGC’s popularity and keep kids engaged.
Nintendo to acquire Bandai Namco Studios Singapore
The iconic Japanese game developer will rebrand its new asset to Nintendo Studios Singapore as it bulks up to support the Switch 2.
PART 2: Adding crowdfunding to your arsenal
FEATURE: Most projects won't get fully funded through crowdfunding. But that doesn't mean it shouldn’t be part of your strategy.
Kidscreened
- Aussie teens are fighting back against the country's social media ban (BBC News)
- Stranger Things 5's premiere crashed Netflix immediately yesterday (Variety)
- Authors/publishers to gain access to OpenAI's communications in ongoing lawsuit (THR)
- Zootopia 2 and Wicked: For Good are dominating the box office before Turkey Day (Deadline)
PEOPLE: Toonz CEO P. Jayakumar will exit the Indian studio
Also, Disney permanently appoints Martín Iraola to spearhead its LatAm biz as part of a regional restructure.
Australia passes a law to make streamers fund local content
And on top of this "landmark day" for the long-awaited quotas, ABC Australia is getting a US$32-million funding boost to invest in kids and local programming.
Dark Slope wants to help digital-first creators level up their productions
Kids & family content creators can apply now for a chance to access the studio's facilities and potential co-pro opportunities.
The Labubu imitators aren’t going away
A day after Disney announced its blind-box market entry with YuYus, MGA is also getting into the increasingly crowded ugly-cute plush collectibles game.
Mega-retailers face off on Black Friday
How Target, Walmart and Amazon are vying to come out on top in what could be the largest holiday spending season to date.
PART 1: Playing to the crowd with crowdfunding
FEATURE: Indie producers are getting their projects off the ground by giving the people what they want—but it’s not as easy as it seems.
Kidscreened
- Disney's Imagineers have unleashed an AI-fueled Olaf robot upon its parks (Vulture)
- Stranger Things is the first Netflix series to have all four seasons in the top 10 (Variety)
- US retail sales increased 5.7% in September, with all categories seeing growth (RetailDive)
- Here's a first glimpse of what an anime-inspired Miraculous series looks like (CartoonBrew)
Council of Europe adopts framework to make indie TV co-pros easier
Producers of series in member countries will have clearer rules for rights and revenue-sharing.
Disney wants a slice of the Labubu market
Its new YuYus range will scratch the same blind-box itch as Pop Mart's plush line, by making collectors hunt down rare variants.
Blue Ant Media to acquire Thunderbird Entertainment
Kids and animation will be a key part of the combined business, with Thunderbird CEO Jennifer Twiner McCarron tapped to oversee this new division.
WBD says make a better offer
The teams at Paramount Skydance, Comcast and Netflix will need to serve more gravy to get David Zaslav to the dinner table this Thanksgiving.
Kidscreen is a world-leading resource for kids entertainment industry news, business insights and trend analysis.