Moonbug Entertainment is adding another piece of intellectual property to its expansive library. The owner of kid-friendly brands like Cocomelon and Blippi has introduced Minibods, a learning-focused spinoff of the popular YouTube franchise Oddbods.
Oddbods reaches more than 10 million subscribers on its primary YouTube channel. In order to model positive behaviors for the channel’s preschool-age viewers, Moonbug is aging down some of the primary Oddbods personalities. Bubbles, Jeff, Newt, Pogo, and Fuse — along with new character Lulu — will face “kid-relatable obstacles, such as baking or learning to ride a bike. Minibods will have its own channel, where new episodes will arrive each Saturday.
“At Moonbug, we strive to bring together humor, entertainment, and learning as we create characters, stories and worlds that captivate and resonate with kids across the globe,” said Moonbug CEO René Rechtman in a statement. “We are excited to expand on the world of Oddbods with the new fantastical world of Minibods and reach audiences with the same imaginative universe and new loveable characters.”
Since its acquisition by Candle Media, Moonbug has pursued international growth by creating extended universes based on its top channels. Cocomelon’s characters are featured in podcasts and live events to go along with numerous branding partnerships. The decision to add new characters and shows to the Blippi canon has opened up opportunities for expansion into countries like Brazil.
Oddbods is well-suited for international development thanks to its non-verbal nature. The franchise’s animated characters communicate via gestures and emotional cues, which brings in a global subscriber base that numbers more than 30 million in total.
Minibods may become the next big thing in the rapidly-developing Oddbods universe, but its initial run of episodes has a definitive end date. Moonbug is planning to upload 39 seven-minute episodes as part of Minibods’ first season.
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