CoComelon snags DreamWorks and Universal for its first full-length film

Ready for a taste of CoCo in the cinema?

CoComelon, the kids’ YouTube phenom that generates 2 billion views a month with its animated nursery rhymes, has partnered with Hollywood heavyweights like DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures to bring its first full-length film to theaters.

Parent Moonbug Entertainment–which was acquired by former Disney/TikTok exec Kevin Mayer‘s Candle Media for a reported $3 billion in 2021–says the movie will be CG animated and “inspired by the blockbuster children’s show.” Moonbug will produce alongside Flywheel Media, Prime Focus Studios, and DreamWorks Animation, with animation done by DNEG Group and distribution by Universal.

“Fans will follow JJ and his friends on the big screen for a new adventure,” Moonbug says.

While this will be CoComelon’s first theatrical feature, it’s no stranger to venturing off YouTube. Moonbug has an ongoing licensing deal with Netflix that has so far produced spinoffs like CoComelon Lane, Cody Time, Nina’s Familia, and JJ’s Animal Time. Netflix also airs the original show on its platform, racking up billions of hours of watch time each year from young viewers (and probably their parents, too).

CoComelon also isn’t the first YouTube kids’ obsession to head to big screens. Ryan Kaji, the face of Ryan’s World, starred in Ryan’s World The Movie: Titan Universe Adventure last year. The film was produced by the Kaji family’s longtime partner pocket.watch and didn’t perform great at the box office

, grossing over $600,000 against a “budget of less than $10 million.”

A few things give CoComelon a better shot at charming theater audiences. First, Moonbug managed to secure staple Hollywood giants as production partners. Obviously having legacy Hollywood studios involved doesn’t guarantee the film will be good (looking at you, Madame Web), but it will be made by people who know what a movie should look and feel like.

Second, the Ryan’s World film, like the Ryan’s World YouTube content, was live acted, with starring roles going (obviously) to Ryan and his sisters, who aren’t experienced Hollywood-caliber actors. CoComelon, on the other hand, is animated and already voiced by professional actors/singers for YouTube, so there won’t be hiccups taking the cast from small to big screens. The film may still choose to cast new voice actors (we don’t know!), but even then, it can likely hire industry pros without worrying too much about viewers wondering why a character seems different on YouTube versus film. That’s the beauty of animation.

However things shake out, it won’t happen for a while. The film is set to premiere not this year, not next year, but in 2027. That’s a ways off, but it seems Moonbug and co. are willing to bet CoComelon will still be kids’ #1 YouTube pick years in the future.