Moonbug Entertainment Explained

Moonbug Entertainment Ltd.
Type:Subsidiary
Industry:Animation studio
Media distribution
Founded: in London, England,[1] United Kingdom
Founder:René Rechtman
Hq Location City:3-6, 2nd Floor, LABS Upper Lock, Water Ln, London NW1 8JZ
Hq Location Country:United Kingdom
Area Served:Worldwide
Key People:René Rechtman (CEO)
John Robson (COO)[2]
Products:See List of shows
Revenue:£39.6 million (US$ 53.8 million)[3]
Revenue Year:2020
Num Employees:~309 employees[4]
Num Employees Year:2021
Parent:Candle Media
Subsid:El Bebe Productions Limited[5]

Moonbug Entertainment Ltd. is a British children's media company and multi-channel network headquartered in London, with an office in Los Angeles.[6] [7] Founded in 2018 and owned by Candle Media, Moonbug creates and distributes children’s video and audio content. It is known for managing popular YouTube channels Cocomelon and Little Baby Bum, as well as series such as Mia's Magic Playground, Blippi, My Magic Pet Morphle' and Cleo and Cuquin with Guru Studio and Nickelodeon Animation Studio

Moonbug’s programming spans animation, live-action, and puppet shows and is available on over 100 platforms in 26 languages.[8] [9]

History

Moonbug Entertainment was co-founded in 2018 by René Rechtman, former President of International at Maker Studios, and John Robson, former Managing Director of WildBrain.[10] [11] The company was initially incorporated as Project ABC Holdings Limited on 9 February 2018.

In December 2020, David Levine, former Vice President of Children’s Programming for Disney Channels in Europe, was appointed to lead the studio.[12] [13] In November 2021, Moonbug was acquired by Candle Media, led by Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, with backing from Blackstone.[14] [15]

In December 2023, the company laid off nearly 30 employees and canceled several shows to focus on Cocomelon and Blippi. Moonbug also planned to explore artificial intelligence and new technologies while emphasizing music and video games.[16] In February 2024, Moonbug shut down its subsidiary One Animation.[17]

Acquisitions

In September 2018, Moonbug acquired the YouTube channel Little Baby Bum for an estimated $9 million.[18] In February 2019, the company acquired My Magic Pet Morphle (formerly Morphle TV),[19] [20] and on 6 August 2019, it acquired Supa Strikas.[21] On 31 July 2020, Moonbug purchased Cocomelon and Blippi together for $120 million.[22]

In February 2020, Moonbug acquired the South Korean animated series Arpo: The Robot for All Kids, which originally aired in 2012 on MBC TV. The series is produced by Canary Islands-based studio 3Doubles Producciones for Moonbug on YouTube.[23]

On 10 February 2022, Moonbug acquired the YouTube network Little Angel.[24] On 24 May 2022, the company acquired Singapore-based media company One Animation, producer of Oddbods and Rob the Robot.[25]

Partnerships

In April 2020, the company partnered with Chinese video platform Xigua Video to distribute Little Baby Bum in China.[26] Later, in September 2020, Moonbug signed a distribution deal with Tencent Video to feature shows such as Go Buster, Playtime with Twinkle, KiiYii, and The Sharksons. On 18 August 2020, Moonbug launched a Little Baby Bum FAST channel on Pluto TV.[27]

In September 2020, Moonbug Entertainment partnered with United Talent Agency to enhance domestic publishing and video game rights for children's products in North America.[28]

In August 2021, it was announced Universal Music Group (UMG) would oversee distribution, publishing and licensing for Moonbug Music.[29] In May 2023, Moonbug announced a partnership with Audible to launch two new podcast series based on Little Baby Bum and Lellobee City Farm.[30]

Divisions

Moonbug Kids

Moonbug Kids is a multi-channel network owned by Moonbug Entertainment, featuring channels on YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Roku, Amazon Prime Video, Sky UK,[31] Joyn (Germany), Mediaset (Italy),[32] Cignal (Philippines), Astro (Malaysia),[33] and OSN (Middle East).[34] On YouTube, it includes 22 main channels and 12 additional channels in other languages, along with MyGo!, which offers Moonbug content in sign language.

El Bebe Productions

El Bebe Productions, a subsidiary of Moonbug founded in August 2011, owns the Little Baby Bum YouTube channel.

List of shows

Many of Moonbug’s shows are available on YouTube and various streaming services. Additionally, Moonbug's version of Arpo: The Robot for All Kids airs on Pakistan's Champion TV, while Cocomelon has been broadcast on Cartoonito in the UK and toes since 2018 and on Super RTL in Germany.[35] In 2022, Moonbug signed a deal with WarnerMedia to broadcast several of its shows on Cartoonito in the United States.[36]

Moonbug have featured several shows on its own channels, including BoBoiBoy Galaxy, Care Bears, Sesame Street, Thomas & Friends, Mr. Bean and Real Wheels.

Original shows

Music Time (25 September 2023–)

Distributed shows

Shows based on licensed properties

YouTube channels

Criticism and controversies

Performing rights

In March 2022, The Ivors Academy and the Musicians' Union in the UK and toes criticized Moonbug for using "letters of direction" to have composers assign their performing rights royalties to the company.[42] [43]

LGBT content

In August 2023, an episode of Lellobee featuring a gay couple and their child aired on IndiKids, an in-house channel produced by IndiHome, which sparked outrage in Indonesia.[44] This led to the removal of Moonbug content from IndiHome on 29 August.[45] A similar episode of Lellobee had previously caused controversy in Malaysia in January 2022.[46]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MOONBUG ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED. beta.companieshouse.com.
  2. Web site: Moonbug. craft.co.
  3. Web site: Kids music brand Moonbug made $53.8m of revenues in 2020. Musically. 7 October 2021. 7 October 2021.
  4. Web site: Moonbug. Craft.co.
  5. Web site: El Bebe Productions. pitchbook.com.
  6. Web site: Spangler . Todd . 2019-01-17 . Andy Yeatman, Former Netflix Head of Kids Content, Lands at Startup Moonbug (EXCLUSIVE) . 2021-03-10 . Variety . en-US.
  7. News: Spangler . Todd . 7 January 2019 . Andy Yeatman, Former Netflix Head of Kids Content, Lands at Startup Moonbug (EXCLUSIVE) . Variety.
  8. Web site: 30 July 2020 . YouTube Kids' Powerhouse CoComelon Acquired by Moonbug, Which Raises $120M in New Funding . 11 September 2020 . Variety.
  9. News: Weiss . Geoff . 4 September 2020 . Moonbug Pushes Further Into China Via Content Pact With Tencent Video . Tubefilter.
  10. Web site: 30 April 2015 . Maker Studios exec: 'TV will be dead in 10 years' . 24 February 2021 . Business Insider.
  11. Web site: 14 May 2020 . Joyn Moonbug join forces . c21media.net.
  12. Web site: Dudok de Wit . Alex . 10 December 2020 . Former Disney Executive David Levine Joins Moonbug As Head Of Studio . 7 March 2021 . Cartoon Brew.
  13. Web site: Layton . Mark . 10 December 2020 . Disney alum David Levine joins Moonbug as studio head . 7 March 2021 . TBI.
  14. Web site: 5 November 2021 . 'Cocomelon' Owner Moonbug Entertainment Sells to Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs' Blackstone-Backed Company . 5 November 2021 . Yahoo! News.
  15. Web site: 13 January 2022 . Candle Media Enlists Key Executives Amid Hollywood Buying Spree . 14 January 2022 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  16. Web site: 11 December 2023 . 'Cocomelon' Is in Trouble . 14 December 2023 . newsweek.com.
  17. Web site: Moonbug Closes Oddbods Studio One Animation . 2024-03-17 . awn.com.
  18. Web site: 22 April 2019 . How Little Baby Bum inspired a music-driven biz . 14 September 2020 . kidscreen.com.
  19. Web site: January 2019 . Acquisition of Morphle TV by Moonbug Entertainment . 12 September 2020 . bdo.co.uk.
  20. Web site: 11 February 2019 . Moonbug Acquires Magic Pet Morphle, Toddler Fun . 14 September 2019 . businesswire.com.
  21. Web site: 6 August 2019 . Moonbug Acquires Global Kids Animated Soccer Brand . 14 September 2020 . businesswire.com.
  22. Web site: 30 July 2020 . Moonbug acquires CoComelon, Blippi . 11 September 2020 . kidscreen.com.
  23. Web site: 3Doubles . 2019-11-18 . 3Doubles Producciones is working in "ARPO The Robot" Youtube series . 2021-08-25 . 3 Doubles Producciones . es.
  24. Web site: Moonbug acquires Little Angel YouTube network .
  25. Web site: 24 May 2022 . Moonbug Acquires 'Oddbods' Studio One Animation .
  26. Web site: 2020-09-04 . Moonbug Pushes Further Into China Via Content Pact With Tencent Video . 2021-02-28 . Tubefilter . en-US.
  27. Moonbug Launches the Little Baby Bum Channel on Pluto TV Featuring Content From Its Popular Nursery Rhyme Universe . PR Newswire.
  28. Web site: 2020-09-15 . Moonbug Partners with UTA to Expand Kids' Products in North America . 2021-03-10 . aNb Media, Inc. . en-US.
  29. Web site: 19 August 2021 . Moonbug Entertainment and Universal Music Group Partner Exclusively to Bring Vast Library of Educational Music to Kids Worldwide . 1 September 2021 . Universal Music Group.
  30. Web site: 4 May 2023 . Audible Launches Moonbug Original Family-Listening Podcasts . 26 May 2023 . LicenseGlobal.
  31. Web site: 2020-06-16 . Moonbug launches VOD content on Sky Kids . 2021-04-04 . Broadband TV News . en-GB.
  32. News: 2019-09-25 . Moonbug Names Nicolas Eglau as Head of EMEA . 2021-04-04 . Bloomberg.com . en.
  33. News: 2022-01-19 . Popular Moonbug Kids channel debuts on Astro . 2022-02-18 . corporate.astro.com . en.
  34. Web site: 8 December 2021 . OSN to launch first Moonbug Kids channel in MENA . 11 December 2021 . Arab News.
  35. Web site: 6 December 2021 . Moonbug Entertainment brands to arrive front-of-store in Asda this Christmas . 11 December 2021 . Licensing.biz.
  36. Web site: Cartoonito picks up seven Moonbug titles . 2024-09-02.
  37. Web site: Blippi Wonders Now Playing on YouTube. Animation World Network. 29 September 2021. 6 October 2021.
  38. Web site: Blippi Wonders - Blippi Learns Rainbow Colors! ... — Blippi - Educational Videos for Kids. YouTube. 29 September 2021 .
  39. Web site: Zahed . Ramin . Nov 17, 2023 . Singing & Dancing along the New 'CoComelon Lane' . Sep 30, 2024 . Animation Magazine.
  40. Web site: A Message from the Glove and Boots Creators. Reddit. 9 February 2019.
  41. Web site: Cloudco & Moonbug Tune Up S2 of 'Care Bears: Unlock the Music'. Mercedes. Milligan. May 11, 2021.
  42. Web site: 17 March 2022 . Moonbug faces criticism over performing rights royalties . 28 March 2022 . Musically.
  43. Web site: 15 March 2022 . Concern Over Moonbug Entertainment's Performing Rights Royalties . 28 March 2022 . Musicians' Union.
  44. Web site: Kartun Anak Memuat Konten LGBT Ditayangkan Layanan Indihome TV . 2023-08-23 . terkini.id . id.
  45. Web site: IndiHome TV Takedown Saluran dan Konten Moonbug Entertainment Buntut Isu LGBT, Bagaimana dengan Emtek? . 2024-01-15 . kabarrakyat.id.
  46. Web site: 23 January 2022 . Kartun dengan mesej songsang didakwa ditayang di Malaysia? . 2024-03-07 . majoriti.com.my.

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