Genius Brands International

GBI is launching the first season of its flagship animated series Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten in China next month on Alibaba Group’s Youku, Tudou and Kumiao Apps streaming platforms.

The show is produced by former California Governor and actor/film producer Arnold Schwarzenegger, who also voices the show’s lead character Captain Courage. It first premiered in the US and Canada in 2021 on Genius Brands’ AVOD platform Kartoon Channel!.

Union Square & Co

Union Square Kids has signed a pre-sale deal with author/illustrator Mo Willems for five new books.

Willems’ seven-book Pigeon series was the inspiration behind HBO Max’s TV special Don’t Let The Pigeon Do Storytime, which launched in 2020. Book number eight, The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!, will be published on September 6.

The Pigeon range has sold more than six million copies in North America, and has been translated into 20 languages. It has also inspired live stage shows and museum exhibits.

Moonbug Entertainment 

The London-based prodco is launching its first  branded linear channel in Malaysia through a new partnership with Astro.

Hitting the airwaves on February 1, the new net will feature Moonbug shows CoComelon, Blippi, LittleBaby Bum, Go Buster, which will also be available on free streaming app Astro GO.

This is a tested strategy for Moonbug, which launched Moonbug Kids branded linear channels on Cignal in the Philippines and on OSN in the Middle East last year.

Sesame Workshop

The nonprofit behind Sesame Street is partnering with UnitedHealthcare in the US to create bilingual content as part of its Sesame Street in Communities program.

The package will include a detailed course for healthcare providers and caregivers to help them deliver new resilience resources to children. The partners are also creating “Comfy-Cozy Spaces” in environments that can be stressful, like doctors’ or social services offices. Each one will be stocked with Sesame Street in Communities resources and decorated with Sesame Street murals.

Since launching in 2015, Sesame Street in Communities has offered free online resources to parents and care providers on various topics that contribute to building happy and healthy communities.

WarnerMedia Latin America 

The broadcaster has acquired the rights to run Israel-based Dori Media Group’s feature film The Raft on HBO Max.

The adventure-driven drama pic  is aimed at kids and teens and follows four friends who want to attend the championship game of Israel’s leading soccer team. Constructing a make-shift raft, they attempt to cross the Mediterranean sea to catch the match.

A collaboration between Dori Media Group and Herzliya Studios, The Raft was produced and supported by the Israel Film Fund, The Ministry of Culture and Sports and The Israel Film Council.