Plush retailer Build-A-Bear Workshop is adding another layer of stuffing to its tween-skewing Kabu brand with a new 2D-animated series in the works that it will co-produce with LA’s Foundation Media Partners.

Montreal-based Laughing Dragon Studios (Disenchanted, Isaac & Friends) is on deck to animate the comedy-driven toon (10 x 11 minutes), which will feature a collection of Kawaii-inspired animal characters facing challenges related to friendship, school and growing up. A first-look episode will be screened for distributors at the upcoming Kidscreen Summit next month. 

Foundation Media CEO Patrick Hughes and Build-A-Bear president and CEO Sharon Price John are executive producing Kabu, with Mike Mariano (Raising Hope), Drew Gormley (Family Guy), Claire Ross Dunn (Degrassi: The Next Generation), Brian Clark (Glisten) and Monica Kelly (CoComelon) on board as writers. 

Build-A-Bear launched Kabu as a lifestyle brand for tweens in 2018, and it currently spans a range of stuffable bears, apparel, mobile game Kabu Pop Party Quest and a graphic novel called The Grreat Race that was penned by American children’s book author Heather Nuhfer (My Little Pony: Friendships is Magic, Teen Titans Go!). All of this merch sells through Build-A-Bear’s physical storefronts and e-commerce site.

Foundation Media has been helping the company expand its brands with new partnerships and productions since 2018. These efforts include a deal with iHeart Radio to create a dedicated Build-A-Bear Radio station, three licensed albums with Warner Music, and a partnership with Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions on live-action feature film Honey Girls (released in 2021 and based on pop band characters from the Build-A-Bear universe).