Banijay and Cloudco show sharing is caring through YouTube deal 

Banijay Kids & Family has signed on to manage the Care Bears (pictured) YouTube channels globally. The company will handle the programming, optimization and growth of multiple channels, including the English, French and Spanish ones. Banijay will also add Care Bears content to the Banijay Kids & Family ZeeKay network of YouTube channels. 

The Force is with Burger King’s new Star Wars partnership

Lucasfilm and Burger King are saying: “This is the way” with their latest partnership. The QSR is releasing a limited-time menu in the US starting on May 4 that features items inspired by the upcoming Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu film. The menu includes burgers and fries served in cartons shaped like the film’s main characters, four collectible cups and Mandalorian-themed kids toys. “Star Wars has shaped generations of fans, and as we head into the release of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, we saw an opportunity to bring that excitement straight into our restaurants,” said Joel Yashinsky, chief marketing officer of Burger King US & Canada. The film opens in theaters on May 22. 

Netflix and McDonalds return to the Upside Down with Happy Meal

A new global campaign for the animated series Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 (released today) is kicking off at the fast-food chain with a Happy Meal. The partnership includes a custom box, 12 collectible character toys, an activity book and a QR code that unlocks an interactive game where players protect McDonalds and Hawkins from monsters. The meal rolls out to McDonalds in the US starting May 5, and will expand internationally, including to Singapore, Australia, India and Korea in the weeks to come. 

Nuuvia banks on Biz Kid$ content 

The US kids banking platform has picked up programming from Biz Kid$, a national financial literacy program based on the PBS series from the late ’00s. The Biz Kid$ series teaches kids about making and saving money, and explores topics like credit and setting financial goals. Nuuvia is a co-branded white label product with a focus on educating kids about saving that aims to work with credit unions and community banks looking to grow their kids business. In the last few years, techcos and broadcasters have increasingly focused on providing kids with content that tackles the typically under-taught topic of financial literacy. 

The first LEGO Shrek sets have been unveiled 

Just like ogres and onions, LEGO’s deal with Universal Products & Experiences for the first-ever Shrek sets has some layers. First, there’s a set for kids 10 and up featuring collectible figures of Shrek, Donkey and the Gingy (the gingerbread man). And then there’s a poseable display set aimed at older builders. The sets are part of Universal’s celebration of Shrek’s 25th anniversary this year, and are available for pre-order now with a worldwide release starting June 1. A new Shrek movie, Shrek 5, is scheduled for a 2027 release.

Image courtesy of Cloudco Entertainment and Banijay Kids & Family.