Francesca Gianesin, head of Consumer Products, EMEA ANZ, at Moonbug, tells Toy World readers what makes the studio’s beloved pre-school property CoComelon so special.
A pre-school show all about the joys of childhood, CoComelon has become one of the world’s most popular properties, with some 170m subscribers on its YouTube channel. The show centres around the everyday experiences of Baby JJ and his siblings and helps pre-schoolers learn letters, numbers, animal sounds, colours and more through songs, colourful 3D animation and relatable storylines that reflect the process of growing up.
“CoComelon is a fantastic property to work with,” explains Francesca Gianesin, head of Consumer Products, EMEA ANZ, at Moonbug. “Not only has it captured the imagination of its target audience and is hugely popular, but it is also very versatile and fun. The diverse nature of its characters and their rich backgrounds and stories allows us to incorporate great storytelling into our consumer products offering. High awareness, high affinity and the fact that little ones can see themselves reflected in the characters and experiences portrayed in the show, all adds up to guarantee a strong affection for the brand.”
According to Francesca, CoComelon also helps kids learn and supports them in their foundational years through creativity. She says that these two qualities – educational and creative – are key elements when it comes to product development and planning to support the growth of the property. She adds: “We know that these qualities are important amongst parents when choosing the right toy or product for their kids.”
Francesca Gianesin
The success of CoComelon has spawned a raft of new content, consumer products and experiences based upon the property, including CoComelon Lane, the franchise’s first-ever dialogue driven series which launched in late 2023. Featuring all new storylines and songs in seven minute episodes, the series covers developmental milestones, such as getting a first haircut or visiting the dentist, to more intimate moments such as being invited to a friend’s house for dinner. Moonbug has partnered with Jazwares to create a collection of CoComelon Lane consumer products that will launch in early 2024.
“Our internal team of licensing experts is a key ingredient in the success of this brand and the rest of the Moonbug portfolio of IPs,” says Francesca, when asked what makes Moonbug a licensor of choice. “We all have a passion for our properties and a deep knowledge of the licensing industry. We love to innovate, push boundaries and think outside the box, and always look forward to working closely with our partners to deliver best in-class results.”
“Moonbug is a next generation global kids entertainment company, and we pride ourselves in our ability to innovate and be agile when required. With our content always-on and visibility across the world 24/7, we are well positioned to respond to trends and feedback in a seamless way to ensure we meet our customer needs.”
