Spanish prodco Zinkia Entertainment has appointed Madrid-based international distributor Brands & Rights 360 as the new global rights agent for its preschool property Pocoyo.

B&R360 will execute the television, licensing and merchandising strategies in Europe and Latin America, while its US and Chinese partners, Epic Story Media and Reesee, will manage those territories respectively.

Pocoyo’s new long-term plan is being led by B&R360 founder Ignacio Orive Martin in collaboration with Epic Story founder and former-DHX Media SVP Ken Faier, as well as Reesee’s Ray Wang, an ex-Alpha Toys exec. The trio are also working with Kevin Mowrer—founder of American consulting firm Mowrer Meta-story, and a former Hasbro exec—who has developed a learning through laughter play pattern for the brand.

On top of the new the B&R360 appointment, Zinkia has greenlit 26 new seven-minute episodes to make up the back half of Pocoyo‘s fourth season. The new eps will be ready by mid-2020 and conversations are also underway with potential co-pro partners for a fifth season.

Pocoyo‘s fourth season (pictured) originally premiered on YouTube and the YouTube Kids app in November 2016, marking the first-ever digital-exclusive launch for a Spanish show. The season also introduced a new female character, Nina, to international audiences.

“The response has been fantastic. We plan to have a confirmed co-pro partner and TV partner before Kidscreen Summit next year and will start executing the next five- to 10-year phase of the Pocoyo campaign in early 2019,” says Martin.

For Faier, who launched Epic Story Media one year ago, the partnership is a timely one since Epic Story’s main strategy is focused on developing creator-driven franchises from the ground up.

“It aligns well in terms of the infrastructure we’re building. As for the product development, we want innovation that is age-appropriate and I don’t see that in most of the toy products that have been done in the past,” says Faier.

As Epic Story’s Pocoyo partnership gains momentum, the company is prepping more growth thanks to a key new minority investment from Bron Studios’ recently launched Ventures division. The financial support will help Epic Story invest in IP development and brand management.