Paris/London-based mediaco Animaj has acquired preschool franchise Pocoyo from Spanish prodco Zinkia Entertainment.

Animaj has not disclosed the value of the sale, which was announced yesterday. Pocoyo is Zinkia’s flagship property, created in 2002 and expanded into a CG-animated series for preschoolers that launched in 2005. 

Animaj, which focuses on building multi-platform franchises based on kids and family IPs, is already busy developing a new content strategy for Pocoyo. It’s planning to explore potential prequels and sequels with particular interest in creating digital-first spinoffs, to build on the brand’s existing online following of more than 40 million YouTube subscribers. Animaj is also looking to bolster the IP in the audio market, with plans underway for music and podcasts.

Pocoyo (pictured) centers around the titular young boy and his squad of animal friends who live in a plainly designed world with minimal backdrops. With more than 200 episodes, the series is popular with preschoolers and has earned accolades such as the Cristal prize at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, along with a Best Preschool Animation Series BAFTA.

Over the years, Zinkia expanded the series into 17 languages, multiple specials and a spinoff toon called Pocoyo Planet that premiered in 2016. Meanwhile, apps and mobile video games related to the IP have racked up more than 100 million downloads.

The fifth season of the series is now in production and is slated to launch in 2024. It will feature new character designs along with the introduction of a new character, Pocoyo’s sister. 

“Pocoyo is a symbol of Spanish and European cultural excellence that has a clear potential to become a global franchise, through increased content investment,” said Animaj’s co-founder and chief business officer Grégory Dray in a release.