CoComelon and Blippi owner Moonbug Entertainment has partnered with New York-based studio VaynerWatt to develop a new 2D-animated short series for YouTube called VeeFriends. 

Breaking Moonbug’s well-established preschool pattern, this concept targets six- to 11-year-olds and is based on a same-name IP (pictured) that was created in 2021 by tech entrepreneur and VaynerWatt co-founder Gary Vaynerchuk to make soft skills and positive values cool with kids.

VeeFriends will launch on YouTube in September, with three-minute eps featuring characters from the brand competing in an arena known as the VeeDome. Additional plot details are still under wraps.

The VeeFriends brand currently boasts more than 250 colorful characters—such as Patient Panda, Gratitude Gorilla and Sharing Squirrel—that started as NFT collectibles before expanding into toys, apparel and card games. HarperCollins is also gearing up to publish Meet Me in the Middle in July. Penned by Vaynerchuk, this picture book for four- to eight-year-olds uses a unique two-in-one flip-book format to tell two sides of the same story. 

For its part, Moonbug is also busy working on a short series called PeaKeeBoo with British toyco Toikido. This preschool toon is set in Flower Meadow Wood, where a trio of besties (Pea, Kee and Boo) play hide-and-seek and learn about nature. Toikido is already developing a robust franchise strategy that will include video games, plush, apparel and books.