WildBrain CPLG is moving the Teletubbies into a brand-new tech category. The licensing agency has signed a deal with Singapore’s MetaPals to start rolling out a range of “digital companions” based on the legacy preschool brand on April 20.
MetaPals launched in 2022 and specializes in providing virtual companionship through a browser extension that makes it possible for licensed characters to walk around on screen and interact with users. Targeted at teens and kidults, MetaPals’ companions offer playful interactions as well as practical assistance (e.g. answering questions and sending reminders about upcoming appointments).
The company integrates AI and blockchain technology to give each “MetaPal” unique character traits, and their behavior can be personalized based on interactions with users.
MetaPals will launch 5,000 Teletubbies companions in the form of NFTs—1,100 for each of the four Tubbies and 600 for Noo-Noo the vacuum cleaner. Each mint is priced in the range of US$100 to US$200 and includes exclusive accessories.
“[We] enable the Teletubbies characters to evolve, interact and form unique bonds with users, embodying our vision of dynamic digital companionship,” says MetaPals CEO Max Giammario. It’s a strategy inspired by digital pets like Tamagotchi, and it also aligns well with a recent growth in demand for e-pets and interactive experiences.
Protocol Labs, Techstars, Tezos Foundation and BlueYard Capital have all provided financial backing for MetaPals, whose platform’s licensed characters also include Hello Kitty and Doraemon. The company says it currently has around 19,000 daily active users who have more than 208,000 interactions with its companions each day.