Cloudco Entertainment and WildBrain Studios are teaming up on a project that’s just as sweet in terms of revenue and licensing potential as the brands involved.

In October, the two companies announced that they’re co-producing a 44-minute animated preschool special called The Care Berry Switch (working title) that unites the Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake in a content title for the very first time.

These brands—which have each thrived in the market for more than four decades— both have huge followings, so bringing them together should be a very smart business strategy. In the last year alone, they’ve collectively racked up roughly six million social media followers, generating 313 million impressions and 35 million engagements on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, says Steph Betts, WildBrain’s EVP of content creation.

Cloudco and WildBrain are aiming to parlay these considerable metrics into major content and consumer product wins for both companies, but their alliance is also a blueprint for brand crossovers, coming at a critical time for a troubled industry. While studios struggle to secure commissions and financing, increasing revenue potential by building complementary brand partnerships may be an option to consider.

This theme of coming together isn’t just playing out on the business front; it’s also baked into the premise of the special itself—which sees Strawberry Shortcake and Cheer Bear wish on the same star for a new adventure. The characters then end up in each other’s worlds and must work together to protect them from villains.

Cloudco and WildBrain are co-developing the project and collaborating closely on all aspects of its creative evolution, from fleshing out the storyline, to interviewing writers. Spearheading the art direction is WildBrain’s Vancouver studio, which is in constant communication with Cloudco to define the special’s art style.

This particular brand team-up works well because the Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake share a similar ethos around friendship and kindness. Plus, American Greetings originated both IPs as greeting cards only a few years apart. But even more critically, buyers increasingly want content that can support their channels and platforms with strong marketing programs, and these brands both have international reach and an engaged social media following that will help spread the word. And this kind of built-in popularity gives the crossover loads of value to broadcasters, says Betts.

Although there are no broadcast deals signed yet, consumer products partners have already recognized the market potential of this collab. Licensing teams at both companies have started building a co-branded program that spans apparel, sleepwear, beauty and collectibles, says Cloudco president Sean Gorman.

Products started rolling out in the US and Canada in fall 2024, and will continue to launch in those markets right into the 2025 holiday season. Some of the partners that are already on board include Samii Ryan (apparel), Blank Tag Co. (stickers), MjC (sleepwear), Silver Buffalo (home decor), High IntenCity (fashion jewelry and accessories), CultureFly (collectibles) and FYE (food & beverage).

“As we all know, the landscape in the kids & family market is shifting at the moment, but the capacity of known IPs and their connection to an audience is more important than ever,” says Betts. “We felt that the power of these beloved brands would break through the noise that consumers and buyers face.”

This story originally appeared in Kidscreen’s Q1 2025 magazine issue.