Oddbods’ bright, colorful characters are making their way into the classroom with Singapore-based One Animation’s new educational campaign. Reaching more than two million preschool-aged kids in the UK, Oddbods social-emotional curriculum was brought to life by more than 140,000 teachers, caregivers and workers in nurseries. They used the animated series to help kids in preschools, and nurseries, to learn about emotional intelligence and embrace the differences in others.

All based on the characters from the show, the prodco gave the schools activity sheets, information about the series, ideas for things kids and parents/guardians could make or do together, and lesson plan concepts for teachers. An online platform was created where teachers could access these resources.

The series itself follows seven distinct characters who turn everyday situations into extraordinary events, and is aimed at preschoolers in the early stages of their development.

One Animation got into UK schools after the series was endorsed by kids development organization Fundamentally Children. The British free-to-air broadcaster ITV has aired the series since 2017. A spokesperson for One Animation said that there is a great demand for Oddbods among UK kids, and One Animation wants to expand its reach to more parents. The studio made no money from this initiative.

The children’s edutainment market is flourishing, with American K-12 schools now spending more than US$10 billion a year on educational technology, according to education data management company BrightBytes, companies around the world want a seat in schools. As a result, several kids content makers have been trying to grow their presence in the classroom recently, including Generation Genius, which saw a need for educational kids content in schools and produced its first original live-action series is LAB-ra-kazam! The 36 x 12-minute science show is made for for eight- to 10-year-olds in grades three to five, in partnership with the National Science Teachers Association.

Outside of schools, the prodco has been busy expanding the show’s international presence with a raft of new broadcast deals and renewed partnerships for season two in October, which includes Netflix picking up the show’s Halloween and Christmas specials. Last year, it also made the move into AR and VR after One Animation secured a trio of mobile gaming deals.

Oddbods enters 2019 with a very strong consumer products presence in other continents. Kids Station Toys signed as its series master toy partner for North America and One Animation inked new European agreements across a number of categories. Confectionery and juices from Talent Show launched in Central Europe in early 2018, and deals with Confitrade (fruit gums) and Balocco (Oddbods Easter Eggs). Early 2018 also saw the launch of bedding and home textiles (Herding) across Germany, as well as a range of activity books and puzzle crafts (Nelson) while the Origami Group launched a range of puzzles and an arts and crafts line in Russia.