Company’s digital media division will help grow hybrid live-action and animated edu-tainment preschool brand and learning buddy globally, including the UK and US.
LONDON -- WildBrain Spark, the digital media division of WildBrain, has been appointed by Benesse Corporation to manage the English-language channel and content for its edu-tainment preschool brand Shimajiro on YouTube. Shimajiro is an educational character and learning buddy who is popular in Asia, and WildBrain Spark will look to grow the presence of the brand’s English-language content with a focus on the UK, US and the wider English global market.
Benesse Corporation has been creating educational and publishing content for the past 30 years with the aim of making early childhood learning fun for kids and easier for their parents. The content explores Shimajiro’s life as a preschooler and the everyday lessons he needs to learn including social skills such as empathy, playing in groups, helping around the house and physical skills such as brushing his teeth and washing his hands. The series features a mixture of live-action and animation creating a healthy balance between learning with Shimajiro and learning real life issues.
“As we continue growing our connections with brand owners all around the world, we’re very much looking forward to working closely with the Japan-based Benesse Corporation to grow their Shimajiro brand in key international markets,” commented WildBrain Spark commercial director, Rachel Taylor. “Shimajiro’s success in educating young viewers in a fun and accessible way makes it a perfect fit for the WildBrain Spark network and we look forward to bringing the English-language content to new preschool audiences.”
“Shimajiro has delighted kids and parents in Asia for years,” added Benesse Corporation director of global business development division, Daisuke Tebayashi. “We are excited to be launching him to the global English market. The last few months have shown all parents around the world the importance of learning at home, and this is something we are experts at. With its history of brand building, WildBrain Spark is the ideal match for our digital-first strategy, and we are excited to be making this move into new markets.”
Source: WildBrain Spark
