VeeFriends, the brainchild of entrepreneur and media personality Gary Vaynerchuk, is stepping into the world of animated content. In collaboration with Moonbug Entertainment—the force behind popular kids’ brands like CoComelon and Blippi—and VaynerWatt, VeeFriends is launching its first animated series on YouTube Kids on September 30, 2024.
Produced by Moonbug, a part of Candle Media, the series promises to blend entertainment and education in 20 fast-paced, three-minute episodes. The first three episodes of this exciting series are already available, with new ones airing every Saturday.
What to Expect: Characters and Themes
The VeeFriends animated series is aimed at kids aged 6 to 11 and features six main characters:
- Dialed-In Dog
- Empathy Elephant
- Dynamic Dinosaur
- Fearless Fairy
- Perfect Persian Cat
- Gracious Grizzly Bear
Each of these colorful characters steps into the VeeDome, where they face action-packed battles aimed at teaching important life lessons. Through entertaining competitions, the characters learn how to embrace their emotions, build resilience, and work through challenges.
The format is described as a mix between Spongebob Squarepants and Teen Titans Go, with a splash of Sesame Street‘s focus on social-emotional learning. Gary Vaynerchuk describes the show as an exciting way to help kids view challenges as opportunities for growth, encouraging emotional intelligence and personal development.
Collaboration with Moonbug and Candle Media
Moonbug Entertainment, now a part of Candle Media, is renowned for its expertise in creating enriching content for kids. Their portfolio includes globally recognized brands like CoComelon, which has become a staple for younger children. With VeeFriends, Moonbug brings the same storytelling expertise to older kids, mixing action with important life lessons.
Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, Co-CEOs of Candle Media, are proud to support this project, noting the strong alignment with Candle’s mission to create inspiring and entertaining content for families. For them, this partnership with Gary Vaynerchuk taps into the evolving landscape of kid’s entertainment, where digital platforms and unique, engaging stories reign supreme.
The Vision Behind VeeFriends
The VeeFriends universe goes beyond just the animated series. It also includes collectibles, events, games, and innovative technology designed to foster personal growth and inspire positivity. Gary Vaynerchuk created VeeFriends to help people connect with these values, and the animated series is an exciting new avenue to expand this mission. VeeFriends aims to scale its character universe in a way that promotes creativity, accountability, and self-discovery for kids.
VaynerWatt, Vaynerchuk’s co-founded production company, is working alongside Moonbug to ensure that this new series resonates with children and families alike.
Looking Ahead
The new VeeFriends series promises to entertain while embedding crucial life lessons about resilience, cooperation, and emotional growth. With 20 episodes packed with humor, action, and inspiration, it’s set to become a go-to show for both kids and parents. The VeeDome challenges are more than just competitions—they’re metaphors for the struggles kids face every day, from handling emotions to understanding failure as a stepping stone to success.
As this franchise grows, VeeFriends is set to become a multifaceted entertainment brand that brings together digital collectibles, community engagement, and now, animated storytelling.
TL;DR: VeeFriends launches its first 2D-animated series on YouTube Kids, produced by Moonbug Entertainment and VaynerWatt. The action-packed series, featuring six main characters, teaches kids important life lessons through entertaining battles in the VeeDome. Aimed at children aged 6-11, the show emphasizes resilience, cooperation, and emotional growth, with 20 three-minute episodes airing weekly. Gary Vaynerchuk’s VeeFriends universe continues to expand, blending entertainment, education, and innovative storytelling.