Created for children ages 6-11 and families, Moonbug will create and develop the show and will feature VeeFriends Creator Gary Vaynerchuk as executive producer. VeeFriends shorts will debut on YouTube in late Summer 2024.
March 11, 2024 – LOS ANGELES & NEW YORK – Moonbug Entertainment, a Candle Media company, and VaynerWatt, a production studio founded by Gary Vaynerchuk, Eric Wattenberg, and Matt Higgins, today announced a strategic partnership to produce a premium content franchise based on the VeeFriends universe.
VeeFriends is a contemporary entertainment company created by Vaynerchuk that combines collectibles, events, games and technology to allow people to make stronger connections with themselves and VeeFriends characters. The brand is scaling its unique characters and their qualities to create a happier world by inspiring creativity, self-discovery, and personal growth.
“I built VeeFriends in order to help change the world through dynamic characters that were both virtuous and entertaining, engaging and enlightening,” said Vaynerchuk. “I am excited to work with Candle Media and Moonbug Entertainment, which share many of the same core values, to expand this franchise for new platforms and audiences.”
Moonbug is an award-winning global entertainment company inspiring kids all over the world to laugh, learn and grow. The company is behind some of the biggest kids’ entertainment brands in the world including CoComelon and Blippi.
“Our companies share a vision to contribute to the development and enrichment of the next generation, which naturally allows for a strong partnership. The VeeFriends characters and universe that Gary and his team have created will make a strong foundation for an engaging show, which our team is excited to develop“ said René Rechtman, Co-Founder and CEO, Moonbug Entertainment.
Titled VeeFriends, the 2D-animated show will be rated for children ages 6-11. The show takes viewers into the VeeFriends universe and features a collection of larger-than-life VeeFriends characters who compete in the VeeDome, the ultimate over-the-top challenge arena, to battle out the biggest issues facing tweendom today. Every character who goes into the VeeDome comes out a little stronger, and a lot more self-aware.
“VeeFriends is thrilled to be partnering with Moonbug to create a show that not only entertains but nurtures emotional intelligence,” said VeeFriends President Andy Krainak. “Through VeeFriends’ characters, we aim to inspire both empathy and competition, empowering the next generation to balance passion with emotional understanding.”
Episodes will be released starting late Summer 2024 as three-minute shorts on YouTube. The show presents an opportunity for co-viewing, as it covers themes and storylines for parents and kids to explore and discuss together.
“With the VeeFriends universe, Gary and the VaynerWatt team have built an innovative, inspiring, digitally-native storyworld, which has galvanized a deeply engaged community around characters that espouse positive values,” said Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, Candle Media Co-Founders and Co-CEOs. “We are excited for Candle and Moonbug to join the VeeFriends family, to further develop these unique characters into an innovative premium content franchise.”
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About Moonbug Entertainment
Moonbug is an award-winning global entertainment company inspiring kids everywhere to laugh, learn and grow. The company is behind some of the biggest kids’ entertainment brands in the world including CoComelon and Blippi. Moonbug believes every child should have access to entertaining and enriching content, making its shows available on more than 150 video platforms globally including Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer and YouTube Kids. The company is also a global leader in pre-school music and audio experiences, available on 100+ audio platforms globally. Moonbug brands extend far beyond the screen to include streaming music, consumer products and live events.
Moonbug is part of Candle Media, an independent, creator-friendly home for cutting-edge, high-quality, category-defining brands and franchises. By bringing together elite talent operating at the intersection of content, community, and commerce, it helps to position leading entertainment businesses for accelerated, sustainable growth in the current market and beyond. Candle is run by its Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs, leading entertainment executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, and backed by investment capital from funds managed by Blackstone’s flagship private equity business.
About Candle Media
Candle is an independent, creator-friendly home for cutting-edge, high-quality, category-defining brands and franchises built for the digital age. By bringing together elite talent operating at the intersection of content, community, and commerce, it helps position leading entertainment businesses for accelerated, sustainable growth in the current market and beyond. Candle was founded by its Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs, leading entertainment executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, and backed by investment capital from funds managed by Blackstone’s flagship private equity business.
About VaynerWatt
Founded in 2023 by reality veteran Eric Wattenberg, marketing guru and serial entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, and legendary investor Matt Higgins of RSE Ventures, VaynerWATT is a world-class production company that ties incredible content with cutting-edge, world-class marketing in every project they produce thereby becoming a true partner in their shows success long after filming is complete.
About VeeFriends
VeeFriends is a contemporary entertainment company that combines collectibles, events, games and technology to allow people to make stronger connections with themselves and the VeeFriends. The company’s mission is to scale its unique VeeFriends characters and their qualities to create a happier world. These characters foster a sense of balance and inspire accountability, positivity, creativity, self-discovery, and personal growth. Meet Me in the Middle, the first children’s book inspired by VeeFriends’ mission to make soft skills cool through characters, is available for pre-order now and will be released on July 16, 2024. Published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, Meet Me in the Middle gives parents and educators a way to talk to kids about empathy, problem-solving, and compromise—the essential keys to success at any age! For more information, visit https://veefriends.com/, join the discord channel, and follow VeeFriends on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
About Gary Vaynerchuk
Gary Vaynerchuk is a serial entrepreneur and serves as the Chairman of VaynerX, the CEO of VaynerMedia, and the Creator and CEO of VeeFriends. Gary is considered one of the leading global minds on what’s next in culture, relevance, and the internet. Known as “GaryVee,” he is described as one of the most forward thinkers in business - he acutely recognizes trends and patterns early to help others understand how these shifts impact consumer behavior. Gary’s approach sits at the intersection of business and pop culture. He keenly understands how to bring brand relevance to the forefront. He is a prolific angel investor with early investments in companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Venmo, Snapchat, Coinbase and Uber.
Media Contacts
For Moonbug Entertainment: monika.fried@moonbug.com
For Gary Vaynerchuk and VeeFriends: maha.abouelenein@vaynermedia.com
