European animation outfit Mediawan Kids & Family has joined forces with El Reino Infantil, the Hispanic world’s top YouTube Kids network, to develop “Wadoo,” a digital-first animated preschool series that will test characters through AI-assisted social media shorts before expanding into a full series.
The comedy-adventure property centers on Wadoo, a curious young dragoness who leads preschoolers on musical journeys through a magical world. Each of the planned 39 seven-minute episodes will blend discovery, friendship and environmental themes, culminating in original songs that reinforce the episode’s lesson.
The partnership represents Mediawan Kids & Family’s strategic push into animation based on digital-first properties, bridging traditional production expertise with El Reino Infantil’s massive online reach of over 222 million YouTube subscribers across 11 languages.
“We are thrilled to join forces with El Reino Infantil, a leading digital player, to launch Wadoo, a truly innovative preschool IP designed with the new generation of audiences in mind,” said Julien Borde, president of Mediawan Kids & Family. “This collaboration marks a major strategic step in our ambition to combine the best of digital creativity with the excellence of traditional production.”
The project will roll out through an extensive soft-launch strategy, beginning with social media shorts released on El Reino Infantil’s channel to test character designs and storytelling approaches. These shorts will utilize AI tools to enhance artists’ creative capabilities while maintaining creative control with the production teams.
“At a time when children’s entertainment is undergoing major transformation, this alliance with Mediawan Kids & Family has the potential to redefine how brands that resonate with new generations are built,” said Roberto “Kuky” Pumar, CEO of El Reino Infantil. “From this convergence comes Wadoo: a project designed for a present where digital and physical coexist in a phygital universe. Today, success is collaborative.”
Following audience analytics and community feedback from the shorts, the full 39-episode series is scheduled for release in 2026, combining YouTube distribution with international broadcast through Mediawan Kids & Family Distribution. The producers aim to build a comprehensive transmedia franchise following models established by hits like “Miraculous” and “La Granja de Zenon.”
Nicolas Fisch from Mediawan Kids & Family and Ylka Tapia from El Reino Infantil will serve as executive producers.
Mediawan Kids & Family, the children’s division of pan-European studio Mediawan, houses production labels including Method Animation, Somewhere Animation and Elliott Studio, along with international operations in Italy, the U.K. and the Netherlands. The company distributes “Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir” and maintains a catalog of 2,500 half-hours of programming sold to over 150 countries.
El Reino Infantil is known for animated series including “Zenon the Farmer,” “Bichikids” and “The Little Sailor,” while also developing games, merchandise and live shows across Latin America, Asia and Europe.
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