Alibaba stocks up on kids’ content

WeKids Asia’s Justin Time will join OTT service Youku

Chinese online giant Alibaba’s OTT streaming service Youku has acquired 26 animated series from Canada, Spain, the UK, France, Ireland and India.

The distribution agreement between WeKids Asia, the distribution outfit led by former Ciwen Kids exec Sean Chu, and Youku, the VoD platform Alibaba acquired in 2015, covers 900 half-hours.

The programming includes episodes of 1001 Nights, Justin Time, Tickety Toc, Lolirock and Franklin & Friends. It will also be made available via Alibaba’s OTT service Tmall Box.

WeKids represents localised content in China on behalf of producers and distributors such as Big Bad Boo Productions, Guru Animation, DQ Entertainment, Zodiak Rights and Nelvana.

“This package of programmes represents the finest kids’ animation available in the global market and originates from some of the leading producers of high-quality children’s animated series in the world,” said Bing Wang, senior content development director of Youku.

“All of these properties share common characteristics that Chinese audiences love: memorable characters, high-quality animation, exciting, classic and engaging stories, and most important to Chinese parents, positive social and emotional messaging that is developmentally appropriate to Chinese children,” said Chu, founder and CEO of WeKids.