Blippi

YouTube channel aimed at toddlers

Blippi

Genre| Preschool
Created by| Stevin John
Developed by| Moonbug Entertainment, Candle Media (2021-present)
Starring| Stevin John

Clayton Grimm

Ben Mayer
Voices of| Stevin John

Clayton Grimm

Ben Mayer
Country of origin| United States
Production
Production locations| Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Production companies| Moonbug Entertainment, Candle Media
Original release
Network| YouTube
Release| February 18, 2014 (2014-02-18) –
present

Blippi is an American educational YouTube channel aimed at toddlers and young children. The show features a cheerful, energetic character named Blippi, who takes viewers on adventures to places like factories, play parks, and zoos. As he tours these locations, Blippi relays his experiences directly to his audience, posing questions and explaining unfamiliar concepts.[1] Blippi was acquired by Moonbug Entertainment in 2020, and became a subsidiary of Candle Media on November 1, 2021.[2]

## History

[edit]

The show was created and the character originally played by Stevin John,[3] who posted the first episode of the show on YouTube on February 18, 2014, which featured tractors.[4][5][6] Aiming to keep Blippi going, John joined the multi-channel network Moonbug Entertainment in 2020,[7] which became a subsidiary of Candle Media on November 1, 2021.[8] The show is dubbed in Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Japanese, Italian, Hebrew, Arabic, Swedish, Danish, Welsh and Polish.[9][5]

Until May 2021, the Blippi character was only portrayed by Stevin John. On May 8, Clayton Grimm, who played Blippi in live performances, performed as Blippi for the first time on the channel and hosted as an alternative Blippi with John.[5][10] On October 9, 2021, Moonbug announced the addition of a new character named Meekah (played by Kaitlin Becker and Cashae Monya).[11][12] The spin-off series Blippi's Treehouse started airing on December 1, 2021, on Amazon Kids+, with two more characters, Scratch and Patch (both are puppets).[13]

On November 16, 2024, Ben Mayer started performing as Blippi on the new series Blippi's Vroom Vroom Vehicle Show. [14]

### Distribution

[edit]

On October 13, 2022, Moonbug Entertainment partnered with Virgin Media to bring Blippi and other Moonbug programs to the United Kingdom.[15] The show expanded to Southeast Asia in March 2021 when Moonbug partnered with POPS Worldwide to bring children's content to the POPS Kids app.[16] Netflix acquired the streaming license to Blippi in January 2022.[17]

## Licensing and merchandise

[edit]

In 2019 Blippi signed a master toy deal with Jazwares LLC to sell a variety of merchandise such as toy vehicles, plush and other toys based on the Blippi show, beginning in spring 2020.[18][19][20]

In early 2020, Jazwares created "My Buddy Blippi," a plush toy that can recreate 15 of the character's sounds and phrases.[19]

In January 2021, Blippi launched an additional toy line.[3]

In addition to toys, books and more, Blippi merchandise also includes clothing.[21]

## Blippi the Musical

[edit]

Blippi the Musical is a live show produced by Round Room Live in partnership with Moonbug Entertainment, and was scheduled to tour North America in summer 2021. In previous tours of Blippi, there had been some outcry as a result of the performances not being performed by Stevin John but by another actor.[10][22] Originally scheduled in 2020, live performances were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]

## Blippi Wonders

[edit]

Blippi Wonders is an animated children's web series based on Stevin John's Blippi. The series is about Blippi, along with either TABBS (an orange cat) or D bo (a blue dog) on a blue car called the Blippi Mobile. The Blippi Mobile can change into many elements, such as wings, and can shrink down. The series is produced by London-based Moonbug Entertainment, Italy-based Rainbow CGI and based on a Nova Scotia production services provided by IoM Media Ventures.

## Reception

[edit]

Nathan J. Robinson of Current Affairs criticized Blippi's programming, calling it "dead and sterile" and lacking intellectual curiosity that children can understand.[23]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Movie & TV reviews for parents. "Blippi TV Review". www.commonsensemedia.org. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
2. ^ "Blippi". blippi.com. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
3. ^ a b "Moonbug Raises $120 Million, Acquires Children's YouTube Titans Cocomelon And Blippi". Tubefilter. 2020-07-30. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
4. ^ "FARM TRACTORS - KIDS SHOW — Blippi - Educational Videos for Kids". YouTube. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
5. ^ a b c d Cannon, Matt (2021-05-09). "Blippi actor Stevin John is replaced in latest YouTube episode, leaving fans puzzled". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 2021-05-09. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
6. ^ "Who the Heck Is Blippi, Anyway?". Parents. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
7. ^ Alexander, Julia (2020-10-19). "YouTube's biggest kids show is about to take over streaming services". The Verge. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
8. ^ Weprin, Alex (2022-11-16). "Blippi Franchise Expands With Meekah Show at Netflix". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
9. ^ "Blippi po polsku – Nauka przez zabawę! - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
10. ^ a b Donnelly, Erin (2021-05-10). "Why there's a 'new' Blippi actor — and how confused parents are reacting". Yahoo! Life. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
11. ^ "Moonbug Announces New Character Meekah to Join Blippi Universe". The Salamanca Press. October 9, 2021. Archived from the original on October 10, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
12. ^ "Moonbug Announces New Character Meekah to Join Blippi Universe". PR Newswire. October 9, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
13. ^ ""Blippi's Treehouse," Featuring Preschool Juggernaut Blippi, Premieres Exclusively on Amazon Kids+ on December 1, 2021 Moonbug Entertainment". The Futon Critic. November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
14. ^ https://www.parents.com/another-new-blippi-8744503
15. ^ "Moonbug content on Virgin Media". advanced-television.com. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
16. ^ "Moonbug Brings 'Cocomelon,' Blippi to 'POPS' App". licenseglobal.com. 2021-03-10. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
17. ^ Horgan, Emily (December 17, 2021). "Moonbug Entertainment's 'Blippi' Joining 'CoComelon' on Netflix in January 2022". What's on Netflix.
18. ^ "Blippi inks master toy deal with Jazwares". Retrieved 2021-06-20.
19. ^ a b Patel, Sahil (2020-02-24). "Toy Industry Looks to YouTube Talent for Next Generation of Merchandise". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
20. ^ "YouTube Star Blippi Hits Play on Jazwares Toy Line". licenseglobal.com. 2020-01-22. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
21. ^ "Exclusive: The Point.1888 Inks New Moonbug Licensing Deals". licenseglobal.com. 2021-05-18. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
22. ^ Parents Demand Refunds on Their Blippi Tickets, 15 October 2019, retrieved 2022-03-03
23. ^ Robinson, Nathan J. (2020-08-25). "The Dead World of Blippi". Current Affairs. Retrieved 2021-07-27.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Moonbug Entertainment

YouTube channels|

* Cocomelon
* Little Baby Bum

Animated series|

* Cocomelon Lane
* Gecko's Garage
* My Magic Pet Morphle
* Supa Strikas (franchise | TV series)
* Blippi Wonders

Live-action series|

* Blippi

* Category

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*[t]: Discuss this template
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