VaynerWatt Production Banner Revs Up With ‘VeeFriends’ Animated Series Debut on YouTube Kids

As a seasoned cinema devotee with decades of immersing myself in the rich tapestry of storytelling, I must say that the emergence of “VeeFriends” feels like a breath of fresh air in the children’s animation genre. Having witnessed the evolution of content creation over the years, it is truly heartening to see Gary Vaynerchuk and Eric Wattenberg challenge the status quo with their innovative approach to financing and distribution.


The VeeFriends have finally made it to the VeeDome.

On September 30th, the first three episodes of “VeeFriends”, an animated series targeted at children aged 6 to 11 produced by VaynerWatt and Moonbug Entertainment, were released on the YouTube Kids section of a popular streaming platform.

This animated series, developed by Vaynerchuk, aims to inspire children to tackle challenges and competition, teaching them to grow from setbacks and mistakes. The characters, such as Dialed-in Dog, Emphathy Elephant, and Perfect Persian Cat, engage in battles within the VeeDome, striving for unity while still maintaining their unique identities. The character of Dome Master oversees these battles, ensuring a fair process and leaving each participant stronger and more self-aware according to the series summary.

VeeFriends” is the initial project launched by VaynerWatt, a collaboration established in 2023 between entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk and entertainment professionals Eric Wattenberg (formerly of CAA and Wheelhouse Entertainment). They aim to explore unconventional funding and distribution channels for television programs, given the significant upheaval currently affecting the content marketplace.

Eric and I have begun offering performances, and it’s becoming quite thrilling,” Vaynerchuk shared with EbMaster. “For us, this is a significant stage in our process. It seems like we’ve reached a pivotal point as we unveil our first piece of creative work.

For Wattenberg, the prospect of adopting a new strategy in content creation and production serves as a stimulating test that leverages the abilities and connections he honed during his decade-long tenure as a leading CAA agent.

Wattenberg shared with EbMaster that the company’s mission is to hold and manage our intellectual property (IP) in collaboration with creative partners, as much as feasible. The aim here is to operate beyond traditional systems, enabling us to maximally monetize our content.

Gary Vaynerchuk’s upcoming ventures encompass a half-hour comedic series for Tubi, Fox’s ad-supported streaming platform, along with numerous unscripted projects in development. In addition to these, under the brand name Vayner Media, he offers creative advertising and consultancy services in brand management. His extensive experience working on Madison Avenue and high-profile brands serves as a significant advantage when seeking funding and marketing assistance for future partnerships. Moreover, VaynerWatt plans to produce branded content projects, leveraging the powerful allure of big brands to amass substantial online and social media followings.

VeeFriends” serves as an ideal launching pad for VaynerWatt due to its personal connection with Vaynerchuk. He initially sketched the characters himself several years back, later transforming them into a collection of NFTs during the pandemic. The popularity of “VeeFriends” grew through Vaynerchuk’s TikTok posts, particularly among children. This positive reception sparked in Vaynerchuk the idea that the franchise had great potential for growth and development.

In our debut animated series, we employ thrilling, emotion-centered tales as a means to equip children with the skills to manage their feelings, cultivate strength, and wholeheartedly accept themselves. It’s in these moments that the true victory lies,” he explained.

Moonbug Entertainment entered the scene following a meeting between Gary Vaynerchuk and Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, who are partners in Candle Media, the company that owns Moonbug. Given their shared strategies in the content marketplace, it was a fitting choice for Candle Media and VaynerWatt to collaborate on “VeeFriends”, given Moonbug’s expertise in 2-D animation production.

Gary along with the VeeFriends crew have successfully established an active and involved community, and we are delighted to have collaborated on a series that offers not just entertainment but also valuable life lessons for children and families,” stated Mayer and Staggs. “This alliance perfectly mirrors Candle’s and our team at Moonbug’s mission: to produce franchise content that delights as well as motivates.

Working alongside Moonbug to expand the franchise Vaynerchuk initially established was an enlightening experience, showing me the techniques used to create enduring characters and environments, according to him.

Vaynerchuk expressed his gratitude for the feedback from working with top-notch animation experts, calling it an open and collaborative experience. He shared that working on ‘VeeFriends’ feels energizing to him, as it’s something he’s long aspired to achieve.

Kathy Power, the executive producer from Moonbug on “VeeFriends,” acknowledged that Gary Vaynerchuk’s clear vision played a significant role in establishing the project’s atmosphere.

Gary had a very distinct vision of the characters, which the Moonbug team translated into both the narratives and visuals to make these characters and their world feel alive and multidimensional,” Power explained. The aim for everyone involved was to create a series that would not only be enjoyable and captivating, but also impart important life lessons in a clever and engaging manner, according to her.

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2024-10-02 18:47