Baby Shark makers to build on video’s success with K-pop influenced entertainment
- The Seoul-based company behind the YouTube sensation is planning to release videos via Netflix, a cartoon series and a musical
- Children aged between one and four targeted with trendy K-pop inspired beats
“Baby Shark (Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo)” is the YouTube sensation that’s been viewed more than two billion times and made the Billboard Hot 100 chart last week as its top new entrant. The jingle has also become such an earworm that US late-night show host Jimmy Kimmel proposed throwing those responsible in jail for life.
Love it or hate it, the South Korean company behind the one-and-a-half minute song about a family of sharks is now seeking to capitalise on its success by expanding its kid-oriented entertainment business.
Seoul-based SmartStudy is planning this year to release short videos via Netflix, a cartoon series and a musical in North America through its children’s education brand Pinkfong, one of the company’s founders said.
The start-up, which has recently signed various merchandising deals, may also develop games that work with Amazon’s Alexa and Alphabet’s Google Home voice assistants.
The popularity of the singalong builds on South Korea’s emergence as an entertainment powerhouse.
K-pop has grown into a US$5 billion industry thanks to the success of the likes of boy band BTS, which has signed commercial deals with big companies from Hyundai Motor to Barbie-maker Mattel and Psy, whose “Gangnam Style” video is at more than three billion views and counting.
