There is no question that the world of children’s entertainment has grown far beyond the television screen. From toys and apparel to video games and an ever-growing assortment of collectibles, some of the most recognizable animated franchises have become just as prominent on store shelves as they are within the stories that first introduced us to them. And with an exciting assortment of new animated projects on the horizon, Mediawan Kids & Family is preparing to take that next step with its growing portfolio of entertainment properties.
Mediawan Kids & Family has officially entered into an exclusive worldwide licensing and merchandising agreement with Toon2Tango, bringing together an extensive collection of established and upcoming children’s entertainment franchises under a new global consumer products strategy.
Under the agreement, Toon2Tango will oversee licensing and merchandising opportunities across Mediawan Kids & Family’s portfolio, working with partners to develop products spanning toys, games, apparel, publishing, home décor and digital entertainment.
And among the properties included in this partnership is one that should certainly catch the attention of longtime animation enthusiasts: the upcoming Astro Boy reboot from Method Animation!
The iconic Japanese character, whose legacy spans generations of animation and manga, is among several properties that could see new merchandising opportunities through the agreement. Other titles within Mediawan’s portfolio include the digital-first series Wadoo and the preschool favorite Maddie + Triggs.
The partnership will also incorporate Toon2Tango’s own productions, including the upcoming animated feature Paluten Freedom, Niko, Agent 203 and Showtime, alongside developing projects such as Eldrador, based on the popular fantasy toy property from Schleich.
While licensing partnerships are certainly nothing new within children’s entertainment, this agreement represents another important step in how animation studios are approaching the long-term potential of their properties. Rather than limiting a franchise to its original television or film release, companies are increasingly exploring opportunities to create broader entertainment experiences that allow audiences to engage with their favorite characters in new ways.
The expanded collaboration builds upon an existing relationship between Mediawan Kids & Family and Toon2Tango, following a distribution agreement established in March 2025. With Toon2Tango now taking on a larger role in developing consumer products opportunities, the companies are looking to strengthen their brands across international markets.
And with properties ranging from preschool entertainment to action-adventure franchises and the highly anticipated return of Astro Boy, it will certainly be interesting to see which characters make their way from the screen to store shelves in the years ahead.