Sony Music Acquires “Spookiz” Franchise

Sony Music Labels takes a leap into animated character content, acquiring the popular non-verbal animation series “Spookiz.”

Global success “Spookiz,” the popular non-verbal animation series with over 6.1 million YouTube subscribers and billions of views, has been acquired by Sony Music Labels. The deal is a significant shift in strategy for the music company, marking its first foray into animated character-driven content.

“Spookiz” features mainly 1-3 minute short, non-verbal animations, with a global fanbase in the US, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. The official YouTube channel has approximately 6.1 million subscribers, with over 3 billion views.

The series centers on five monster children who come to life at an elementary school in the middle of the night. Main characters include Cula (a self-important Dracula), Frankie (a food-obsessed Frankenstein’s monster), Kebbi (an energetic goblin), Kongkong (a mischievous Chinese ghost), and Zizi (a sweet but foul-smelling zombie). The brand maintains an active social media presence across multiple platforms.

Sony Music Labels will produce new “Spookiz” animations this year and launch a new season, while also developing and introducing new characters. The new focus will incorporate music in order to reach and engage with a broader audience. Sony Music Labels will leverage its music business expertise to create original content and conduct innovative marketing to enhance further global reach. This, they say, will be done similarly to how music artists are developed, creating “heartfelt activities through animation, music, and other mediums.”

“Sony Music Labels is embarking on a new challenge,” says Manabu Tsujino, Representative Director and President. “Building on the expertise cultivated in the music business and with the support of creators and partners, Sony Music Labels will aim to transform these monsters into stars, much like the way artists are developed.”

The deal also includes a partnership with Keyring Co., the South Korean-based animation studio behind the original content. The studio is renowned for its creative prowess and production acumen.