41 Entertainment Powers Up Superhero Franchise

As superhero movies continue to show their might at the box office, there are two new kids’ shows in the 41 Entertainment catalog ready to power up the international marketplace: Superhero Summer Camp and Superhero Pets. The first centers on a one-of-a-kind sleepaway camp where the children of legendary superheroes learn to perfect their powers, while the latter is about four-legged crimefighters battling against wannabe thieves, beginner baddies and fledgling felons. Both are aimed at little ones ages 4 to 7.

“There are all types of superhero shows, but PJ Masks and PAW Patrol demonstrated to us that it can work really well when the target audience is preschoolers and not older kids,” says Allen Bohbot, the founder and managing director of 41 Entertainment. “We developed our two shows to be aspirational and inspirational to young viewers worldwide and teach them that they too can do good in the world while having fun.”

Bohbot highlights the series’ emphasis on music as being another aspect that makes them stand out. “We truly believe that music is an important ingredient in storytelling,” he says. “Great music sets the tone for the adventures that our protagonists go on. It further brings the two animated series to life. We have already begun developing catchy original songs to incorporate into the two properties—not to mention our dynamic theme songs!”

Humor is also core to the franchise, Bohbot adds. “Whether someone’s ego gets in the way; a character tries, fails and then succeeds through the help of friends; or the teams get into sticky situations they weren’t prepared for, both titles lean into comedic kid-appropriate relatable situations.”

Superhero Summer Camp and Superhero Pets follow on from Super Monsters, which Bohbot calls “the perfect show.” That series was originally aimed at kids 6 to 11, the middle school crowd. “It was not until a Netflix executive asked if we would consider changing to a preschool target that the bell went off in our heads, and we immediately agreed,” he explains.

Super Monsters launched as a Netflix Original in fall 2017, and starting in fall 2019, the series will also be on leading linear broadcast channels worldwide. It is set within Pitchfork Pines Preschool, where the children of the world’s famous (and not-so-famous) monsters learn to be the best people, and the best monsters, they can be.

“In addition to the aspirational aspect of children wanting to follow in their parents’ footsteps, Super Monsters is unique in the international marketplace because it is gender-neutral, contains a very diverse cast, and the socio-emotional preschool themes in each episode transcend cultures and language differences,” says Bohbot. “Each of our pint-sized super monsters is relatable to a child anywhere in the world. The lessons taught come from being a good person, respecting peers, sharing with others, and [there are] many other themes that are relatable to children worldwide.”

The series is also very vibrant and colorful, he adds. “The dynamic color pallet plays into the gender-neutral theme. We have also introduced many new songs in season two and beyond, adding to the likability of the series. As I said, it is the perfect show!”

In addition to these three aspirational preschool shows, the 41 Entertainment portfolio features two video game-based series, PAC-MAN and the Ghostly Adventures and Skylanders Academy; two properties based on iconic IPs, Kong—King of the Apes and Tarzan and Jane; and a new girl-targeted series, Shooting Star.

“Being a worldwide player in the kids’ animation industry, it is imperative that we constantly develop and seek fresh ideas and properties while also maintaining the traction that we have for our existing IPs,” says Bohbot. “As such, we have a lot of shows in various stages of development and production. Each title is treated independently and has its own strategic plan for how we continue to grow the property. We also purposely diversify our portfolio to cover a variety of genres—including video game titles, iconic titles, preschool titles and international titles—so that we are able to meet the needs of any client.”