If you’re a parent who thought you were “Safe at last, doo doo doo doo doo doo,” from “Baby Shark,” you were sorely mistaken.
It seems the phenomenon that’s conquered YouTube and the Billboard charts has a new target: your TV.
Pinkfong, owned by Seoul-based SmartStudy Co., plans to release short videos on Netflix, one of the company’s founders, Seungkyu Lee, told Bloomberg.
A cartoon series and a musical are also in the works to debut in North America this year, Lee said. Pinkfong has hosted interactive shows and musicals around the world, including in South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.
Pinkfong also is considering developing games that kids can use via Amazon Alexa or Google Home voice assistants.
Netflix and SmartStudy did not immediately reply to requests for comments.
The “Baby Shark” song is among YouTube’s most-viewed videos ever with more than 2.1 billion views. Three weeks ago, it debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 list at No. 32. It has yet to drop out of the Top 40.
Famous parents including Kylie Jenner, Cardi B, Chance the Rapper and Tyra Banks have posted about it on social media. TV hosts Ellen DeGeneres and James Corden featured versions of the song on their shows. Corden’s included performances by Sophie Turner as Mommy Shark and Josh Groban as Daddy Shark.
Since it started in 2010, SmartStudy’s version of kiddie pop has been a hit with kids between 1 and 4 years old. Now, the company is looking to expand its empire with content for children ages 5 to 8. Lee hinted the next animal up could be penguins.
“I really liked ‘Madagascar,’” Lee told Bloomberg, referring to the DreamWorks Animation franchise that featured penguins.
Jennifer McClellan, USA TODAY
Read more at usatoday.com
