Research specialists The Wit picked 3 inspiring shows from their Fresh Database that reflect the variety and current challenges of kids programming.
Kids programming is currently facing 4 main challenges:
- YouTube’s domination of children’s content consumption
- the creative and financial clout of the international streamers who have invested in this market
- the need for linear TV to redefine its mission in this landscape
- the impact of AI on creation and production
Here are 3 recent shows picked by The Wit that reflect these issues:
- a Netflix animated musical movie with a KPop flavor, which has become a worldwide phenomenon
- a Korean animation series made entirely in AI
- an Australian unscripted game show for linear tv
K-Pop : Demon Hunters, USA, Netflix
Pitch: Musical animated adventure movie that follows the story of a world-renowned K-Pop girl group, as they balance their lives in the spotlight with their secret identities as bad-ass demon hunters, set against a colorful backdrop of fashion, food, style and the most popular music movement of this generation.
Social media buzz: The movie has become the most watched original film in Netflix history with 236 million total views at the end of August. Songs from the movie have ranked in Spotify and Billboard Hot 100 top lists. Very good reception from the public (a 7.7/10 IMDb score).
Premiere: Friday, June 20, 2025
Productor(s): Columbia Pictures / Sony Pictures Animation
One 95-minute movie
Cat Biggie, South Korea, YouTube
Pitch: Non-verbal short-form animation series created with AI software that follows a cat who unexpectedly meets a baby chick and becomes its father.
Social media buzz: The first 16 episodes released on YouTube for global audiences have delivered more than 9 million total views in two months of streaming.
Premiere: Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Productor(s): CJ ENM
30 2-minute episodes
TheatreDome, Australia, 9Go !
Pitch: Children’s improvisational show in which aspiring drama students step inside the “TheatreDome” for a series of improv sketch battles. Guided by professional mentors known as “The Oracles”, two teams go head-to-head.
Social media buzz: Australia’s first improvisational shows for children has ranked in the “Hot in the Fresh” list that points out the most searched titles in the Fresh database by The Wit subscribers.
Premiere: Monday, August 4, 2025
Productor(s): Nine Queensland (Nine Network)
21 25-minute episodes
These 3 recent shows picked are good examples of the diversity of the global kids programming offering. They respond to the challenges posed by changes in consumption and distribution. But above all, they meet the challenge of creative relevance: being at the centre of pop culture.
