The intersection of consumer retail and screen entertainment is seeing an unorthodox disruption as the digital-first property IvyBears moves into theatrical and episodic expansion. Following a presentation at the MIPJunior market in Cannes, brand creator and Moontrail Animation Studios founder Dr. Kaan Haylaz revealed that an animated feature film based on the IvyBears characters is currently in development, with production targeted to kick off before the end of the year.
The trajectory of the franchise represents an inversion of traditional Hollywood intellectual property development. Rather than debuting an entertainment property on television or cinema screens and capitalizing on merchandising later, Haylaz launched IvyBears as a gummy vitamin business before turning it into a dedicated digital entertainment empire.
Turning a Consumer Product Into an Entertainment IP
Haylaz, a theater and film studies graduate, originally established IvyBears as a personal solution to help his young son, Pars, who faced difficulties with food. From that health-focused foundation, Haylaz engineered what he terms a "reverse flywheel strategy," designing the gummy packaging and the animated characters side by side to bridge both markets simultaneously.
While classic franchises like Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Pixar properties established audience love on screens before selling toys, Haylaz leveraged an existing global retail presence across pharmacies and supermarkets first. By having audiences connect with super-powered hero characters both online and in retail aisles, Moontrail created a universe where consumer products and narrative storytelling operate in direct tandem.
Characterizing the ensemble cast, Haylaz described the tone as a blend of "The A-Team" and "Angry Birds." Rather than leaning strictly into soft, predictable designs, the IvyBears are crafted as confident, justice-minded figures who actively punish antagonists while maintaining relatable personality traits.
Streamlined Animation and the Role of AI Workflow
Behind the animation production is Malta-based Moontrail Animation Studios, which employs a core team of approximately 20 full-time staff members. The studio relies on a hybrid pipeline that pairs traditional filmmaking craft with emerging artificial intelligence technologies, enabling the team to complete 12-minute episodes in about two weeks.
Haylaz addressed the ongoing industry discourse surrounding artificial intelligence, arguing that technological tools should lower entry barriers for independent creators rather than replace human creative staff. At Moontrail, human personnel oversee the scriptwriting, storytelling pacing, emotional performance, and overall artistic decisions.
Operating with generative AI presents notable challenges, specifically when maintaining visual consistency, environmental details, lighting, and expressions across full scenes. Haylaz noted that while tools speed up production timelines and lower substantial upfront financing hurdles, cinematic continuity and story resonance still demand rigorous oversight by experienced filmmakers.
Digital Milestones and Expanding the Production Slate
Since its launch earlier this year, the IvyBears YouTube channel has amassed more than 7.7 million subscribers and generated upwards of 75 million views across platforms. This high-volume audience reception has provided the groundwork for Moontrail's broader IP slate.
Alongside the development of the upcoming IvyBears feature film, the studio is producing additional episodic content, including "The Dr Muppy Show" and "Banana Rainbow." The studio maintains a sharp focus on protecting its underlying intellectual property, scripts, and character rights while adopting modern development software.
Looking ahead, Moontrail Animation Studios aims to establish IvyBears across feature films, broader licensing, gaming, and additional consumer products as production on the animated movie gets underway before the close of the calendar year.
Related Stories
- Disney Kids & Family Leadership Details Strategy With Digital Creators Dhar Mann and Nastya
- Animated 'Artemis Fowl' Series Greenlit for Disney+ and Disney Channel
- Animation and VFX Leaders Address Studio Culture, Mentorship, and Managing Bad Bosses at View Conference
Source: Variety
Post a Comment