
Blippi is owned by Moonbug Entertainment, which acquired the character and its production business from creator Stevin John in July 2020. Moonbug is a subsidiary of Candle Media, the private media company founded by Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs with backing from Blackstone, so Blippi's ultimate owner is the Blackstone-financed Candle group. Clayton Grimm now performs the role alongside the franchise's expanded cast.
Parent Company
Acquired
2020
Status
Private
Headquarters
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Blippi | Moonbug Entertainment | Wholly owned |
Stevin John, a former marketing consultant from Washington state, created Blippi in early 2014 after watching his young nephew consume low-quality YouTube videos. The first episode, posted in January 2014, featured tractors and established the format that still defines the show: an energetic adult in a blue-and-orange outfit touring real places like factories, zoos, fire stations, and playgrounds while explaining how things work to preschoolers.
John built the channel largely alone for years, filming around Las Vegas before relocating production to Los Angeles. By 2020 the channel was generating more than half a billion views per month, supported by a toy line and sell-out live shows in the United States. He hired actor Clayton Grimm in 2019 to perform Blippi on tour, a decision that later proved central to scaling the character.
Moonbug acquired Blippi in July 2020. In May 2021, Grimm began appearing as Blippi on the channel itself alongside John, a transition that drew initial backlash from parents but ultimately stabilized the franchise as a multi-performer property. That October, Moonbug introduced Meekah, Blippi's best friend, played by Kaitlin Becker and Cashae Monya, and in December 2021 launched the spin-off Blippi's Treehouse on Amazon Kids+.
The franchise expanded steadily under Candle Media ownership. Netflix launched a dedicated Meekah series in December 2022 in English, Spanish, and Portuguese markets, supported by a Meekah music album and a dedicated YouTube channel that passed 500,000 subscribers within months. Blippi content is now dubbed into Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Japanese, Italian, Hebrew, Arabic, Swedish, Danish, Welsh, and Polish, and the brand spans streaming specials, a live tour, music, and an extensive consumer products line.
Who owns Moonbug Entertainment?
Moonbug is a wholly owned subsidiary of Candle Media, the private Los Angeles media company co-founded by Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs and backed by approximately $2 billion from Blackstone. Candle acquired Moonbug in November 2021.
What brands does Moonbug own?
Moonbug owns 29 children's intellectual properties. Its largest are CoComelon, Blippi, Morphle, Little Baby Bum, Little Angel, Gecko's Garage, Oddbods, and Supa Strikas, distributed across more than 150 platforms in 32 languages.
How much did Moonbug sell for?
Candle Media acquired Moonbug in November 2021 for a reported $2.75 billion, potentially reaching $3 billion with earn-out incentives. The official announcement did not confirm a figure.
Who founded Moonbug?
René Rechtman, former president of international at Maker Studios, and John Robson, former managing director at WildBrain, founded the company in London on February 9, 2018. It was originally registered as Project ABC Holdings Limited.
Is Moonbug profitable?
Moonbug does not publish standalone financial results as a private subsidiary. Its last disclosed figure was approximately $53.7 million in revenue for 2020, before the full-year effect of the CoComelon and Blippi acquisitions, and industry reporting describes it as financially healthier than most peers.
Will Moonbug be sold?
As of late 2026, press reports indicate Candle Media has explored a sale of Moonbug as part of its restructuring, but no transaction has been announced and a deal is not described as imminent. Moonbug remains a Candle subsidiary.
The franchise weathered a brief fan backlash in May 2021 when Clayton Grimm first appeared as Blippi on the channel, with some parents upset that Stevin John was being replaced; the company clarified that John would continue performing across platforms while Grimm hosted a new show. Separately, reporting by BuzzFeed News in 2019 surfaced an earlier comedic video project by John under a different character, which he addressed publicly; the franchise's growth was unaffected. Blippi has no documented product recalls or regulatory actions.
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candle Media | United Kingdom | 2018 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Moonbug | USA | 2006 | Mass market | Global | All-ages | |
| Moonbug | United Kingdom | 2011 | Mass market | Global | All-ages |
Media EntertainmentOwned by Candle Media
London children's media company behind CoComelon and Blippi, owned by Blackstone-backed Candle Media since November 2021.
Media EntertainmentOwned by Moonbug Entertainment
Preschool animation franchise featuring JJ and family, owned by Moonbug Entertainment, a subsidiary of Blackstone-backed Candle Media.
Media EntertainmentOwned by Moonbug Entertainment
Animated preschool franchise about a shapeshifting magic pet, created by Arthur van Merwijk and owned by Moonbug Entertainment.
Market Positioning: Blippi competes with 3 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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