Shimajiro No.1 Japan's most popular character in children's education.

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  • Shimajiro: A World of WOW! is Winner!
    The Best Pre-School Program category at the 23rd Asian Television Awards
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Episode 268: Dinosaurs

NOMINATED 2015

NOMINATED FOR 2015 INTERNATIONAL EMMY AWARD Shimajiro: A World of WOW!

Shimajiro’s animation
Target demographic:
Children aged 2-6

About Shimajiro

The main character of the show is a tiger boy called Shimajiro. Shimajiro is curious about everything and is willing to try anything once. He can be mischievous and selfish, but he always learns his lesson and is always there when his friends and little sister, Hannah, need him. He loves playing soccer more than anything!

Shimajiro & Friends

99.2% recognition among parents with children aged 0 to 6

Recognition 99.2%

Source: 2015 resarch by Benesse in JAPAN

Shimajiro is everyone’s favorite study buddy

  • A Challenger

  • Kind-hearted

  • Curious

Kodomo Challenge

Home education service for children aged 0-6
(“Kodomo” is Japanese for “children”)

A home education service that encourages children to explore and grow with new activities every month

  • Monthly subscription-based home-delivery package for children aged 0-6.
  • Tailored to children’s stages of development.
  • Consists of picture books, activity books, DVDs, educational toys, and parental guides.

Live Events

Live shows that encourage bonding with one’s family and other children at the event

  • 520K children attend the annual show.
  • Features stories designed to make a deep impression on children
  • Offers children the immediacy and sense of togetherness of being at a live show
Shimajiro Events
(Japanese only)

Licensed Products

As a brand that embodies both entertainment and educational qualities, Shimajiro makes for an attractive ambassador for a range of licensed children’s products—especially for parents who have grown to trust the brand over the last 28 years.

Everyday goods
Disposable diapers that allow children to comfortably sleep and play; cutlery designed to make eating more fun; toothbrushes with age-appropriate designs
Food and beverage
Baby food and snacks made without artificial coloring, preservatives, or flavoring; beverages that help children meet their daily quota of vegetables
Experience
Airlines and amusement parks, Shimajiro's play park
Clothing
Shoes and other items designed to be easier to put on and button
Mobile App
Mobile App supports well experienced and research based best practices in Early Childhood education.

There are also toiletries, stationeries, and other items for children aged 0-6 that are designed to make it fun for them to build up important everyday skills.

In July 2016, Benesse—the company behind the Shimajiro brand—were exhibitors and presenters at the Seoul Character Licensing Fair. This opportunity has led to new ventures with partners EduChallenge and Daewon Media.

TV Show

Shimajiro has starred in 350 episodes of a popular educational TV show that was launched in 2012. Each episode consists of an animated short starring Shimajiro and his friends (which have been produced since 1993, as well as live-action segments featuring songs, dances, and imaginative introductions to difficult scientific facts.
The content, which has been designed to draw out the innate curiosity of young children, has won praise from industry figures around the world.

The show has won a number of awards, including a Gold Award in the Preschool Subdivision and a Grand Award in the Education Division at the 2013 World Media Festival. It was even nominated in the Kids: Preschool Division at the 2015 International Emmy Awards. The show has been available on YouTube since 2011. To date, the Shimajiro Channel has recorded 230 million views in Japan alone, and an impressive 15 million views in Taiwan, where the animated short has been broadcast on EBS YoYo since 1999. In July 2016, Benesse, the company behind the Shimajiro brand, in conjunction with Korean business partners EduChallenge and Daewon Media, debuted Shimajiro as one of the key properties at Daewon Media’s booth at the Character Licensing Fair in Seoul, where it will be broadcast on Tooniverse from this September.

To potential buyers: The animated shorts and live action segments of the show can be provided together as a single package, or separately.

Animated Shorts

  • The Hidden Lake

    Shimajiro explores a cave in search of an underground lake. Along the way, he learns about volcanoes, caves, and the power of nature.

  • Adventurous Challenge Island

    It's a nice sunny day, Shimajiro and friends cannot stay still, they jump out of the house and go outside. Finding flowers and bugs in the field, sleighing on a sand hill at the beach, everyone is so vigorous in the nature. Then, they encounter mysterious footprints following to the cave. Nervously, they step inside the cave and...?

  • Don’t go, Little Bird

    Shimajiro and friends find a wounded little bird in Dokidoki-forest. They took the bird home to take care of it until the wound heals. They try to find little bird's dad and mom, so the bird can go home but Shimajiro starts to have attachment to the little bird.

Details
350 episodes (22.5 min. each)
Language: Japanese
We produce about 50 episodes every year.
Ready for delivery
Animated shorts: 52 episodes
With English scripts
Whole episodes: 4 episodes
With English subtitles
Target demographic
Children aged 2-6
Genre
Kids, Adventure, Edutainment

Live Action Segments

  • Earth Facts: Underground Lakes

    Underground lakes are some of the most magical places in the world. Find out how they are made!

  • The Bone Parade

    Learn all the secrets about your bones while you clicketty clack to the Bone Parade!

  • The WOW! Lab

    The Earth is always moving and shaking, even if we don't notice it. You might even say the Earth is alive!

Details
350 episodes (22.5 min. each)
Language: Japanese
We produce about 50 episodes every year.
Ready for delivery
Animated shorts: 52 episodes
With English scripts
Whole episodes: 4 episodes
With English subtitles
Target demographic
Children aged 2-6
Genre
Kids, Adventure, Edutainment

Films

Shimajiro has starred in four feature-length films since 2013. Unlike most children’s films, these movies have been specifically designed to give young children a relaxed, fun environment in which to enjoy their very first cinema outing. Each film features interactive segments in which Shimajiro and his friends speak directly to the audience and encourage the children to join them in singing songs, performing dances, and other fun activities. A fifth film, Shimajiro and the Rainbow Oasis, is currently in production, and will be released sometime in March 2017.

Cast & Crew

  • 2013
    Shimajiro and Fufu's Big Adventure

    Flowers are mysteriously dying on the island where Shimajiro lives. One day, Shimajiro and his friends meet a girl named Fufu who claims to be from the Kingdom of Flowers. Together, they set out on a journey to find the Rainbow Flower that might cure the dying flowers.

  • 2014
    Shimajiro and the Whale's Song

    Shimajiro and his friends go on a long sea voyage as they try to return a lost baby whale to its mother. Along the way, they encounter many obstacles and work together to overcome them.

  • 2015
    Shimajiro and the Mother Tree

    Shimajiro and his friends fly to a mysterious island in search of the enormous Mother Tree. They encounter the island's natives and quickly become friends. But two mischievous spiders kidnap Shimajiro's little sister Hannah!

  • 2016
    Shimajiro in Bookend

    When Shimajiro and his friends are transported into the pages of a magical book, they set out on a quest to find the magic paints that will save the kingdom that rules the book—as well as Shimajiro’s friendship with his best friend, Flappie!

  • 2017
    Shimajiro and the Rainbow Oasis

    While Shimajiro and his friends are touring the inside of the Dig-Bug—a robot that can dig through the earth—its inventor, Dr. Roarson, accidentally sets the Dig-Bug in motion. The robot digs its way to a desert far away from home before breaking down. There, Shimajiro and his friends meet Coco, a girl who was separated from her mother during a severe sandstorm. They decide to help Coco find her mother, leaving Dr. Roarson behind to repair the Dig-Bug so they can all go home.

  • 2018
    Shimajiro the Movie: Adventures on Magic Island

    When Shimajiro and his friends find a fairy called a Pokapom, they decide to help it return home to Magic Island. There, they meet Aura, a young witch who is trying to bring spring back to the island.

  • 2019
    Shimajiro and Ururu's Hero Island

    Female inventor Uluru has created Heroland, a world where heroes and heroines admired by people can meet. Shimajiro and his friends are so happy to arrive in Heroland, but then a bad robot turns up and starts causing trouble……
    Can Shimajiro and his friends come together and save the day?

Details
7 films (60 min. each)
Language: Japanese
Ready for delivery
3 films (With English subtitles)
・Shimajiro and the Mother Tree
・Shimajiro in Bookendbr
・Shimajiro the Movie: Adventures on Magic Island
Target demographic
Children aged 2-6
Genre
Kids, Adventure

AWARDS

2018

KINEKO International Children's Film Festival

Country
JAPAN
Category
Target age 3+
Award
Special Screening
Program Title
Shimajiro the Movie: Adventures on Magic Island

the 23rd Asian Television Awards

Country
Asia
Category
Pre-School Program
Award
the Best Pre-School Program
Program Title
Shimajiro A World of WOW!

2017

US INTERNATIONAL FILM & VIDEO FESTIVAL

Country
USA
Category
EDUCATIONAL: Pre-School, Kindergarten
Award
CERTIFICATE
Program Title
Shimajiro A World of WOW!

CANADA KIDS FILM FESTIVAL

Country
Canada
Category
TV series
Award
Nominees
Program Title
Shimajiro A World of WOW!

LIMA ASIAN LICENSING AWARDS 2017

Country
Asia
Category
Best Asia Property of the year
Award
Nominees
Program Title
Shimajiro

BANFF WORLD MEDIA FESTIVAL

Country
Canada/Banff
Category
Children&Youth
Non-Fiction
Award
Nominees
Program Title
Shimajiro A World of WOW!

2016

Japan Prize

Country
Japan
Category
Pre-school
Award
Finalist
Program Title
Shimajiro A World of WOW!

2015

INTERNATIONAL EMMY AWARDS

Country
FRANCE/Cannes
Category
Kids: Pre-school
Award
Nominees
Program Title
Shimajiro A World of WOW!

BANFF WORLD MEDIA FESTIVAL

Country
CANADA/Banff
Category
Children’s Nonfiction
Award
Nominees
Program Title
Shimajiro A World of WOW!

CARTOONS ON THE BAY

Country
ITALY/Venice
Category
TV SERIES FOR KIDS
Award
Official selection
Program Title
Shimajiro A World of WOW!

SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL KID'S FILM FESTIVAL

Country
USA
Category
Pre-school
Award
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Program Title
Shiamjiro and the Mother Tree

INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN‘S FILM FESTIVAL INDIA

Country
INDIA
Category
Pre-school
Award
Nominees
Program Title
Shiamjiro and the Mother Tree

2014

Asia Television Awards

Country
SINGAPORE
Category
Pre-School Programme
Award
Finalist
Program Title
Shimajiro A World of WOW!

2013

World Media Festival

Country
GARMANY/Hamburg
Category
Education
Award
GRAND AWARD
Program Title
Shimajiro A World of WOW!

World Media Festival

Country
GARMANY/Hamburg
Category
Education:
Pre-School, Kindergarten
Award
GRAND AWARD
Program Title
Shimajiro A World of WOW!

JAPAN PRIZE

Country
JAPAN
Category
Pre-school
Award
Finalist
Program Title
Shimajiro A World of WOW!

CONTACT US.

If you are interested in the Shimajiro property, we’d like to hear from you! Please email us at the following address.

shimajiro-license@mail.benesse.co.jp

Kodomo Challenge

Home education service for children aged 0-6
(“Kodomo” is Japanese for “children”)