Future Today is co-producing two new original series based on Roblox and Minecraft with gaming content producer/on-demand app Tankee.

Both 13-episode comedies will launch exclusively on Future Today’s HappyKids OTT platform in July or August. Minecraft Boss Battles and Roblox Recess Extreme are geared to kids ages six to 12 and follow along with players exploring and questing in their respective games.

HappyKids did a trial run with original content when it produced early-learning preschool series Hippy Hoppy, which launched in 2018 and has since racked up more than 500 million views on the platform. This early success has spurred Future Today to invest in more originals, according to David Di Lorenzo, SVP of kids and family.

The company plans to co-produce more originals in the future in order to stand out from other OTT platforms, adds Di Lorenzo. HappyKids’ audience has grown during the pandemic, and offering a wider selection of exclusive content will also help with viewer retention. The platform currently features more than 60,000 licensed movies, TV shows and educational videos for preschoolers to tweens.

Tankee has recently been working with several OTTs to help them reach more kids with its game-focused content. Genius Brands International signed a co-production deal with the company to co-produce Radical Roblox in March, and AVOD Kidoodle.TV picked up Tankee’s catalogue of existing series last year.