As competition intensifies and audiences fragment, many TV genres are in a state of decline - but children’s content is enjoying a sustained surge in demand.

At Parrot Analytics we measure global audience demand, which is a standardized metric based on audience desire for any title in any market on any day. And despite the current financing challenges in the kids TV industry, the data shows that in the last 12 months, global demand for preschool titles grew by 25%, with content for school-aged kids not far behind at 21%.

In fact, the kids genre has defied the downward trend that has plagued the broader TV landscape by evolving into a dynamic ecosystem, underpinned by a few structural factors:

• Reliability for parents: Preschool content is used by parents as a trusted “digital babysitter,” especially on platforms like YouTube and Netflix, where on-demand access to an unending supply of shows makes it easy to keep young viewers engaged.
• Cross-platform reach: Children’s content can increasingly be found across many platforms, with linear TV, streaming services and digital-first players like YouTube Kids all contributing to visibility for kids franchises.
• Day-in/day-out stability: Demand for children’s programming only tends to dip during traditional school holidays in the Northern Hemisphere, suggesting much of this content is being consumed during school weeks - and that families are making it part of their daily routines.
• Global travelability: One of the biggest strengths of kids content is its ability to perform well beyond its home market. Children’s stories, characters and humor often transcend cultural and language barriers, helping shows reach audiences worldwide and driving stronger international demand than most adult genres.

A mighty little legacy

When you line up this year’s most in-demand preschool brands, it’s worth noting how long they’ve been around. Sesame Street is a cultural institution that’s been delighting audiences for 55 years. Peppa Pig has been on our screens for more than two decades. Even digital-native sensations like CoComelon trace their roots back more than 15 years, evolving steadily to become household names. These aren’t overnight hits - they’re properties that have had time to grow, entrench themselves in family routines, and build vast libraries of content that keep kids coming back.

Against this backdrop, Mighty Little Bheem stands out as the “new kid on the block,” having premiered on Netflix as recently as 2019. Yet even this breakout success is not entirely new - it’s built on the foundation of Chhota Bheem, the Indian animated series that first aired in 2008. This underlines a key truth: In preschool entertainment, even the freshest successes often spring from ideas and characters with deep roots. Demand in this space can compound over years, fuelled by familiarity, repeatability and a robust licensing and distribution machine. But that same dynamic makes it increasingly hard for truly new properties to cut through. Legacy brands hold the advantage - commanding attention, dominating shelf space and capturing the loyalty of both children and parents.

But Mighty Little Bheem is proof that when a show is built for borderless storytelling, it can thrive well beyond its home market. Rooted in Indian culture yet told entirely without dialogue, the series removes one of the biggest barriers to global travel: language. Its visual humor, expressive characters and universally relatable toddler antics land just as well in Manila or Manchester as they do in Mumbai.

That creative choice has paid off in audience reach. While India remains the show’s core market, Mighty Little Bheem has impressive traction in other key territories - demand in the US is at 76% of its Indian level, with Pakistan (75%) and the Philippines (74%) not far behind. Even in geographically and culturally distant markets like Germany and Brazil, Mighty Little Bheem retains over half of its home-market demand.

The show’s short episodes make it snackable for mobile viewing, while its family-friendly tone invites repeat watching. For preschool audiences - where routines and familiarity drive engagement - the show’s combination of recognizable cultural flavor and universally accessible humor has made Mighty Little Bheem a rare regionally originated property that feels truly at home everywhere.

A miraculous global growth

One of the fastest-growing school-age properties globally is Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir. Global demand for the series surged by 98% between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025, enjoying a remarkable five-quarter growth streak with no reversals.

In that time, Miraculous overtook My Little Pony and is now on track to surpass SpongeBob SquarePants by the end of 2025 as the most in-demand kids IP globally. It also leads the kids category on Disney+, outperforming legacy favorites such as Gravity Falls, Phineas and Ferb and DuckTales.

This growth speaks not just to the show’s storytelling and character appeal, but to its effectiveness as a global franchise, with exceptional travelability and smart localization. Kids around the world are drawn in by its superhero action, relatable emotional arcs and a recognizable Parisian setting. Miraculous has cemented its status with both Gen Alpha and Gen Z audiences and continues to thrive through a smart blend of streaming success, broadcast visibility and brand licensing strength.

And the recent pivot to release full episodes on YouTube has boosted the franchise’s visibility even further. While the show finds its strongest secondary market in the US, it has also established firm footholds across Europe, Latin America and Asia - highlighting its widespread international appeal and resonance with audiences worldwide.

No signs of slowing down

The successes of Mighty Little Bheem and Miraculous underscore a broader truth: The future of kids content remains full of opportunity. As platforms diversify and global competition intensifies, franchises that prioritize storytelling, cross-platform accessibility and international appeal are best-positioned to thrive. Whether through localized originals, data-driven distribution strategies or smart licensing partnerships, the kids genre continues to evolve - and the appetite for compelling, character-led content shows no signs of diminishing.

For creators, platforms and partners alike, the next breakout hit could come from anywhere - and speak to everyone.

This report was published in Kidscreen on September 15, 2025.