Toon Goggles

Toon Goggles logo with its mascot Yeti

Toon Goggles is an American on-demand entertainment service for children that provides animated cartoons, live-action shows, games and music worldwide via the web and mobile applications on smartphones, OTT devices, smart TVs and tablets,[1] led by CEO and co-founder Stephen Hodge.

Based in Los Angeles, California, Toon Goggles has developed partnerships with Sony, Samsung and Roku.[2] Their children's content is compliant with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act).[3]

Toon Goggles allows animators to publish their shows for free. Animation rights holders are then provided with analytical data regarding the popularity of each show that they can present to network producers or investors.[4]

In December 2014, Toon Goggles introduced 4K streaming of 18 series within their service.[5]

Features

Many of Toon Goggles customers use the service on children's tablets, especially Techno Source's Kurio7[6] and Oregon Scientific's MEEP![7]

  • Some Features Include:
    • 6 show categories including boys, girls, action, comedy, preschool, and educational
    • 6 game categories including arcade, puzzle, sports, action, strategy and adventures
    • News stories and educational content for kids and tweens
    • TG Radio, a kid-safe music service with pop hits and soundtracks
    • Parental control switch to monitor viewing
    • UHD 4K streaming[8]
    • Access over 3G/4G/Wi-Fi and ability to save cartoons for offline viewing
    • Localized interface in 18 different languages for global use

Background

The Toon Goggles application is developed by Toon Goggles Inc., a start-up based in Los Angeles. In 2011, a demo website (www.toongoggles.com) was created to take to MIPCOM to show animation companies the exposure they could receive by placing their cartoons on the Toon Goggles service.[9] The mobile application was created soon after. In 2012, the platform secured one of its first partnerships with Panasonic to appear on the VIERA Connect television.[10] Toon Goggles has been pre-installed and promoted on a variety of devices for sale.

Stephen L. Hodge, Managing Director, spearheaded the creation of Toon Goggles in 2011.[11] James R. Cahall, Chief Technology Officer, heads the service's technology development and feature integration, including the company's move to offer 4K streaming.[12] Jordan Warkol, Director of Business Development was an actor for 15 years starting at the age of 4 playing 'Froggy' in the 1994 version of "The Little Rascals.".[13]

Business model

Originally a free service, Toon Goggles now follows the Freemium model, offering users free content with pre-screened advertising and the ability to upgrade to the subscription service with an ad-free model.[14]

Partners

Toon Goggles has the following partnerships.

Lawsuit

In mid to late 2019, Toon Goggles was involved in the lawsuit Securities and Exchange Commission v. Toon Goggles Inc., et al.[29] According to the lawsuit, co-founder Ira Warkol held at least five unregistered broker deals to around 400 investors from August 2012 to late 2016, raising over US$19 million.[30] The lawsuit also stated that the commissions were performed under several entities, such as another start-up called NetKids and two divisions from Toon Goggles themselves: Dinomite Apps and Yeti Productions (both of which dissolved in 2015 and 2016 respectively). Toon Goggles also failed to get complete records of their investors, including the number of shares and money gained.[30] Warkol neither admitted nor denied the allegations and agreed to a settlement stating that he had to return $2 million and pay another US$190,000 fine, along with being permanently banned from any future security sales.[31] The case was settled on October 29, 2019.

A separate but similar preceding had the SEC accuse director of operations' Brendan Pollitz for facilitating broker-dealer registration violations. Pollitz agreed to a cease-and-desist order, paying additional fines of up to $43,589.[32]

References

  1. ^ "Toon Goggles". www.toongoggles.com. Archived from the original on 2020-12-11. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  2. ^ a b Gary Rusak, "Toon Goggles added to Samsung’s Smart TV platform" Archived 2020-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, Kids Screen, 1/23/2014
  3. ^ Jesse Whittock, "Toon Goggles Builds Library with YFE" Archived 2018-07-28 at the Wayback Machine,C21 Media, 1/31/2012
  4. ^ Wendy Goldman Getzler, "Cartoon website targets kids and network execs" Archived 2021-02-27 at the Wayback Machine,Kids Screen, 3/18/2011
  5. ^ Ryan Waniata, " Vizio’s P-series 4K UHD TVs will get more content thanks to Amazon, Ultraflix, and Toon Goggles" Archived 2019-02-12 at the Wayback Machine, Digital Trends, 12/22/2014
  6. ^ a b Anna Attkisson, "Techno Source Kurio 7 Review" Archived 2021-05-06 at the Wayback Machine, Laptop Mag, 09/14/2012
  7. ^ a b Jeremy Dickson, "Toon Goggles hits the Meep! screen tablet" Archived 2012-10-29 at the Wayback Machine,Kids Screen, 9/12/2012
  8. ^ "Sony Electronics Showcases New 4K Ultra HD TV Line" Archived 2017-03-15 at the Wayback Machine, 1/25/2015
  9. ^ Jeremy Dickson, "Toon Goggles secures kids content from BRB" Archived 2019-03-30 at the Wayback Machine,Kids Screen, 7/17/2012
  10. ^ a b Jeremy Dickson, "Toon Goggles content to reach Panasonic smart TVs" Archived 2012-10-28 at the Wayback Machine,Kids Screen, 6/14/2012
  11. ^ "Toon Goggles, Inc". Gust. Archived from the original on 2018-09-07. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  12. ^ "Powerslyde Profiles – Stories Behind The Apps: Toon Goggles". powerslyde. 2013-11-19. Archived from the original on 2018-09-07. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  13. ^ "Jordan Warkol". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2017-02-17. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  14. ^ "Toon Goggles Initiates Subscription Based Service" Archived 2015-02-26 at the Wayback Machine,PR Web, 10/01/2012
  15. ^ Ed Washington, "Toon Goggles lands on Sony Xperia" Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Animation World Network, 2/04/2013
  16. ^ "Toon Goggles". Roku. Archived from the original on 2018-09-07. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  17. ^ Jeremy Dickson, "Western Digital puts on Toon Goggles" Archived 2020-12-20 at the Wayback Machine, Kids Screen, 1/07/2014
  18. ^ Mercedes Milligan, "Toon Goggles, VIZIO Partnership Kicks Off" Archived 2016-06-04 at the Wayback Machine,Animation Magazine, 8/04/2014
  19. ^ "Toon Goggles launches on WOW! Ultra TVs" Archived 2018-08-26 at the Wayback Machine,Animation Magazine, 12/15/2014
  20. ^ "Seiki/Toon Goggles Partnership Brings 4K and More to Streaming Kids' Video". PRWeb. Archived from the original on 2015-01-28. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  21. ^ "Toon Goggles Partners With Techno Source on New Kurio7 Android™ Tablet for Families™". PRWeb. 2012-07-09. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  22. ^ Jeremy Dickson, "Netrange Deal Brings Kids Entertainment Platform to Smart TVs Everywhere" Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, 12/29/2014
  23. ^ Wendy Goldman Getzler, "Polaroid’s kids Tablet to feature Toon Goggles content" Archived 2013-08-06 at the Wayback Machine,Kids Screen, 5/28/2013
  24. ^ "Kids Service Toon Goggles Signs Content Deal with Over-the-Top Provider XUMO to Add Free Children's Entertainment to 20 Million Devices: LG Smart TVs Included". Multichannel. Archived from the original on 2018-09-07. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  25. ^ http://www.wxvt.com/story/22070655/idolian-mobile-to-add-toon-goggles-app-to-its-line-of-android-tablets-pcs [dead link]
  26. ^ "Toon Goggles Launches Free App For Barnes and Noble’s Critically Acclaimed Nook HD and Nook HD+" Archived 2016-03-07 at the Wayback Machine,Business Wire, 3/04/2013
  27. ^ "Toon Goggles Brings Kids Mobile Hub to US Cellular Customers" Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine,Consumer Electronics Net, 1/20/2015
  28. ^ "Toon Goggles Signs Deal with PacketVideo". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  29. ^ "SEC.gov | Toon Goggles Inc., et al". www.sec.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  30. ^ a b "Toon Goggles & founder charged by SEC". Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  31. ^ "L.A. Firm, Founder Charged in $19 Million Illegal Securities Offering | Chief Investment Officer". www.ai-cio.com. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  32. ^ "Toon Goggles & founder charged by SEC". Retrieved 2024-01-13.