Bitcoin Education Gets Animated in New Hit Cartoon

Any education on Bitcoin can be quite utilitarian. It is designed for investors, so it often takes a calculated, statistical look at decentralisation. That is about to change, with the introduction of a cartoon that will teach children about Bitcoin. A world first, it promises to come with its own reward system attached. But the big question is, do children even want it?

What Will the Cartoon Be About?

The cartoon will be titled “Bitcoin Brigade: Adventures in Satoshi City.” It follows a group of children who manage to find a gateway known as the Bitcoin Bridge to a decentralised world. It will be produced in an anime style, with both action and educational themes. Behind it will be a driving K-pop soundtrack, making it fit with current animation themes like Netflix’s hit K-pop Demon Hunters.

The cartoon arrives at a time when Bitcoin is reaching its all-time peaks. While the Bitcoin price has displayed a minor reversal over the past days and is currently sitting around the $112,942 mark, it is still in one of its most vibrant periods. On August 14th, it managed to scale psychological price barriers and tip the $123,000 mark. It also continues to be lapped up not just in the retail sector, but by institutions and corporations.

The narrative involves two mentors known as Satoshi Spark and Mr. Bitkern. They guide the group’s leader, Bitty Coin, gentle protector Blocky Chain and Crypto Cora, a coder, along with a wild miner racing to solve crypto puzzles, and a hyperactive speedster. Together, they defend Satoshi City from villains like Forkmaster, who tries to split the city with dangerous forks. Other villains include Fiat Fred, who tries to destabilise the system by printing money.

However, the cartoon aims to go far beyond just a television series. It will be an integrated business model that spans content, merchandise, applications and education. Behind this will be a Bitcoin treasury strategy that the project organisers have said will position them in a unique position at the cross-section of entertainment and blockchain technology.

Who Are Kartoon Studios?

Andy Heyward is the CEO of Cartoon Studios and is behind the venture. He has previously worked on the animated series for some of gaming’s most well-known characters: Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog. He has stated that just as those properties helped launch their respective gaming companies into household names, this will have a similar impact on Bitcoin. His exact words were that it will “Have an equally revolutionary impact on the next level of entertainment, education, and gaming powered by blockchain technology.”

The production will be made in partnership with Bitkern. This Swiss/Austrian company is known for its mining facilities across the globe. Its founder, Patrick Stich, believes that it is “An exciting way for kids to learn these ideas early and carry them into the future.” It will be broadcast on the Kartoon Channel, YouTube Kids and global broadcasters.

They plan to build the Satoshi Sparks Rewards System behind all of this. As children watch episodes and complete quizzes which include cryptographic challenges, they will then earn digital currency known as Sparks. This can be redeemed for exclusive merch, bonus content and collectables. A licensing programme will be available worldwide, which will then provide toys and apparel. Each will be embedded with Lightning Network-enabled NFC chips. Once activated, they will each teach children about blockchain technology. This could include concepts such as cold storage and Bitcoin ledgers.

Do Children Even Want It?

Making animation and merchandise successful is notoriously difficult. For every Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, there is a James Bond Junior or Small Soldiers. Animations that have put themselves on a pedestal, crying out for children to like them, have failed miserably.

It also touches on some ethical questions. Having children complete puzzles and games to win in-game cryptocurrency is dangerously close to child labour, even if it is wrapped up in gamification. There may be serious regulatory ramifications to overcome with this, which the company should deal with sooner rather than later.

The final big question is whether children even want it. Currently, the big toy trend is Labubu Dolls. The company that makes them has seen its revenue jump 204% in a year. The first half of the year saw it make €1.66bn in profits. Yet none of that was down to animations, or bitcoin, and definitely not education. It was a sustained marketing campaign involving celebrity influencers and a toy that genuinely caught the public’s imagination.

While Bitcoin Brigade sound attractive, it may just be too much for some. It won’t be investors, crypto bros or regulatory changes that decide its future either. It will be the harshest critics of them all: Children.