ToonsTV has been around for a while now: it’s the video network launched by Angry Birds creator Rovio Entertainment, initially as a section within its games, and then as a website. Now it’s an app.
ToonsTV: Angry Birds Video App is its name, and it has been released as a free download for Android and iOS today.
“Download, sit back, and enjoy the side-splitting adventures of your favourite birds and pigs in Angry Birds Toons – now in their very own app,” explains its app store listing.
“Get ready to ROFL at the funny adventures of your favourite feathered friends in Angry Birds Toons. Then, giggle at the antics of those naughty pigs in Piggy Tales.”
ToonsTV has never been just about Angry Birds, though. In fact, Rovio has struck deals with a range of other companies to bring their shows and video clips to its service.
Your children will find shows including Wallace & Gromit, Transformers, Pucca and content from National Geographic, alongside the animated adventures of Rovio’s birds and pigs.
There are also features to help your children quickly get back to favourite videos (“My History”) and recommendations for what to watch next.
ToonsTV has been a quiet success, with more than five billion videos watched so far within Angry Birds apps and on its website.
Launching a standalone app shows Rovio’s ambition: this isn’t just an Angry Birds marketing offshoot, it’s evolving into a fully-fledged (pun not entirely intended) Netflix for kids. Albeit without (yet) charging a monthly subscription: this is funded by advertising.
There’s a lot of talk about whether children – and, indeed, adults – are losing interest in Angry Birds compared with its peak a few years ago. This time last year, our own sons were watching and playing Angry Birds fervently, but since then their attention has wandered onto other games: Minecraft, Crossy Road and World of Warriors.
Even so, they still have love for those birds, and they’ll be keen to see what the ToonsTV app has to offer.
ToonsTV: Angry Birds Video App is a free download for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, and a free download for Android from the Google Play store.