The division between toys, games and TV shows is increasingly blurred. However, most products still position themselves in just one of these sectors. Today Disney launch a new PJ Masks game in it’s line of Appisodes, that combine video game interaction and TV content.
Disney have been developing this new cross-over content recently, and it’s proving popular. Its Disney Junior Appisodes straddle between TV and gaming content by offering popular shows that are not only watched but played.
This episode includes the following game-moments for young players:
- Activate Gekko-Mobile Camouflage
- Make a Rotten Egg
- Dodge Those Rotten Eggs
- Whack It With a Dino Bat
- Search With Owlette’s Owl Eyes
- Spin the Gekko-Mobile to Save Owlette
It’s tempting to try and pigeon hole these appisodes as either a TV show or game, but (as their name attempts to suggest) they are really a combination of the two and create an entirely new experience.
I spoke to Michael Peterson, a producer of Disney Junior Appisodes, about the success of the app. ”The second PJ Masks appisode is based on the TV episode ‘Gekko and the missing Gekko Mobile’. The first PJ Masks offering did extremely well. It works well as an appisode. Which is why we were keen to do another one.”
I asked Peterson how they picked the episode. “It’s an in-depth process because we are using shows written and animated for television. I have a team that watches through episodes to identify fun potential interactive moments. We also want to make sure the interactions are well spaced out. Once we find one that fits, we start work making the show.”
The Appisodes make money by either being purchased individually or via a subscription. “Depending on the country you are in you can buy Appisodes individually for $4.99 or subscribe for $2.99 a month.”
This isn’t cheap in the world of apps, and is a marker of how much value children (and their parents) place on access this interactive content that they have likely already seen as a straight TV show.
I asked whether the team sees them as games or TV content? “We call them shows you watch and play. When we first launched Appisodes there was no other product like this that took existing TV shows and made them interactive. Parents like that it’s video in a game that means children aren’t passively watching. Kids are engaged and have to use critical thinking and problem solving.”
I asked Peterson on their audience and whether a similar approach could be attempted for an older audience, perhaps with Star Wars content.
“All of the shows that we are doing are Disney Junior shows, aiming at 2-7 year olds. Making interactive content for older audiences, but the product we’ve created for this 3-4 years old age group is not what you would do for a Star Wars show.”
