Maizen’s Hit YouTube Gaming Characters JJ & Mikey Expand Into TV Series, Books and Toys in New Pocket.watch Franchise Deal (EXCLUSIVE)

Family-friendly YouTube gaming channel Maizen is expanding its popular JJ & Mikey animated characters into a full-blown franchise across original content and consumer products through a partnership with creator media company Pocket.watch.

Under the pact, the Japan-based Maizen’s “JJ & Mikey” series will begin streaming across platforms including Tubi, The Roku Channel, and Ryan and Friends Plus this summer.

Related Stories

Pawel Pawlikowski, Lukas Dhont, Rodrigo Sorogoyen Among 4,700 Signatories of Open Letter Sounding Alarm Ahead of Cannes Over Planned EU Film Funding Overhaul

Cannes Film Market Draws Record 16,000 Participants as Japan Surges

Additionally, Pocket.watch has struck a deal with Scholastic for a series of JJ & Mikey children’s books, set to roll out at retail in early next year. And in Spring of 2027, new JJ & Mikey toys, including plushies and blind-box collectibles, will debut across major retailers through a licensing deal with Bonkers Toys.

Maizen’s YouTube channel has quickly become one of the most influential destinations in digital family entertainment, having previously landed in the top rankings for gaming creator and channel in both the U.S. and globally. Maizen’s fan-favorite gaming duo JJ & Mikey are known for their imaginative, story-driven “Minecraft” adventures and evolving scripted gameplay entertainment.

Aside from its “JJ & Mikey” deal with Maizen, pocket.watch’s list of 68 creator partners (spanning 1.5 billion subscribers that have generated over 1 trillion lifetime views) include Ryan’s World, Topper Guild, Tyler and Snowi, Lively Lewis, Toys and Colors and Mackenzie Turner.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Maizen to scale JJ & Mikey into a global franchise that extends seamlessly across streaming and retail” pocket.watch senior vice president of marketing and franchise Amanda Klecker said. “Families will have the opportunity to follow storylines to new platforms and publishing, and continue narratives with their own imaginations through new toys.”

“We’re excited to bring JJ & Mikey’s imaginative, game-driven adventures into the world of books, extending their reach to new readers,” Scholastic Trade Publishing editorial director Michael Petranek said. “This partnership with pocket.watch reflects our continued focus on meeting kids where their interests lie, and we look forward to translating these beloved digital characters into engaging, high-quality storytelling experiences that inspire a lifelong love of reading.”

The Maizen team added in a statement: “What started as gameplay storytelling is evolving into a full-scale entertainment brand. We’re excited to partner with pocket.watch to deepen how fans experience these characters in their everyday lives.”