Gummybear International Inc. is marking 20 years of Gummibär, the animated green character that has evolved from one of the earliest viral internet sensations into an iconic global kids’ entertainment mainstay spanning music, animation, digital content, and consumer products.
The Birth of a Digital Legend “Twenty years ago, Gummibär came to life with a simple ringtone of his song “I Am A Gummy Bear” – a digital experiment at a time when the internet itself was still searching for its voice,” says Jurgen Korduletsch, President of GBI. The song and its über catchy video (both conceived by Christian Schneider, the creator of Gummibär) gained massive overnight popularity and became one of the first viral sensations.
First breaking out in 2006 with the viral track “I’m a Gummy Bear,” the character quickly became one of YouTube’s earliest global success stories, amassing billions of views and spawning versions in more than 45 languages. A string of follow-up Singles and Albums turned Gummibär into a Gold and Platinum certified music superstar as its popularity surged across all continents.
Evolution into a Global Franchise Gummibär quickly moved beyond digital virality into a globally licensed property, with video content, music and consumer products rolling out across new markets in rapid succession. Licensing deals across key markets helped establish Gummibär as a recognizable kids’ brand, opening opportunities across:
- Toys and Publishing
- Digital products and lifestyle categories
- Animated content and music
A key inflection point came in 2012, when Gummybear Intl. produced the animated Christmas Special “Yummy Gummy Search For Santa” via Lionsgate Pictures. This success led to a production deal with Toonz Media Group for the digital-first animated series “Gummibär & Friends” and, more recently, for a full-length feature film planned for 2027.
Viswanath Rao of Toonz Media Group, said:
“Gummibär showed early on that digital-first storytelling can travel globally at scale. With Gummibär & Friends, we saw how a character born online could successfully evolve into a global animated franchise reaching audiences in over 100 countries.”
A Phenomenon That Keeps Growing “Gummibär is not just a character, it is a cross-generational phenomenon,” said Debi Rosenfeld, Head of Licensing and Merchandising at Toonz. Today, Gummibär continues to perform across YouTube, FAST channels, and multiple AVOD platforms, beating its own record in terms of views and engagement year after year. As the brand hits this 20-year milestone, it stands as the ultimate blueprint for digital-native IP that successfully scaled into a global entertainment powerhouse.
