New kids' universes to discover in 2026 are projects with a character, a world of their own and several formats (book, cartoon, songs, game) that are not everywhere yet, which is exactly why they feel like a discovery to a child. Some examples that were born outside the big studios are Bluey, Hey Duggee, Pocoyo, Masha and the Bear, Cocomelon and Blippi, each at a different stage of size. And there is Dogavios, our own project, an independent Brazilian universe with a husky puppy named Pigúiça, which has a book in 18 languages, a browser game, a free cartoon, a music album and online painting. Below, what makes a kids' universe, how to spot a good one and how to get to know Dogavios from the start.
What makes a kids' universe
A cartoon is a format. A universe is when the same story and the same characters show up in several formats and still make sense in all of them. Usually three things need to exist:
- A character with a personality of their own. Cute is not enough. The child needs to know how they react: what they fear, what they like, what they do when they make a mistake.
- A world with rules. Places that repeat, fixed friends, an internal logic. That is what lets the child play at being there.
- More than one format. Book, cartoon, songs, game, coloring. Each format catches the child at a different moment of the day, and the story stays with them longer.
Examples of universes that grew outside the big studios
Not every kids' universe is born in a huge studio. Some started small, often online, and grew because families adopted them. Here are examples, described in general terms:
- Bluey. Produced by a relatively small Australian studio, it became one of the most watched cartoons in the world within a few years. Today it has books, toys and games.
- Hey Duggee. A British series from an independent animation studio, with Duggee the dog and his club of little animals. Short episodes and humor that works for adults too.
- Pocoyo. A Spanish production that started as a TV series and spread into books, apps and YouTube channels in several languages.
- Masha and the Bear. A Russian animation that won the world through YouTube before reaching TV in many countries.
- Cocomelon. Started as a small YouTube channel of nursery rhymes and grew into one of the largest kids' channels anywhere, with a series and merchandise.
- Blippi. A creator-led educational channel that began with one person and a camera and became a brand with shows, live tours and toys.
The common thread: a clear character, a simple world and the nerve to show up in more than one format before being famous.
Dogavios, presented with full transparency
This blog belongs to Dogavios, so here is the introduction without detours. Dogavios is an independent Brazilian kids' universe created by Lucas dos Reis Arieme. The main character is Pigúiça, a blue-eyed Siberian husky puppy, and her best friend is Fofuxo. If you want to start with her, read who Pigúiça is. The formats that exist today:
- Picture book in 18 languages. The story of Pigúiça crossing four different places in search of dreams. The site's home page, at dogavios.com, shows the book and its editions.
- Free cartoon. Seven short episodes on YouTube, gathered at /desenhos, that follow parts of the book.
- Browser game. The Dogavios game, Pigúiça and the Dreams, at /jogo.html. No install, no sign-up, no ads. Pigúiça collects stars across four biomes.
- A 22-song album. Songs from the universe, available on streaming platforms and listed at /musicas.
- Coloring and painting. Printable pages at /colorir, online painting at /pintar and a printed coloring book, all featuring Pigúiça and Fofuxo.
We will not invent awards or numbers. What we can say with confidence is that every free format is open to try, and that a child can meet Pigúiça first through the game, the cartoon or the book, in whatever order makes sense in your home.
How to introduce a new universe to a child
- Start with their favorite format. A child who loves drawing comes in through coloring. A child who loves music comes in through the playlist. A child who loves games comes in through the game.
- Repeat the character in another format the same day. Watched an episode? Read the matching page. Painted Pigúiça? Put on a song. Repetition is what turns novelty into affection.
- Let the child tell the story back. When they can explain who the character is and what happened, the universe has become theirs.
- Do not force it. Some characters click the first time, others take weeks. And some simply never click, and that is fine.
Why it is worth looking for what is not famous yet
Big universes are great, and several of our recommendations come from them. But a small universe has one advantage: the child feels they discovered something. They introduce the character to friends instead of just receiving it. And for families, independent projects tend to be more open: you can write to the author, suggest a language, ask for a coloring page. That is how it works at Dogavios, and we like it that way.
FAQ
What is a kids' universe?
It is a character with a world of their own that appears in several formats, such as book, cartoon, songs and game, keeping the same story and the same personality in all of them.
Is Dogavios free?
The cartoon, the browser game, the online painting page and the printable coloring pages are free. The picture book and the coloring book are sold in print and digital formats.
Where should I start getting to know Pigúiça?
With the format your child likes most: the game at /jogo.html, the episodes at /desenhos, or the blog page that explains who Pigúiça is.
