PunToon Kids, founded in 2019, is a YouTube network for children aged three to eight. Its two animated protagonists, Gattu and Chinki, are original Indian IPs who teach children about culture, values, and kindness through stories that are fun, relatable, and rooted in everyday Indian life.

Beyond content, PunToon has built a premium kid-friendly community on YouTube and is expanding through experiences, culture, and more to come. Its goal is simple: to make learning fun while reflecting the world Indian children actually live in.

In our November issue, Sourabh Kumar, CEO and founder, PunToon Kids, talks about the creative gap that sparked the brand, its growing relationship with advertisers, and what’s next for India’s homegrown children’s entertainment space.

Kumar began by explaining the need that inspired PunToon Kids. “Most animated shows children watch in India come from abroad, Korea, the US, Europe and are simply dubbed into Indian languages. They never reflected our families, festivals, or daily life," he shared. 

Kumar said this lack of context made global shows hugely popular, but emotionally distant. PunToon was created to bridge that gap to tell stories that felt recognisably Indian while being fun and universal. He remarked, “India has nearly 130 million children between three and fourteen. Yet, if you look at homegrown animated characters, you can count them on one hand. That’s what pushed me to create something built in India, for India.”

He aimed to give Indian kids their own cultural icons, which are characters they could grow up with, not just consume.

The heart of PunToon lies in its philosophy. “Teach with warmth, entertain with purpose,” Kumar said.

That approach, combining values with play, is what makes Gattu and Chinki stand out.

“They’re six years old, they laugh, argue, and help each other, just like kids in any Indian family. Children don’t just watch them; they see themselves in them.”

Building that trust with parents was equally critical. “From day one, we were clear that PunToon Kids must be the safest platform for children in India.”

He explained that every video goes through a rigorous review process to ensure it’s age-appropriate and compliant with COPPA regulations. This commitment to transparency, he said, is why many parents and schools now use PunToon’s videos as learning tools.

The brand’s offline initiatives have been key to strengthening that emotional connection. “We do mall activations during summer breaks and festivals, and we’ve partnered with schools for workshops and events,” Kumar shared.

He also spoke about The Rising Rook, a chess championship for children that started in Maharashtra and is now expanding across India. He added, “We want learning to be active, not passive. The goal is to create experiences that make our stories come alive.”

On monetisation, Kumar admitted the challenges. “After COPPA, YouTube monetisation dropped sharply. But we didn’t stop creating. The goal was never just revenue; it was impact," Kumar shared. 

PunToon diversified through gaming, offline IPs, and brand collaborations.

“Children form emotional bonds with our characters, and brands can connect at those emotional peaks when the story genuinely resonates,” he said.

Kumar highlighted how viewing patterns are shifting. He said, “Children now prefer stories that reflect their world, metros, malls, and schools. And more families are watching together. Our TV audience has grown from 18% to over 50% in three years.”

That evolution, he added, means more responsibility for what they create.

Balancing Indian culture with global appeal remains central to PunToon’s strategy. “Our stories are modern, but they’re not westernised. They reflect empathy, kindness, curiosity, and respect, values that travel anywhere," Kumar voiced. 

Looking ahead, Kumar outlined the brand’s next steps. He shared, “We’re expanding into regional languages like Kannada and Malayalam, and launching Spanish and Portuguese content globally.”

PunToon’s gaming app will soon feature interactive comics and school-aligned educational games, while longer-format shows for OTT platforms are also in the works.

For Kumar, the vision is clear. “We’re not just building a channel; we’re building a complete kids’ entertainment universe. One that teaches, entertains, and truly reflects the world Indian children live in," he said. 

This conversation first appeared in our November issue. Click here to buy the copy and unlock the whole conversation.