Zoobe expands its app lineup with Hello Kitty products

Have you heard of the Zoobe app?   It is an innovative voice-messaging service for Apple, Amazon and Android mobile devices that allows you to record a message and have it communicated to others through a cartoon featuring a popular animated character synced to your voice.  These cartoons are quick to create and the Zoobe app connects to the world's leading messaging and social media platforms for easy distribution of your animated message to friends and family.  Animated characters you can choose to feature in your Zoobe messages include characters from the movies Hotel Transylvania, Ice Age, Ghostbusters, Paddington Bear, and The Smurfs, among other options. It's a pretty impressive app!



Expanding on the success of the Zoobe app, its developer has just announced a partnership to create a new series of digital products utilizing Sanrio GmbH's brands starting with HELLO KITTY. Under the deal, Zoobe Message Entertainment will create products featuring these globally beloved brands both in 2D and 3D animation. “Hello Kitty StoryGIF app” was the first product to result from this new partnership launching last week on iMessage, Apple’s long-awaited and stylish messaging platform that now includes stickers, apps and other fun features.  The Hello Kitty StoryGIF app allows users to select from over 50 adorable animations and multiple upcoming themes to create and text unlimited customizable and socially shareable StoryGIFs featuring Hello Kitty and friends. After its initial debut on iOS devices it is also now available for Android as well.

“Hello Kitty’s continued global allure to fans of all ages is astounding,” Zoobe Message Entertainment CEO Naz Amarchi-Cuevas told A Geek Daddy. “These quick-text GIF stories are snack-sized treats that bring Hello Kitty to life in a whole new way. They connect the brand via emotion and humor through playful story-telling with the expressive animations.”

“This new StoryGif app by Zoobe is like nothing currently on the market,” Egita Di Filippo, Head of Digital Content, EMEA for SanrioGmbH added to the discussion. “We are excited to be on the forefront of a new digital movement with Zoobe, who is leading the way in the marketplace; bridging the messaging world, consumer products and entertainment. Our fans are already in love with the  Hello Kitty StoryGIF app, and having as much fun as we did in the development of it, by spreading our company’s motto “Small Gift, Big Smile!” through animations in their messages.”

Zoobe’s next Sanrio StoryGIF apps are expected to feature Mr. Men & Little Miss, Gudetama, and Chococat in the coming weeks. Each app will be followed by themed packs to further contribute to the story creation.

Celebrating Red, White & Blue Day with some help from Australian Gold

**A Geek Daddy received the featured products for free to review**

Celebrating RED, WHITE & BLUE DAY during the Memorial Day Weekend is a decade's long tradition at my children's elementary school which entails an outdoor patriotic parade and concert featuring all the students.  With all that time being spend outdoors, we didn't want sunburn to put a damper on the fun and exciting atmosphere of this day.  So we used Australian Gold to help keep the sunburns away.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, an international organization devoted to combating the world's most common cancer, 80% of sun exposure during a person's lifetime occurs during childhood.  They warn that getting sunburns as a child can double your risk of getting melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer which is often caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunlight, later in life.  With this in mind, here are a few regarding children's sun exposure to keep in mind:

• Wear sunscreen and apply it properly.  Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors to provide plenty of time for it to be absorbed by a child's skin.  Make sure to apply sunscreen even on cloudy days because ultraviolet rays are still shining even if the sun isn't bright in the sky.  Use SPF (Sun Protection Factor) 15 or greater and don't miss easily forgotten spots like the nose, ears,and behind the neck.  When wearing sandals, or no shoes at all, don't forget those toes!  Reapply every 3 hours or sooner if a child gets wet or sweaty.

• Don't forget your lips & eyes.  Lips and eye balls can get sunburned just like any other part of your body. Apply lip balm that has SPF protection and wear sunglasses that will reduce UV exposure to corneas if spending an extended period of time outside.

• Medications can increase sunburns.  Some prescriptions have a side effect of increasing skin sensitivity to the sun with antibiotics and acne medications being two often cited examples.  When getting a prescription filled ask a physician or pharmacist if this is a possibility with the medication to be aware and help avoid a child being at risk from sun exposure. 

•  Best protection is clothing and a hat.  Sunscreen is helpful but remember the best protection from UV rays is by wearing brimmed hats, clothing, shoes and sunglasses. Beware though that wet, light-colored clothing can allow the absorption of just as much UV radiation into your body as exposed bare skin would.

• Set a good example! If children witness adults wearing sunscreen they are more likely to follow that behavior.  Ensure that skin protection is a priority for every member of the family.

My daughter often complains and tries to get out of wearing sunscreen.  With her blond hair and  light complexion wearing sunscreen isn't up for debate so we've had several occasions where we've been delayed and late getting place while we deal with her resistance to putting it on.  Australian Gold's Hello Kitty line of sun protection and skin care products have really helped us with her being more amenable to putting sunscreen on.

Australian Gold HELLO KITTY products include SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30 Body Mist Sunscreen Spray, SPF 30 Lip Balm, and Frozen Aloe After Sun Cooling Spray.  They provide colorful character focused packaging that kids can relate to making their application less intimidating plus ingredients that really work to get the job done in warding off those harmful UV rays.  Have a safe and fun summer by making sure your kids are wearing their sunscreen!

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY IS GREAT FOR PRESCHOOLERS & EARLY READERS

I've been taking my children to FREE COMIC BOOK DAY for the last several years although they've been too young to read themselves.  This event on the first Saturday of May is when publishers team up with comic book shops to promote their industry to consumers by offering free samples to anyone who visits participating stores that day (well that is while supplies last because most stores normally run out of stock by mid-afternoon).  My kids flip through the pages enjoying the artwork and have me read the stories to them for weeks following our FREE COMIC BOOK DAY visit.  Sharing comic books with my kids through this annual event has been a fun day of bonding with my son and daughter while promoting creativity, imagination, and reading with my children.

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY had done a nice job of making sure the event provides a selection of comics targeted to preschoolers and early readers that parent can feel comfortable giving to their children.  This year's event is on Saturday, May 3, 2014 and will be featuring ten titles suitable for young readers including:

Published by PERFECT SQUARE this comic features all new adventures featuring Hello Kitty and her friends.  It will also feature a sneak peek of an upcoming tribute book celebrating Hello Kitty's 40th anniversary.

In FANTAGRAPHIC BOOKS "A Matter of some Gravity" saucy sorceress Magica De Spell turns Scrooge's life sideways-literally! when she distorts the forces of gravity.

PAPERCUTZ brings the Smurfs to Free Comic Book Day.  This comic features never-before-seen stories from Peyo starring everyone's favorite blue bombshell: the Smurfette! It's Smurftastically FREE!

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS is bringing Sonic the Hedgehog & Mega Man to the party.  It is providing TWO free comic books in ONE.  It will showcase storylines from both characters' universes in a flipsided combined issue.

BOOM ENTERTAINMENT will feature samples from all their popular children's series including Peanut & Garfield.

Two years ago ARCHAIA published an incredible hard cover Free Comic Book Day edition featuring its popular MOUSE GUARD series.  ARCHAIA continues to be one of the leading supporters of this event by publishing another great hard cover comic book this year!

CAPSTONE is celebrating its award winning series JELLABY.  This comic book about ten year old Portia and her beloved purple monster Jellaby will feature two short stories, including the exclusive, never-before-in-print adventure "The Knot."  

DC COMICS will also be providing a TEEN TITANS issue for Free Comic Book Day.

To find a participating comic book retailer near you, CLICK HERE.  Don't miss out on Free Comic Book Day!