It's been an extraordinary first few months for Jungle Squad, and as we reflect on everything we've achieved since launching in October 2025, we're overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible community that's rallied behind us.

What started as a mission to transform screen time into smart time has evolved into something far bigger—a movement that's brought families together around the table, sparked imagination in hundreds of children, and reminded everyone that real play never goes out of style.

The Birth of a Kid’s Brand

Behind every great kids’ brand is a story shaped by real life in the parenting trenches. This team knows it well, the school drop-off in pyjamas, negotiating the morning peace with petrol-station snacks, and using baby wipes for just about everything. Sound familiar?

That everyday chaos is what inspired Imaginakery, the parent company behind Jungle Squad. We wanted to rethink how kids play and learn healthy habits, by mixing digital fun with hands-on, real-world play. The goal was simple: bring imagination to life on screens and at the table, and help families connect through play that feels fun, easy, and meaningful.

Our first mission? Jungle Squad—a world where heroes rise, villains plot, and wild adventures await.

Welcome to the Jungle: Introducing the World

Deep in a hidden valley, a magical jungle teems with life. This isn't just any jungle, it's a world where animal heroes protect the mystical Spirit of the Jungle from the evil forces of RUIN Corp. When Alooma and the squad discover their destiny, an epic battle for their home begins.

The Jungle Squad universe features 26 unique characters. Heroes, villains, and everything in between. From Alooma the brave lion leader to sneaky villains plotting their next move, each character was carefully designed to inspire kids' imaginations whilst teaching valuable lessons about, teamwork, compassion and environmental awareness.

The squad includes characters inspired by real animal traits: a cheetah's speed, a gorilla's strength, a monkey's ingenuity. Each hero brings something special to the table, whether it's power, stealth, compassion, or tech prowess. The diversity of the squad means there's a hero for everyone—and that's exactly what we wanted to achieve.

Lights, Camera, Animation: The YouTube Series Launch

In October 2025, we took our first major leap by launching the Jungle Squad YouTube channel. Creating an animation series from scratch is no small feat. Months of scriptwriting, storyboarding, character design, voice acting, and animation went into bringing the Jungle Squad world to life.

What we wanted to achieve with the show was simple yet ambitious: create bite-sized, kid-friendly YouTube for kids content that builds the world behind the cards whilst delivering positive messages about friendship, courage, and protecting our planet. The series kicks off the epic Jungle Squad universe, giving context to the characters children would soon hold in their hands.

Every frame was crafted with care, every line of dialogue written to entertain whilst educating. We wanted to create kids cartoons that parents could feel good about—content that sparks conversation, encourages empathy, and celebrates the natural world.

From Screen to Hand: Launching the Trading Card Game

Whilst the animated series introduced the world, it was the trading card game that truly brought Jungle Squad into families' homes. We didn't just want to create another card game for kids—we wanted to build one of the best strategy games that could genuinely rival screen time.

That's when we decided to develop Jungle Squad as a trading card game. Drawing inspiration from classic children's card games but adding our own unique twist, we created a system that embeds learning directly into play. Every round strengthens reading comprehension, maths fluency, strategic thinking, and social skills—all disguised as wild, jungle-sized fun.

The Thrill of Creating From Scratch

Making a game from scratch was equal parts terrifying and exhilarating. We spent countless hours playtesting with real families, tweaking rules, adjusting card stats, and refining the balance between luck and strategy. We wanted to ensure that card games for families could be enjoyed by everyone—from five-year-olds just learning to read to competitive parents who love a good challenge.

The result is a game that's quick to learn (under five minutes!), endlessly replayable, and genuinely educational. It's transformed into one of those rare learning games for kids that children actually beg to play. Parents tell us it's become their go-to for after-school wind-down, rainy day entertainment, and family game night.

What makes Jungle Squad different from other strategy games is how it seamlessly weaves learning into every battle. Children compare attributes like Power, Speed, and IQ, use Action Cards that require mental arithmetic (adding or subtracting 20 points), and make strategic decisions about which character skill to play next. All of this happens naturally, without feeling like "educational content."

You can learn how to play the game here or download the full game rules.

Bringing Cards to Life: The AR Experience

One of our most exciting innovations has been the Jungle Squad AR app—a bridge between physical cards and digital magic. Children can scan their cards using the app to watch their favourite characters leap to life in augmented reality, right in their own living room.

Parents love that the app enhances rather than replaces physical play. It's screen time with purpose, sparking curiosity, encouraging exploration, and deepening the connection children have with their cards.

Building the Squad: Merchandise and More

Once the cards were in children's hands, we knew we needed to expand the universe further. That's when we launched our Jungle Squad merchandise collection—t-shirts, notebooks, and accessories that let kids wear their squad pride.

The merch wasn't just about branding; it was about giving children another way to express their love for their favourite characters and feel part of something bigger.

A Cinema Spectacular: The Rex Premiere Event

One of the most unforgettable moments of our launch year came when we hosted a special event at the Rex Cinema in Wilmslow south Manchester. This wasn't just a screening—it was a full day of Jungle Squad immersion where we introduced the brand to hundreds of excited children and parents.

Seeing the first five episodes projected on the big cinema screen was magical. The gasps, laughter, and cheers from the audience as Alooma and the squad faced RUIN Corp for the first time.

But what truly overwhelmed us was the feedback afterwards. The smiles on children’s faces as they ripped open the cards and told us their favourite characters. Parents approached us with stories of their children who couldn't put the cards down, siblings who were actually playing together without arguing, and families who'd found the animation really exciting.

The positive response was humbling and energising in equal measure. It reminded us why we started this journey—to create genuine connection through play.

A Special Partnership: Teaming Up with Luke Solve

One of the highlights of our year was partnering with Luke Solve, a passionate advocate for trading card and collectibles. Luke's enthusiasm for Jungle Squad and his genuine connection with young collectors has helped introduce our cards to an even wider audience.

His content showcasing unboxing experiences, rare card hunts, and strategic gameplay has added another dimension to the Jungle Squad experience. We're incredibly grateful for ambassadors like Luke who understand our mission and help spread the word about not just connecting but the magic of real, physical play.

The Power of Play: What We've Learned

Looking back on these incredible few months it’s just the beginning; we've learned that families are hungry for alternatives to screen time that don't feel like punishment. They want activities that bring everyone together, that spark conversation, and that sneak in learning without lectures.

Jungle Squad has become more than a card game, it's a framework for meaningful family time. It's the excuse to gather round the table after dinner. It's the conversation starter about compassion, strategy, and teamwork. It's the bridge between digital entertainment and real-world connection.

Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond

As exciting as 2025 has been, we're even more thrilled about what's coming next. We have major product launches in the pipeline that will expand the Jungle Squad universe in ways we can't wait to reveal.

We're committed to staying true to our mission: creating play that matters and inspiring healthy and happier lives for children and families.

Thank You, Squad

None of this would have been possible without you. The parents who took a chance on a new kids brand, the children who embraced Alooma and the squad with such enthusiasm, and the community members who've championed Jungle Squad at every turn.

Your feedback, your photos, your stories, and your unwavering support have fuelled everything we do. You've proven that families still crave real connection, that children still love physical play, and that trading card games can be both wildly entertaining and genuinely educational.

So here's to 2025—the year Jungle Squad came to life. And here's to 2026—a year that promises to be even bigger, bolder, and more thrilling.

The adventure has only just begun. We hope you can come along for the ride.

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