Baby Shark creator Pinkfong floats in Seoul eyes global expansion

Pinkfong, the South Korean animation studio behind the viral sensation Baby Shark, has made its debut on the Kosdaq market, aiming to transform a single hit into an expansive international media enterprise. The company priced its initial public offering at the top of its anticipated range, selling two million shares at 38000 won each. This sale places Pinkfong’s valuation at 76 billion won, equivalent to approximately £40.4 million.

Since the release of Baby Shark Dance nine years ago, Pinkfong has capitalised on the song’s enduring popularity. The track remains unrivalled as the most viewed content on YouTube with in excess of 16 billion views. The studio’s approach involves cultivating a robust portfolio with roughly 270 million combined subscribers across numerous YouTube channels, all focused on colourful animation and accessible language for young families. Despite considerable digital engagement, no subsequent video release has matched Baby Shark’s global appeal.

Industry analysts, including Douglas Kim of Douglas Research Advisory, regard Pinkfong as a highly attractive acquisition target within the global animation landscape. The studio has leveraged the Baby Shark phenomenon through strategic licensing and merchandising partnerships with major retailers such as Walmart and Amazon, releasing products ranging from plush toys to interactive singalong books. Extensions to the brand include dedicated mobile apps, television programming, touring live shows and a feature-length film. Notably, a 60 minute compilation of Baby Shark content has drawn over 209 million views.

Pinkfong’s growth strategy centres on using proceeds from its stock market flotation to enhance the brand’s worldwide footprint and invest in innovative content formats, including 3D animation and artificial intelligence. The company has also focused on improving its operating margins, which reached 20 per cent in the first half of 2025, a considerable rise compared to just 3.2 per cent in 2022. Pinkfong co-founder Kim Minseok retains an 18.44 per cent stake, valued at nearly 86.5 billion won, as per recent Bloomberg estimates. The company’s shares are set to begin trading on the Kosdaq from November 18.