Rovio continues reinvention with ‘ToonsTV for Samsung’ app featuring Angry Birds characters

Continuing to push past its Angry Birds roots, Rovio announced today that it has released a new version of its animation app for Samsung smartphones.

Dubbed “ToonsTV for Samsung,” the app will be initially available only on Samsung devices in the United States. The app will feature a range of animation series the company is developing in partnerships with National Geographic, NASA, and others.

For now, the app’s content features a new animated series called “Fun Game Coding,” which aims to teach some basic coding skills to kids and features the Piggies from Angry Birds. It’s available exclusively for Samsung users.

“By working with Samsung, we’re taking a giant step forward in making our curated content available to more families across the country,” says Sanna Korppoo, head of ToonsTV, in a statement. “Giving our partners the ability to reach millions more potential fans with their amazing videos is a win-win deal for everyone involved.”

The new version is an expansion of ToonsTV, which was originally launched in 2013 as a website to feature animation based on Rovio characters. The company said it has had 6 billion views and five million app downloads. The app now has 600 videos on 30 channels.

Rovio shot to worldwide success on the heels of its Angry Birds mobile game. But in recent years, as downloads and revenues have stalled, the company has turned to layoffs and cutbacks as it seeks to reboot its strategy. That new strategy includes a greater focus on the branding and licensing of its characters. The company scored a hit this year when The Angry Birds Movie earned $345 million at the box office.

Rovio is considering a sequel and continues to explore other new revenue streams.