Build‑A‑Bear's KABU Soars Past Half a Million Views as Toy Fair 2026 Kicks Off

Rhea-AI Summary

Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) announced that its original animated YouTube series KABU has exceeded 500,000 views since debut, coinciding with Toy Fair 2026. Season 1 has 13 episodes with weekly Friday premieres and a companion KABU plush collection available in stores and online.

Key Figures

KABU views: half a million views Season 1 episodes: 13 episodes

2 metrics

KABU views half a million views YouTube series performance since recent debut

Season 1 episodes 13 episodes KABU Season 1 content library

Market Reality Check

Price: $50.19 Vol: Volume 475,830 is 1.55x t...

high vol

$50.19 Last Close

Volume Volume 475,830 is 1.55x the 20-day average of 306,449, indicating elevated trading activity pre-announcement. high

Technical Shares at $52.14 are trading below the 200-day MA of $54.75 and 31.26% under the 52-week high of $75.85.

Peers on Argus

BBW was down 3.69% while key peers showed mixed moves: WOOF (-1.17%), SBH (-8.88...

BBW was down 3.69% while key peers showed mixed moves: WOOF (-1.17%), SBH (-8.88%), ARHS (-0.19%), ODP (+0.04%), OLPX (+4.76%). No consistent sector direction or momentum flags appeared, pointing to stock-specific factors rather than a broad specialty retail move.

Historical Context

4 past events · Latest: Feb 03 (Positive)

Pattern 4 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Feb 03	Adult product launch	Positive	+0.7%	After Dark Valentine’s collection featuring Silver Fox plush for adult buyers.
Jan 20	Product relaunch	Positive	-8.0%	Return of Heartwarming Hugs weighted plush for National Hug Day promotion.
Jan 15	Workplace award	Positive	+0.7%	Recognition on Newsweek list for culture, belonging, and community focus.
Dec 17	Content launch	Positive	-0.7%	Announcement of KABU YouTube series and coordinated global plush rollout.

Pattern Detected

Recent promotional and brand-building news often drew muted or mixed price reactions, with both gains and declines following generally positive headlines.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, Build-A-Bear has focused on brand extensions and consumer engagement. On Dec 17, 2025, it announced the original KABU YouTube series and plush rollout, followed by workplace culture recognition on Jan 15, 2026. Product-driven releases like the Heartwarming Hugs return on Jan 20, 2026 and the adult-focused After Dark Valentine’s launch on Feb 3, 2026 underscored efforts to reach multiple demographics. Price reactions to these largely positive updates have alternated between modest gains and notable pullbacks.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights the early traction of Build-A-Bear’s KABU franchise, with the YouTube s...

Analysis

This announcement highlights the early traction of Build-A-Bear’s KABU franchise, with the YouTube series surpassing half a million views and a 13-episode first season supported by a matching plush line. It builds on prior news about the series’ launch and underscores the company’s effort to pair storytelling with merchandise. Investors may watch for how engagement trends evolve, the sell-through of KABU products across channels, and whether future filings or earnings commentary more directly quantify this initiative’s financial impact.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Original animated series celeBEARates major milestone, capturing hearts on YouTube and in Build-A-Bear Workshop

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Build-A-Bear Workshop's original animated YouTube series KABU has surpassed half a million views since its recent debut, marking a major milestone as Toy Fair 2026 kicks off in New York City. The beloved brand known for "adding a little more heart to life" is celeBEARating the success of one of its fastest-growing digital properties to date.

Inspired by some of Build-A-Bear's most beloved plush, KABU has captivated kids and families with the vibrant world of Kabuville, home to a group of lovable stuffed‑animal characters who learn and grow together as they face friendship challenges, disagreements, responsibility, and self‑discovery. Every episode centers on these plush, personality‑packed stuffed‑animal friends, encouraging kindness and sharing "PAWsitivity" through creativity, collaboration, and playful humor.

The KABU series reflects a growing appetite for positive, empathy-driven content that resonates across generations – offering adventurous storytelling for kids alongside humor and heart that parents appreciate.

"The creation of KABU has been such a joy," said Sharon Price John, President and CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop. "It seems kids are really connecting with the positive message of the Kabuville crew, which is exactly what we hoped would happen when we set out on this journey."

KABU, brought to life through the globally popular kawaii art style, seamlessly extends from screen to shelf with a full KABU plush collection launched alongside the series. Fans can make their own fan-favorite characters, including Bearnard, Bearnice and Catrina, and bring home Mini Beans of Pawlette, Catlynn, Monkgomery, and Bearnice. Guests can purchase KABU products at participating Build-A-Bear Workshop locations around the world or at buildabear.com

With 13 episodes in Season 1 and new episodes premiering every Friday on the Build-A-Bear YouTube channel, KABU continues to build its audience week after week. The series demonstrates Build-A-Bear's expanding capabilities in original content creation, backed by the company's global retail footprint and nearly 30 years of creating memorable experiences for families.

For more information, visit buildabear.com/content/kabu and youtube.com/buildabear.

View the celebration video https://youtu.be/7ccwVRus0ps.

About Build-A-Bear

Since its beginning in 1997, Build-A-Bear has evolved to become a beloved multi-generational brand focused on its mission to "add a little more heart to life," where guests of all ages make their own "furry friends" in celebration and commemoration of life moments. Guests create their own stuffed animals by participating in the stuffing, dressing, accessorizing, and naming of their own teddy bears and other plush toys based on the Company's own intellectual property and in conjunction with a variety of best-in-class licenses. The hands-on and interactive nature of our more than 600 company-owned, partner-operated and franchise experience locations around the world, combined with Build-A-Bear's pop-culture appeal, often fosters a lasting and emotional brand connection with consumers and has enabled the Company to expand beyond its retail stores to include e-commerce sales on www.buildabear.com and non-plush branded consumer categories via out-bound licensing agreements with leading manufacturers, as well as the creation of engaging content via Build-A-Bear Entertainment (a subsidiary of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.). The brand's newest communications campaign, "The Stuff You Love," commemorates more than a quarter-century of creating cherished memories worldwide. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW) posted consolidated total revenues of $496.0 million for fiscal 2024. For more information, visit the Investor Relations section of buildabear.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/buildabears-kabu-soars-past-half-a-million-views-as-toy-fair-2026-kicks-off-302685390.html

SOURCE Build-A-Bear Workshop

FAQ

How many views has Build-A-Bear's KABU series reached as of February 11, 2026 (BBW)?

KABU has surpassed 500,000 views since its debut. According to the company, the milestone reflects early audience traction and growing weekly viewership tied to its Season 1 release schedule and marketing around Toy Fair 2026.

How many episodes are in Build-A-Bear's KABU Season 1 and when do new episodes premiere (BBW)?

Season 1 of KABU contains 13 episodes with new episodes premiering weekly on Fridays. According to the company, episodes aim to build audience engagement over time while supporting the launch of companion plush products.

Where can fans buy KABU plush products from Build-A-Bear (BBW)?

KABU products are available at participating Build-A-Bear Workshop stores and online at buildabear.com. According to the company, the collection launched alongside the series and includes fan-favorite characters and Mini Beans for in-store and direct-to-consumer purchase.

What themes and target audience does the KABU series by Build-A-Bear target (BBW)?

KABU targets kids and families with empathy-driven stories about friendship, responsibility, and kindness. According to the company, the series uses kawaii-inspired visuals and humor to engage children while offering parents wholesome, family-friendly content.

How does KABU tie into Build-A-Bear's broader content and retail strategy (BBW)?

KABU extends Build-A-Bear's brand from screen to shelf through a coordinated content-and-product approach. According to the company, the series showcases original storytelling while leveraging the company's global retail footprint to sell related plush merchandise.