12 digital mascots help EdTech startup motivate kids to learn

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Early education platform EdCraft engaged Hollywood-based graphic designers to create 12 digital characters

Early education platform EdCraft engaged Hollywood-based graphic designers to create 12 digital characters. Cute animal mascots teach kids aged 6-13 important skills including emotional intelligence, financial literacy, and STEM subjects. These animated characters are not your average cartoons: they’re designed to help kids stay focused on learning.

EdCraft worked with a cognitive neuroscience research lab to analyze kids’ brain activity. As a result of this collaboration, EdCraft’s mascots are less detailed and move around less than characters from Disney films, so developing brains don’t get too distracted.

Here are all 12 mascots and their stories, created by a team of researchers, PhDs, and top graphic designers.

Mousentist is wise beyond his years. There are more books in his burrow than in the Library of Congress, and his head is always full of new ideas.

Toadigy is magically handsome. He is a top-rate storyteller who could teach calculus to a snail. Toadigy speaks fluent Spanish and plays the piano so well that it would make Mozart jealous.

Ducktor Bill stays afloat in the most difficult situations. If it were anyone else, they would probably have kicked the bucket already, but our true visionary always has a bird’s-eye view of any situation.

EduCat can multiply big numbers in his head and with his eyes closed, in his sleep. He can solve complex mathematical equations. He is like a modern supercomputer with four paws. EduCat takes a serious interest in robotics, the industry that he intends to devote all nine of his lives to. Purrs at the news of a new scientific discovery.

Thinkupine is always composed and ready to answer a teacher’s questions in class. It’s not surprising that among his friends he’s also known for his sharp wit. Thinkupine uses custom textbooks that have special holes for his needles.

Knowala reached unprecedented heights in scholastic achievement. Now she can safely look at everyone from these heights with huge, clever eyes. Never parts with her impressively massive collection of facts, which she conveniently stores in her backpack.

Zeebrain is often considered the “dark horse” in competitions thanks to her modest attitude, despite knowing five languages, being able to play ten musical instruments, and being quadridextrous (meaning she can write with all four hooves). Honorary holder of the title "Most Beautiful Living Barcode on the Planet."

Professor-r-r Roary pounces at the first sight of new knowledge, almost as if he subsists on it. Requires at least 100 pounds of facts every day. Loves to run, which is why he can often be seen wearing his bright orange running shoes.

Oxpert is one of the most stubborn individuals. His tenacity is the stuff of envy, even for a tank. Yes, although he likes butting heads with a lot of intellectuals, it is this determination that has helped Oxpert take the number one spot in math and penmanship.

Grizzly Quizzly is undefeated and insatiable. He likes to hide his immense knowledge under a professor’s cap as much as he likes wearing his neat jacket and pince-nez glasses.

GaliLeo takes the top spot in his self-initiated survey “If I’m not the boss, who is?” If Leo gets up, everyone else is already long trembling on the floor. With a single roar, he solves the most difficult of equations, while two such roars can make the gym teacher tap out.

Cerebron catches the gist of anything on the fly. Champion of literacy and guardian of all modern scientific discoveries, he boasts a six-and-a-half-foot wingspan, while the span of his imagination remains officially unimaginable.