Boowa & Kwala (fictional universe)

Boowa & Kwala is a fictional universe created by Véronique Barnard and Jason Barnard.

The universe is named after the main characters: Boowa who is a blue dog and Kwala who is a yellow koala.

Who Created Boowa and Kwala?

Véronique Barnard and Jason Barnard created Boowa and Kwala in 1998. The first story was “Around the World in 12 Songs with Boowa & Kwala”, released as an audio book (narrated by Sir Tony Robinson) and as a series of online cartoons, songs and games. In 2003, Véronique and Jason introduced Boowa & Kwala’s families (Dawa, Mawa, Siwa, Daddy Koala, Mummy Koala, Grandpa Koala and Grandma Koala), and made a TV series with ITV International that aired around the globe. At its height, the website attracted 60 million visits a year.

When did Boowa and Kwala come out?

Boowa and Kwala first appeared in 1998 as stars of their own website for kids built using Macromedia Flash. The TV series came out in 2007.

What is the History of Boowa and Kwala?

Starting in 1998, their initial success came on the web through boowakwala.com. That quickly expanded to music albums and TV program.

Who Voices Boowa and Kwala?

Kwala is voiced by Véronique Barnard and Boowa is voiced by Jason Barnard. 

Who are Boowa and Kwala?

Boowa and Kwala are fictional characters created by Jason Barnard and his ex-wife. These characters were designed to share goodness and explain the world to children under six years old with kindness. Boowa is a blue dog who plays the role of a kindly older brother, while Kwala is a small yellow koala who doesn’t really understand the world. Boowa takes Kwala through the world, explaining it to her little by little. They were featured in various songs and videos as a form of educational content, aimed at helping children develop essential life skills and values, such as politeness and empathy. Their content became popular and was useful to many parents and children.

Website

Created for preschoolers worldwide by Véronique and myself in 1998. A big, friendly blue dog (me) and a cute yellow Koala (Vero).
Games, Stories, Cartoons and Songs made using Adobe Flash, and still running :)

My roles: Flash game development, SEO, voices, music, scripts.

in 2007 it ranked in the 10,000 most visited sites in the world with 5 million monthly visits (that’s 60 million a year a,d a billion pageviews).

Musical Group

Over 100 recordings, two albums in both French and English (children’s music)

More info:
12 Sing along songs >>
53 bright Songs From the TV Series >>

TV Series

 Boowa & Kwala TV series (52 x 5′) shown in France, Canada, Poland, Israel, South Africa, New Zealand and the UK… 2007 – Produced by ITV Studios (UK), Guili (FR) and Radio Canada (CA). Full list of episodes here >>

My roles: Voiceover (5 characters), songwriting and scriptwriting – all in both English and French.

On YouTube

Kids playing the games, singing the songs and generally enjoying Boowa & Kwala :)

Characters

The Boowa & Kwala fictional universe contains 9 characters in total – Boowa and Kwala plus their families who co-star in TV program, the web series and the music albums. Here they are >>

Multi-Davey Award-Winning Achievements

Jason’s creative work on Boowa and Kwala earned him two prestigious Davey Awards: a Gold for his groundbreaking interactive website and a Silver for 53 Bright Songs, a music album he created for the series. These honors, from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, place Jason alongside industry giants like Disney, DreamWorks, and National Geographic Kids.

Major awards and recognitions include:

• Gold Davey Award for the award-winning website.
• Silver Davey Award for the music album “53 Bright Songs”
• A CD book narrated by Sir Tony Robinson.
• Worldwide recognition as the TV series was broadcast in 25 countries, including on Playhouse Disney and was produced by ITV International and co-produced by TVO.

Jason’s strategic vision helped secure partnerships with global brands like:

• Samsung
• Orange (France’s national telecommunications company)
• ITV International and top global distributors

The Visionary CEO Who Set New Standards

Redefining Success with Creativity and Innovation

Jason’s success as a CEO is rooted in his ability to turn creative ideas into captivating, lasting experiences. He’s not just a businessman—he’s an innovative leader who challenges conventions and pushes the boundaries of what’s possible.

His playful side and refusal to follow the traditional path complement his sharp business sense, proving that success doesn’t have to be boring or conventional. Jason’s work with Boowa and Kwala has solidified his reputation as a major player in the global media industry, confirmed by his appearance at the TV Festival de Cannes, where the show was presented by ITV International.

Jason Barnard – A Legacy of Innovation and Success

Jason Barnard’s career is a true reflection of creativity, vision, and determination. As a multiple Davey Award-winning CEO, he has proven that it’s possible to blend digital innovation with storytelling in a way that’s not only commercially successful but also widely praised. His work on Boowa and Kwala is just one chapter in a journey that continues to fuel his passion and inspire others.

After selling UpToTen, Jason recognized a growing need for brands and individuals to manage their online presence, especially on Google. Seeing this opportunity, he took a four-year sabbatical to research how to effectively influence brand representation in search results. In 2015, he founded Kalicube, a groundbreaking digital marketing agency specialising in Brand SERPs, marking his full shift into the industry. His background in music and entertainment gave him valuable insights into branding and audience engagement, which he leveraged in his digital marketing career. By embracing challenges and seizing new opportunities, Jason successfully transitioned into his role as a digital marketer and entrepreneur.