Jacob Timperley on why 2025 is shaping up to be a big year for Chimpers

Jacob, it’s great to catch up. How has the past year been for Chimpers?
The past year has been incredible for Chimpers. We’ve seen significant growth across our community, social platforms, and product offerings. With over one million followers across Instagram and TikTok, Chimpers has solidified its position as a digital-first, internet-native brand, captivating audiences with engaging characters, immersive stories and gamified experiences.

With a growing global fanbase and a commitment to bridging the digital and physical worlds, Chimpers has built a unique ecosystem that combines relatability, innovation, and adventure.

How would you pitch the brand’s mission?
Our mission is to become a leading entertainment brand and entertain, bring joy and inspire. We aim to lead with innovative content and engaging experiences.

How has the Chimpers licensing programme taken shape?
We’ve successfully launched physical products through collaborations with Youtooz and Toylaxy, expanded our digital presence with the Chimpers Card App, and participated in major events like the Vegas Licensing Expo, Comic-Con, and Art Basel. It’s been a year of building bridges between the digital and physical worlds, bringing Chimpers to new audiences and solidifying our position as a next-generation collectible brand.

Our success on social has seen Chimpers enjoy 119 million views across 136 posts on Instagram this year. We’ve also had 22 million views across 136 posts on TikTok this year.

Anissia Fiore and Johana Mooney from Pleywell have joined the licensing push for the brand. What made them a great fit for this part of the IP’s journey?
Anissia and Johana bring a wealth of experience from their time at industry giants like Disney, Warner and DreamWorks. Their strategic vision and deep understanding of brand development and licensing make them the perfect fit to expand Chimpers’ global reach. Pleywell’s innovative approach seamlessly integrates physical and digital experiences, setting them apart from traditional agencies and helping us forge meaningful partnerships across various product categories.

You mentioned that Youtooz and Toylaxy have launched products for Chimpers. Can you talk us through those ranges?
Absolutely! Our partnership with Youtooz resulted in the first-ever plush toy featuring Master Chimpo, which saw fantastic engagement during its two-week pre-order period, selling hundreds of units. Toylaxy brought our vision to life with a beautifully crafted vinyl figure that features a digital twin collectible, allowing fans to own both a physical and digital representation of their favourite Chimpers characters.

“Chimpers offers a rich, vibrant universe that blends kawaii aesthetics with adventurous storytelling.”

We’ve also partnered with 223, the innovation arm of JCorp, to launch our online shop, bringing Chimpers collectibles, apparel and lifestyle products to our audiences. 223 is one of the largest licensing groups in North America, with a strong presence in over 60 prestigious retail chains, including Walmart, Target, Dollar General and Costco. Their ability to merge licensed consumer product development and mass market retailing with the digital world of blockchain enables us to offer unique, phygital experiences.

Talk me through the Chimpers Card App and what this adds to the brand experience?
The Chimpers Card App is a game-changer for our brand. It serves as a digital hub where fans can engage with collectible cards featuring their favourite Chimpers characters. The app introduces gamified elements such as pack ripping, AR experiences and interactive rewards. At Art Basel, for example, anyone who purchased Chimpers merchandise could scan our booth and redeem a digital card pack to rip open on our app.

This concept extends to brand collaborations, where plushies or garments embedded with NFC technology allow consumers to tap and redeem a digital pack, unlocking special collectible cards. These integrations create exciting new opportunities for gamified loyalty experiences with consumer products, enhancing fan engagement and driving brand loyalty.

What does the rest of 2025 hold in store?
2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Chimpers. We’re focusing on expanding our physical product lines, launching fun promotions in the food and beverage space, and bringing epic collaborations with brands via the Chimpers Card App with new features and card drops.

Our presence at global events will continue, with planned activations that merge digital and physical experiences. We aim to bring Chimpers to life through an expanded range of physical product offerings, ensuring our fans can engage with the brand in new and exciting ways. Our goal is to solidify Chimpers as a standout IP by continuing to innovate and create meaningful experiences that resonate with both Web2 and Web3 audiences.

Before we wrap up, why do you think Chimpers is an exciting IP to work on for designers at potential licensees?
Chimpers offers a rich, vibrant universe that blends kawaii aesthetics with adventurous storytelling. It’s a brand that resonates across generations and markets, with a visual style that is both nostalgic and fresh.

For designers, it provides an opportunity to work with a brand that thrives on creativity and community participation. With our growing social media presence and strong collector base, licensees have a unique chance to tap into an engaged audience eager for innovative products. Whether it’s physical merchandise, digital activations, or immersive experiences, Chimpers provides a playground for creative exploration and commercial success.

So why Chimpers? We’re an innovative digital brand with a loyal, tech-savvy community. We’ve got cross-media appeal and we’re playful, yet purpose-driven. We’re a perfect fit for collaboration.

Thanks again Jacob!