# Funky NBA Cartoons Lebron James Ventures into the Cartoon Business with ‘The LeBrons' By Matt Ho | Published 2011-01-20 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-lebrons References: [nytimes](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/18/arts/television/18lebron.html?_r=4&ref=arts) & [lebronjames](http://lebronjames.com/) Love him or hate him, Lebron James is here to stay and he’s about to venture into the [cartoon world](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/veefriends-cartoons) with his new show ‘The Lebrons.’ 'The Lebrons' features the life of a 16-year-old Lebron James and his life in Akron, Ohio. The online show revives four versions of James from his [Nike](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lebron-xxii) commercial series as the supporting case. The concept of the show is to promote positive messages such as staying off drugs to kids, which will hopefully be more effective than a GI-Joe after-school special. Look for 'The Lebrons' to debut on James’ official website soon. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.4/10 - Popularity: 36% | Activity: 27% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Media](https://www.trendhunter.com/media) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Cartoon Branding:** Using cartoons as a marketing tool to promote positive messages can help brands engage with younger audiences. - **Athlete-driven Media:** Athletes launching their own media projects can create new opportunities for storytelling and brand building. - **Online Entertainment:** The rise of online shows provides a platform for celebrities and athletes to connect directly with their audience. ### Who This Affects Most - **Sports Apparel:** Sports apparel companies can explore collaborations with athletes to create animated characters that resonate with their target audience. - **Media and Entertainment:** The launch of athlete-driven media projects opens up opportunities for content creation, distribution, and monetization. - **Digital Marketing:** Digital marketers can leverage online entertainment platforms to reach and engage with younger demographics through branded cartoon content. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Athlete-Backed Social Good Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lebron-james-and-lifewtr.md) - [Athlete-Backed Game Consoles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lebron-james-game-console.md) - [Basketball Legend Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lebron-james-doll.md) - [Basketball Star-Backed Chip Flavors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flamin-hot.md) - [Athlete-Backed Grooming Kits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-shop-1.md) - [Life Lesson Animated Cartoons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/veefriends-cartoons.md) - [AR-Enabled Basketball Player Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cryptocom.md) - [Reimagined Holiday Spots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nba-jingle-hoops.md) - [Animated Sports Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dunk-the-halls.md)