Ex-MD of Soreen launches UK’s first-ever Augmented Reality Trading Card Game and animated YouTube Series of its kind

Former Soreen boss and marketing director of Warburtons – Mark Simester - brings a new form of Pokémon craze to the UK.

Jungle Squad is a first-of-its-kind augmented reality (AR) trading card game and launches alongside a 20-part animated YouTube series. 

Mark holds a successful career spanning more than 30 years in the corporate world. He built a reputation for delivering award-winning, category-defining innovation in senior leadership roles at Nestlé, Warburtons, and most recently Soreen.

Now, he has turned his creative firepower to helping children develop and supporting parents through a world of trading cards, animation, and children’s entertainment, with a mission to build the UK’s next global franchise brand, with his new firm Imaginakery.

Mark Simester, chief executive of Imaginakery, said: “Leaving the corporate world for a small start-up business was quite the leap, and one most people declared crazy, but I’m truly passionate about putting the imagination and energy back into children’s play. 

“Jungle Squad is where the movement begins and we’re incredibly excited to bring a UK first AR trading game of its kind with a wonderfully captivating YouTube Series to the nation. It delivers storytelling unlike anything currently on UK children’s screens.” 

Built for the world, the animation production of the YouTube series is by global animation powerhouse – Cosmos Maya - the creative prowess behind the Paw Patrol and Cocomelon animated series. Using cutting-edge technology, the Jungle Squad animation is crafted with cinematic action, a truly relevant sustainability-based plot, and a hero versus villain journey that unfolds over time. 

Mark said: “I am on a mission to give kids back their imagination, enhance their development and create more family game play moments. 

“New release Jungle Squad is the antidote to the troubles facing trading cards – offering cards that are affordable, accessible, easy to use and truly imaginative. Through the ground-breaking AR app, the cards blend fast and easy gameplay with augmented reality characters, so that they literally leap off the table and excite the player.”

Imaginakery also partnered with Corporation Pop, a design studio specialising in AR and VR experiences, to build the original, intelligent and engaging experience of the game.  

The squad comprises a team of animal heroes, each with a detailed backstory and a set of specialist skills. Each card pack includes a set of collectable cards featuring Jungle Squad characters, of which integrate into an AR world bringing a whole new realm of innovation and technology to children.  

The premiere will feature exclusive Jungle Squad animation screenings, augmented reality experiences and a special appearance from Luke Solve Collectibles, who regularly receives +10million views for his YouTube videos, making him one of the UK’s biggest trading card YouTube influencers.

Mark added: “My hope is that Jungle Squad’s revolutionary animated YouTube series will enable children to delve into a world of characters, stories, and adventures to spark their imagination, whilst also providing a trading card game that children can play and bring families together to enjoy around the table - something which is sadly missing from many modern homes.

“We want to create a movement that children will love, and parents will thank us for.”

The Jungle Squad unleashed on screens for its Premiere at the Rex Cinema in Wilmslow on Saturday 11th October.