Ryan's World

{{Short description|Children's YouTube channel}} {{Use list-defined references|date=February 2018}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Infobox social media personality | name = Ryan's World | logo = RyanToys Review.jpg | youtube_handle = RyansWorld | youtube_display_name = Ryan's World | youtube_years_active = 2015–present | youtube_genre = {{flatlist| * Children * toy unboxing }} | youtube_subscribers = 40.3 million | youtube_views = 63.44 billion | stats_update = May 31, 2026 }}

'''Ryan's World''' (formerly '''Ryan ToysReview''') is a YouTube channel for children featuring '''Ryan Kaji'''{{r|"Ad Age"}} along with his family.

The channel usually releases a new video daily. One of the channel's videos, titled ''Huge Eggs Surprise Toys Challenge'', has over 2 billion views as of January 2023, making it one of the 60 most-viewed videos on YouTube.{{r|"Huge Eggs"}} As of April 2026, the channel has over 40.3 million subscribers and over 63.29 billion views.

''The Verge'' has described the channel as "a mash-up of personal vlog and 'unboxing' video, a blend of innocent childhood antics and relentless, often overwhelming consumerism".{{r|"Verge2016"}} According to ''Forbes'', Kaji earned $11 million between 2016 and 2017 as the eighth highest-paid YouTuber, and in 2018, 2019 and 2020, was listed as the highest-paid YouTuber, earning $22 million, $26 million, and $29.5 million respectively from his videos and product line.{{r|"Forbes2018"}}{{r|"Forbes2017"}}<ref name="Forbes2019">{{cite magazine |first=Madeline |last=Berg |title=The Highest-Paid YouTube Stars of 2019: The Kids Are Killing It |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/maddieberg/2019/12/18/the-highest-paid-youtube-stars-of-2019-the-kids-are-killing-it/ |magazine=Forbes |date=December 18, 2019 |access-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-date=January 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130164301/https://www.forbes.com/sites/maddieberg/2019/12/18/the-highest-paid-youtube-stars-of-2019-the-kids-are-killing-it/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

A feature film<ref>{{Cite web |last=Triplett |first=Divine |date=2024-08-16 |title=Ryan's World: YouTube star Ryan Kaji talks first movie |url=https://www.wishtv.com/lifestylelive/ryans-world-youtube-star-ryan-kaji-talks-first-movie/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Indianapolis News {{!}} WISH-TV |language=en-US}}</ref> based on the channel, ''Ryan's World the Movie: Titan Universe Adventure'', was released on August 16, 2024, across 2,000 theaters in the United States.<ref>{{cite news|title=Popular YouTube Channel Ryan's World Pulls a Taylor Swift With New Movie|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-03-24/popular-youtube-channel-ryan-s-world-pulls-a-taylor-swift-with-new-movie|date=24 March 2024|access-date=22 May 2024|publisher=Bloomberg News}}</ref>

==History== Ryan Kaji's parents Shion and Loann met as undergraduate students at Texas Tech University. Loann's family fled from Vietnam as refugees. She grew up in Houston and became a teacher. Shion had moved to the United States from Japan in high school and left Texas to get a master's in engineering at Cornell University, returned soon after Ryan's birth, and completed his degree online.<ref name=":0" />

At the age of three, after watching other toy review channels, Ryan Kaji began making YouTube videos in March 2015.{{r|"WP2017"}} Loann quit her job as a high school chemistry teacher to work on the YouTube channel full-time.{{r|"Verge2016"}}

Before going live on YouTube, the family replaced their real-life surname, Guan, with the on-screen surname Kaji.<ref>{{cite news|last=Koh|first=Yoree|title=Walmart, Target Embrace 8-Year-Old YouTube Influencer's Brand|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=December 23, 2019|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/walmart-target-embrace-8-year-old-youtube-influencers-brand-11577105971|access-date=January 18, 2020|url-access=subscription|archive-date=January 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112164823/https://www.wsj.com/articles/walmart-target-embrace-8-year-old-youtube-influencers-brand-11577105971|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Noor|first=Poppy|author-link=Poppy Noor|title=The highest YouTube earner this year? An eight-year-old|work=The Guardian|date=December 20, 2019|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/dec/20/youtube-highest-earner-eight-year-old-guan-ryans-world|access-date=January 18, 2020|archive-date=January 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110055800/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/dec/20/youtube-highest-earner-eight-year-old-guan-ryans-world|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|agency=Agence France-Presse|title=Top YouTuber is eight years old, earns US$26 million|work=Taipei Times|date=December 20, 2019|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2019/12/20/2003727840|access-date=January 18, 2020|archive-date=December 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223073842/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2019/12/20/2003727840|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, Kaji's parents signed a deal with PocketWatch, a startup children's media company that was founded in 2016 by Albie Hecht and Chris Williams. PocketWatch does the marketing and merchandise for Ryan's YouTube channels.{{r|"pocket.watch"}} In 2018, Ryan ToysReview, in cooperation with PocketWatch and WildWorks, created an app called ''Tag with Ryan'', an endless runner game targeted towards children, for iOS and Android.{{r|"tagwithryan"}} In 2019, Ryan ToysReview and PocketWatch produced a 20-episode television series for preschoolers titled ''Ryan's Mystery Playdate''.{{r|"tvshow"}} On November 1, 2019, Outright Games released a video game titled ''Race with Ryan'', a racing game featuring Kaji and characters from the ''Ryan's World'' brand, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Microsoft Windows.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.outrightgames.com/racewithryan|title=Race With Ryan Road Trip Deluxe Edition|website=Outright Games|access-date=2019-12-01|archive-date=January 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115151156/https://www.outrightgames.com/racewithryan|url-status=live}}</ref>

A hybrid live-action and animated series, ''Super Spy Ryan'', premiered November 27, 2020, on Amazon Kids+.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=November 19, 2020 |title=YouTube's biggest child star is getting his own show on Amazon |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/19/21575169/youtube-ryan-world-amazon-show-animated-nickelodeon-ott-streaming |access-date=November 22, 2020 |website=The Verge |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126051839/https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/19/21575169/youtube-ryan-world-amazon-show-animated-nickelodeon-ott-streaming |url-status=live }}</ref> On December 4, 2020, Ryan's World announced the launch of an official game on the gaming platform ''Roblox''.<ref name="Patel">{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/9-year-old-youtube-star-ryan-kaji-opens-virtual-world-on-roblox-11607079600|title=9-Year-Old YouTube Star Ryan Kaji Opens Virtual World on Roblox|work=The Wall Street Journal|last=Patel|first=Sahil|date=December 4, 2020|access-date=December 8, 2020|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302145412/https://www.wsj.com/articles/9-year-old-youtube-star-ryan-kaji-opens-virtual-world-on-roblox-11607079600|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 4, 2022, Outright Games released a second ''Ryan's World'' licensed video game, ''Ryan's Rescue Squad'', an action-adventure game for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, and Stadia.{{r|"RSS official website"}} On September 28, 2023, Sunlight Entertainment, a production company owned by Ryan's family, partnered up with Toei Animation to create ''Elemon'', a flash-animated anime-style series focused on teaching children about chemistry.<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 September 2023|title=Sunlight & Toei Team for New 'Ryan's World' Animated Series 'Elemon'|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/09/sunlight-toei-team-for-new-ryans-world-animated-series-elemon/|access-date=29 September 2023|website=Animation Magazine|archive-date=January 16, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240116224823/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/09/sunlight-toei-team-for-new-ryans-world-animated-series-elemon/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Influence== Kaji has impacted the toy industry through the high view counts of his toy reviews, which will sometimes affect toy sales.{{r|"Verge2016"}} Chris Williams of PocketWatch compared Kaji to Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants.{{r|"pocket.watch"}}

At the American International Toy Fair 2018 in New York City, Kaji announced a line of toys, branded as ''Ryan's World'', in cooperation with PocketWatch and Bonkers Toys.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=http://pocket.watch/press/press-release-february-13-2018|title=Major Apparel and Toy Companies Jump On Board pocket.watch Media Brand|date=February 13, 2018|website=pocket.watch|access-date=2018-07-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724154007/http://pocket.watch/press/press-release-february-13-2018|archive-date=2018-07-24}}</ref> The toys were first released exclusively at Walmart on August 6, 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.i4u.com/2018/07/129218/ryan-toysreview-launches-massive-ryans-world-toy-line-exclusively-walmart|title=Ryan ToysReview Launches Massive Ryan's World Toy Line-up Exclusively at Walmart|last=Lugmayr|first=Luigi |website=I4U News|date=July 30, 2018|access-date=2018-07-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730150144/https://www.i4u.com/2018/07/129218/ryan-toysreview-launches-massive-ryans-world-toy-line-exclusively-walmart|archive-date=2018-07-30}}</ref>

The Ryan's World channel has been listed in 2018 and 2019 as the highest-earning YouTube channel by ''Forbes''.<ref name="Forbes2018"/><ref name="Forbes2019"/> ''The New York Times'' reported that the Kaji family earn at least $25 million from their "Ryan's World" merchandise sales, which totaled over $250 million in 2021.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Kang|first=Jay Caspian|date=2022-01-05|title=The Boy King of YouTube|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/05/magazine/ryan-kaji-youtube.html|access-date=2022-01-06|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106170916/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/05/magazine/ryan-kaji-youtube.html|url-status=live |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Effect on YouTube content guidelines === On August 28, 2019, Truth in Advertising filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) claiming that Ryan's World was not properly disclosing sponsored videos. Truth in Advertising claimed, "Nearly 90 percent of the Ryan ToysReview videos have included at least one paid product recommendation aimed at preschoolers, a group too young to distinguish between a commercial and a review."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/04/business/media/ryan-toysreview-youtube-ad-income.html|title=Popular YouTube Toy Review Channel Accused of Blurring Lines for Ads|last=Hsu|first=Tiffany|date=September 4, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 10, 2019|archive-date=January 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102075346/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/04/business/media/ryan-toysreview-youtube-ad-income.html|url-status=live}}</ref> These advertisements often depicted unhealthy foods.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/26/well/family/Youtube-children-junk-food-child-obesity.html|title=Are 'Kidfluencers' Making Our Kids Fat?|last=O'Connor|first=Anahad|author-link=Anahad O'Connor|date=October 26, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 23, 2020|archive-date=January 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102075359/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/26/well/family/Youtube-children-junk-food-child-obesity.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The latter complaint resulted in the FTC suing YouTube and Google for $170 million; YouTube consequently adopted new rules on children's content to comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/remember-7-year-old-who-made-22-million-on-youtube-heres-how-that-worked-out-for-youtube.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125030732/https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/remember-7-year-old-who-made-22-million-on-youtube-heres-how-that-worked-out-for-youtube.html |archive-date=2022-01-25 |title=Remember the 7-Year-Old Who Made $22 Million on YouTube? (Here's How That Worked Out for YouTube) |last=Murphy Jr.|first=Bill|date=September 4, 2019|work=Inc.com|access-date=August 19, 2021}}</ref>

== Awards and nominations == {| class=wikitable |- !Year !Award !Category !Work !Result !{{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}} |- |2020 | rowspan="2" |Streamy Awards | rowspan="2" |Subject: Kids and Family | rowspan="2" |Ryan's World |{{won}} |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Billboard |date=2020-12-13 |title=2020 YouTube Streamy Awards Winners: Complete List |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/youtube-streamy-awards-2020-winners-list-9498833/ |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |2021 |{{nom}} | |- |2022 |Kids' Choice Awards | colspan="2" |Favorite Male Creator |{{nom}} | |}

==References== <references> <ref name = "Ad Age">{{cite magazine|title=New Kids on the Block: Move over Gen Z, Generation Alpha is the one to watch|url=https://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/move-gen-z-generation-alpha-watch/316314|last1=Pasquarelli|first1=Adrianne|last2=Schultz|first2=E.J.|magazine=Ad Age|volume=90|issue=2|page=22|date= 21 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123042540/https://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/move-gen-z-generation-alpha-watch/316314/|archive-date=2019-01-23}}</ref> <ref name="WP2017">{{cite news|last=Schmidt|first=Samantha|title=6-year-old made $11 million in one year reviewing toys on {{sic|You Tube|hide=y}}|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/12/11/6-year-old-made-11-million-in-one-year-reviewing-toys-on-you-tube/|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=10 January 2018|date=11 December 2017|archive-date=January 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110141137/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/12/11/6-year-old-made-11-million-in-one-year-reviewing-toys-on-you-tube/|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="Huge Eggs">{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjd-BeTX6U0|title=Huge Eggs Surprise Toys Challenge with Inflatable water slide|publisher=Ryan's World|via=YouTube|access-date=February 2, 2018|archive-date=December 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215143944/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjd-BeTX6U0|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="Verge2016">{{cite web|last=Popper|first=Ben|title=YouTube's biggest star is a 5-year-old that makes millions opening toys|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/12/22/14031288/ryan-toys-review-biggest-youngest-youtube-star-millions|website=The Verge|date=December 22, 2011 |access-date=3 February 2018|archive-date=March 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322172044/https://www.theverge.com/2016/12/22/14031288/ryan-toys-review-biggest-youngest-youtube-star-millions|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="pocket.watch">{{cite web|title=7-year-old toy reviewer on YouTube becomes a toy himself|url=https://whdh.com/news/7-year-old-toy-reviewer-on-youtube-becomes-a-toy-himself/|publisher=WHDH|agency=Associated Press|date=October 3, 2018|access-date=October 3, 2018|archive-date=December 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206173445/https://whdh.com/news/7-year-old-toy-reviewer-on-youtube-becomes-a-toy-himself/|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="tvshow">{{cite news|last=Zahn|first=James|url=https://toybook.com/from-youtube-to-nickelodeon-ryans-mystery-playdate-is-the-next-move-for-ryan-toysreview/|title=From YouTube to Nickelodeon: Ryan's Mystery Playdate is the Next Move for Ryan ToysReview|date=February 14, 2019|website=The Toy Book|access-date=2020-11-20|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806125434/https://toybook.com/from-youtube-to-nickelodeon-ryans-mystery-playdate-is-the-next-move-for-ryan-toysreview/|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="Forbes2017">{{cite magazine|last=Berg|first=Madeline|title=The Highest-Paid YouTube Stars 2017: Gamer DanTDM Takes The Crown With $16.5 Million|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/maddieberg/2017/12/07/the-highest-paid-youtube-stars-2017-gamer-dantdm-takes-the-crown-with-16-5-million|magazine=Forbes|date=7 December 2017|access-date=3 February 2018|archive-date=February 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202213708/https://www.forbes.com/sites/maddieberg/2017/12/07/the-highest-paid-youtube-stars-2017-gamer-dantdm-takes-the-crown-with-16-5-million/|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name = "Forbes2018">{{cite magazine|last1=Robehmed|first1=Natalie|last2=Berg|first2=Madeline|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2018/12/03/highest-paid-youtube-stars-2018-markiplier-jake-paul-pewdiepie-and-more/|title=Highest-Paid YouTube Stars 2018: Markiplier, Jake Paul, PewDiePie And More|magazine=Forbes|date=3 December 2018|access-date=4 December 2018|archive-date=April 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421133702/https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2018/12/03/highest-paid-youtube-stars-2018-markiplier-jake-paul-pewdiepie-and-more/|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="tagwithryan">{{cite web|url=https://tagwithryan.com/|title=Tag with Ryan|publisher=WildWorks|access-date=December 25, 2018|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308203718/https://tagwithryan.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="RSS official website">{{Cite web | url=https://outrightgames.com/games/ryans-rescue-squad/ | title=Ryan's Rescue Squad | website=Outright Games | access-date=9 March 2022 | archive-date=March 8, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308035708/https://outrightgames.com/games/ryans-rescue-squad/ | url-status=live }}</ref> </references>

==External links== *{{YouTube|channel=UChGJGhZ9SOOHvBB0Y4DOO_w}} {{Streamy Awards Series Winners Subject}}

Category:English-language YouTube channels Category:Streamy Award-winning channels, series or shows Category:Toy controversies Category:YouTube channels launched in 2015