Just as Facebook is facing closure due to legal wranglings, a new site starts up that potentially offers a similar networking opportunity – and a whole lot more. Although the one of which we speak, Webbliworld.com, couldn’t be more different to Facebook in that it’s aimed at engaging 6-11 year olds and is the colourful fruit of a collaboration between Aardman Animations and Enable Interactive.

Commissioned by WebbliWorld, the new site features animated films, starring a host of new characters, as well as interactive games, news feeds and educational resources. Kids can even design their own Webbli character and the plan is for the site to develop a comprehensive search engine and a social networking community. Already Puffin books and The World Wildlife Fund have got involved to sponsor different sections on the site and to use their own resources to add content to the site.

webliworld.com’s home page is crammed full of beautiful illustrated detail that introduces various characters and features

This is the news… Webbli-style

Kids can build their own Webbli - far cooler than the MySpace pout-and-take-self-portrait-photo phenomenon

We love the look of the site and the characters created by Aardman and can imagine kids getting stuck in, exploring and having fun on the site. But the question arises: How long will it be before a too-cool-for-school eight-year old is spotted wearing a sticker proclaiming “Webbliworld is for losers”?