Eastern Aquarium is a new digital ocean-themed platform built for curious kids, families, and teachers. We turn ocean education into something people really want to learn more about and keep coming back to explore.
Eastern Aquarium was founded by Dominic Pastino, a lifelong ocean enthusiast from South Jersey. Growing up, every family trip included a stop at an aquarium, not because it was on the itinerary, but because he insisted. That curiosity never went away. To this day, Dominic is an active aquarium hobbyist who finds as much wonder in a freshwater tank as he does in the open sea.
His passion for nature, both above and below the water, led him to a simple question: why doesn't educational content for kids feel like this? Why doesn't it feel alive, immersive, and worth coming back to?
He built Eastern Aquarium to answer that. A platform where children have direct access to digital and physical experiences that let them learn, create, and explore the ocean on their own terms.
Eastern Aquarium launched in April 2026 as an original multimedia brand under Eastern Studios, a South Jersey creative group specializing in film, media, and educational content. It was built from the ground up with one goal: give kids a world they actually want to visit.
That world is built around four original characters, the ocean they call home, and content designed to make learning feel like an adventure. We operate across social media, digital video, and this platform, delivering lesson plans, printables, and character merchandise to families and educators who want something a little different.
When we set out to build Eastern Aquarium, we asked ourselves a simple question: what actually makes a kid curious? Not a worksheet. Not a lecture. A character they recognize, root for, and want to follow into the unknown.
That is why we built Tobi, Ottie, Stella, and Nessa from scratch. Four original characters, each with their own personality, role, and corner of the ocean. They are not mascots sitting on a logo. They are the lens through which every lesson, every video, and every activity is delivered. When a child follows Nessa through the seagrass or watches Ottie build an invention, they are not being taught. They are just along for the ride.
Eastern Aquarium is one of several original brands created and managed by Eastern Studios, a multimedia entertainment group based in South Jersey that specializes in video production, digital marketing, and educational content.
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