But why is he so cute? Molang, the story of a French success

Molang and Piu Piu play journalists, and frankly, it's very close to reality -

• Originally a character created by a Korean illustrator, Molang became the star of an animated series from the French studio Millimages

• The series has more than 200 episodes, and is broadcast in 200 countries around the world

• Happiness, friendship, empathy…

  Molang

  advocates universal values ​​in very short episodes and an animation close to silent cinema

Hi colleagues, I have a question for you, a test: "Molang, does that ring a bell?

»Moquoi?

Ok. Second test, with a picture of Molang, a big, chubby bunny with pink cheeks.

“Ah, but yes, of course, I've seen it before.

Conclusion: everyone knows Molang without knowing Molang.

For children and parents, the question does not arise, they have already adopted it for several years already, four seasons exactly.

Indeed, Molang is the star of a cartoon which has more than 200 episodes and is available in nearly 200 countries around the world.

After a broadcast on Canal +, season 4 has been available since Monday morning in TFOU, the opportunity to come back to a

and French creation from A… from B to Z.

There are friendships that stand the test of time like that of Molang and Piu Piu.

Let's follow #TFOU @ TF1 from Monday 16/11 our inseparable heroes through the ages:

From prehistory to the 20th century, through Antiquity, the Middle Ages and even the court of Versailles! #Molang pic.twitter.com / TpBxvNPGQO

- TF1 Pro (@ TF1Pro) October 27, 2020

From a Korean mobile messaging to a French animation studio

“Originally, there is a character drawn by Hye-Ji Yoon, a Korean illustrator,” says Roch Lene, founder of Millimages, the studio behind the

series

.

It is used on Kakaotalk mobile messaging, like an emoji, and even without a universe, setting, story, it is already charismatic.

We liked it right away, and we acquired the rights.

We are Roch Lener and his wife Marie-Caroline Villand, creator and director of the series.

They are still arguing over Molang's “discovery”.

“But Marie-Caroline developed the universe, invented the stories, and ensures artistic development within Millimages, with French artists and authors,” admits her husband.

Stories that always end with a laugh or a hug

Among all the drawings, and rabbits, by Hye-Ji Yoon, Marie-Caroline Villand spots a little chick, Piu Piu, who appears from time to time.

"What was he doing there, in this universe of rabbits?"

There was something to do between these two, ”comments the director.

A bit like Laurel and Hardy

thus recounts their adventures in a cute round world, and advocates friendship, happiness, empathy.

Transgenerational and universal values, and stories that always end with a laugh or a hug.

However, the project initially scares the profession, the concept would be too sophisticated for young audiences.

"In cartoons for preschoolers, the characters are often children, with standards and the same family stories," explains Marie-Caroline Villand.

However, Molang is, for example, not gendered, everyone projects what they want into it.

He also has no age, can just have fun like having a job or driving a car.

This is what makes it a sort of UFO.

Ah, there are also UFOs.

Silent cinema and emotion animation

Molang

also makes the difference in its form, the episodes are short, about 3 minutes, and silent, or almost.

Molang and Piu Piu speak, but their own language - molangue?

“We have a few identifiable words, concedes the director.

But otherwise, it's mime, it's all about the animation.

This is why everything is done in France.

"The choice of a 100% French production is both economic and artistic, adds Roch Lener:" For the stories to be understandable, touching, there needs to be a certain alchemy, and therefore a proximity between the teams, between the animators.

"Marie-Caroline Villand specifies:" It is a question of conveying an emotion, a sensitivity, by the animation, and even if the drawing is simple, a crooked mouth of 1 or 2 mm too much, and that does not work. more.

A hundred people work together in this way, for a season of 52 episodes per year.

Watch out for the Moomins

With season 4, the series evolves, nicely.

“We went to 5-minute episodes,” explains the director, “because the characters have grown, because we have stronger stories to tell.

»Molang and Piu Piu no longer travel only around the earth but in time, and visit all eras, from prehistory to the Middle Ages, including cuckoos to Louis XIV or Leonardo da Vinci.

A way of remembering that happiness and benevolence have no age, and to multiply historical winks to older children, to parents.

If Millimages, a 30-year-old studio, has already had success with

,

,

, nothing comparable with the Molang phenomenon.

“The series currently represents 40% of our production, confides its founder, but in terms of strategy and outreach, it's over 95%”.

The idea is to make Molang not only the star of small screens, but also of new media, like the gifs platform, Giphy, where the rabbit is one of the top 10 properties in the world and has accumulated 10 billion of views.

That's why colleagues know about Molang.

Roch Len would like Molang to stand out alongside other cultural icons like the Moomins, Miffy or Hello Kitty, who are 75, 67 and 46 years old respectively.

Molang is 5 years old.

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