French toon powerhouse Xilam Animation is developing a new, younger-skewing take on its iconic property Oggy and the Cockroaches with the original preschool comedy Oggy Oggy — the studio’s first CG-animated series. Xilam will being production next summer on two consecutive seasons (156 x 7’) with a global budget of $22 million USD. Over the next two years, a team of 150 people will work to get Oggy Oggy season 1 launched in 2020, followed by S2 in 2021.
The show will follow the feline star of Oggy and the Cockroaches as a young, eager and enthusiastic kitten. Oggy Oggy is a happy citizen in a world of colorful little cats. Sensitive and compassionate, he’s full of wonder and quick to help everyone he meets. Somewhat hindered by his clumsiness and hopeless candor, he ends up causing further catastrophe, just like when he underestimates the size of the pirate ship he tries to park, or overestimates his capacity to play Pelota with the athlete-cat, or when his loud meows startle the astronauts into orbit. But no matter what, Oggy Oggy is persistent and creative – he never gives up and is determined to make life beautiful for other little cats, succeeding in ever surprising ways.
“We’re delighted to be extending the world of Oggy and the Cockroaches and bringing young audiences a fresh new take on this iconic and internationally loved property,” said Marc Du Pontavice, CEO of Xilam Animation. “The brand’s heritage and cross-generational appeal means it is perfectly positioned to expand into the preschool arena and we’re confident Oggy Oggy’s heartfelt storylines which are brimming with imagination and fantasy, along with the show’s adorable visual style, will resonate with young audiences and their families around the world.”
Oggy Oggy addresses several strategic goals for Xilam. It expands a popular brand for a younger audience and extends Xilam’s footprint in the preschool arena after the global success of Paprika. As the studio plans to produce at least half of its future slate in CGI, this series will demonstrate the company’s CGI skills, particularly in its animation studio in Angouleme, along with its established reputation for visual art and comedy.
A licensing strategy has been evolving alongside the artistic development of the series, with Xilam assembling a large consumer products program across key categories including toys, apparel and homewares, further boosting the globally recognized Oggy brand.
Xilam Animation recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of Oggy and the Cockroaches with 350 episodes now available in UHD and the show broadcast in over 190 territories. The property also boasts more than 3.6 million subscribers on YouTube and garners over 150 million views per month, while over on Facebook, Oggy and the Cockroaches has reached 3.8 million fans, and the brand’s various apps boast over 20 million downloads.
