Kinepolis Gives Milliamges’ Animated Series ‘Molang’ Event Cinema Treatment in Five European Countries (EXCLUSIVE)
variety.comJamie Lang Renowned French animation studio Millimages has adapted its hugely popular “Molang” series of episodes and shorts into a 58-minute theatrical feature, which leading European distributor Kinepolis will screen in 40+ cinemas across France, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg starting on September 1. “Molang at the Movies” is an hour-long recut of individual “Molang” shorts aimed at preschoolers and their families.
The series features an adorable animated character with a big heart and a big sense of responsibility for its surroundings. Created by Korean illustrator Hye Ji Yoon as a simple doodle in 2010, the Molang character has inspired an animated empire of six TV series broadcast in more than 190 countries, 30 billion views on Giphy, more than 8 million social media followers, a viral YouTube channel and 18 international licensing agreements.
While “Molang’s” TV and internet credentials are unquestionable, transitioning to a theatrical product poses practical challenges that would be multiplied with a wider release.
Kinepolis recently hosted successful event releases for animated series “Peppa Pig” and “The Smurfs,” and the “Molang” series offered an opportunity to do something special. “Event Cinema has experienced significant growth in recent years, offering flexibility in terms of release and marketing,” Kinepolis Head of International Event Cinema Steven Clerima told Variety. “Content owners and rights holders enjoy collaborating with us because we are passionate about their work and prioritize them in our events.
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