Maga Animation Studio on the world behind Mr. Men Little Miss Mini Adventures
Few franchises in children’s media were as formative to many of us as the characters from the world of Misterland. Mr Happy, Little Miss Fickle, and the very first character, Mr Tickle, have enjoyed longevity as beloved companions for young readers. From Roger Hargreaves’ original illustrations from 1971 to a worldwide phenomenon with almost 100 characters, the franchise has recently taken on a new life in the form of a charming animated short-form series.
From Sanrio and Maga Animation Studio comes Mr. Men Little Miss Mini Adventures, and it’s got all the humour, emotion and wit of the original books. Launched this past June on the official Mr. Men Little Miss YouTube channel, the first season delivers twelve bite-sized episodes. The series is good-natured, visually bold, and built both for kids discovering these stories for the first time as well as adults revisiting the characters.
Toon Boom Animation had the opportunity to interview two creative leads on the show. Italy’s Maga Animation Studio provided Massimo Carrier Ragazzi (CEO and creative director on the series) and Francesca Pietrobelli (director and animation supervisor) to discuss their team’s work on the series. From storyboarding, to choosing colour palettes, and setting up theatre-style transitions between scenes, they provide an overview behind all the elements that went into Mr. Men Little Miss Mini Adventures.
