DeAPlaneta Entertainment has signed a deal with Belgian production company Haptic for its acclaimed young adult animated series, Hamsters. The Barcelona-based producer-distributor will manage international media and digital rights for the show, and is committed to growing the brand worldwide in the immediate future.
“We are delighted to take this step to distribution with DeAPlaneta Entertainment,” said Stef Wouters, Creative Producer at Haptic. “We know that we speak the same language and together we will take care of this sweet love brand and are certain that our two hamsters, Giovanni and Philippe, will seduce the world with their disarming humor. We are sure the world today needs a bit of humoristic sweetness more than ever.”
Hamsters is a 2D comedy series based on the webcomics by popular Instagram cartoonist Laura Janssens. The series, which has already dropped its first season (13 × 5′), follows two mischievous hamsters who comment the world from inside their cage: Giovanni aims to be the perfect hamster for the outside world, while Philippe only wants to live his own life. Full of humor and poignant commentary, the series reflects the lives of many young adults in the social media era.
“Hamsters humor is wildly funny. Working with unique brands like this, DeAPlaneta Entertainment’s portfolio continues its expansion of shows aimed specifically at young adult audiences, featuring edgy characters and situations,” said Carlos Biern, Content & Distribution Director, DeAPlaneta Kids & Family. “Hamsters is, for us, the first of many future additions of IPs we are starting work on with fresh digital artists that write and direct the way our new audiences demand.”
Co-produced by Haptic, 20STM and Streamz, with the support of the Flemish Audiovisual Fund (VAF), the Belgian Federal Taxshelter via Flanders Taxshelter and Wallimage, Hamsters is created by Janssens, who, apart of illustrating books and merchandise, is the mind behind some of the world’s most popular animated gifs.
The first season of Hamsters was released in Belgium on Streamz on 2023, receiving critical acclaim from the Belgian press: “beastly good,” “a charming series” (Het Nieuwsblad), “with captivating humour, Hamsters advocates to embrace imperfections” (De Morgen). The series has also been nominated for Best Flemish Animation Series at the 2023 Ensor Awards, Belgium’s prestigious cinema arts accolades.
