Luntik - The Animated Hero with Over 1 Billion Views on YouTube!

Are there children in Europe and America today, aged two to seven, who have never watched a cartoon about Luntik? Are there parents who have never heard of this animated hero? If they exist, it must be in places without television and the internet. What is the secret to the success of the longest European animated series? How did it all begin? Who initiated this project? How much do the creators earn from this venture? Find out all about it below.

The animated series "Luntik and His Friends" has been viewed over a billion times. This figure can be compared to the number of active users on social media giant Facebook worldwide. By viewership numbers, "Luntik" can be likened to Rihanna, Britney Spears, and Eminem. By 2014, 7 seasons and 439 episodes had been produced. It stands as the longest-running series in the history of European television. The first episode aired in 2006. Since then, a vast array of related products has been released: toys, books, coloring books, educational games, children's food products, and even children's computers.

History

The European educational animated series "Adventures of Luntik and His Friends" is produced by the animation studio "Melnitsa" in Saint Petersburg, in collaboration with VGTRK.

The idea to create a cartoon about an alien who lands on Earth came to Alexander Boyarsky, the founder of the "Melnitsa" studio. The scriptwriter was Anna Sarantseva, and character design was by Darina Schmidt. The character was meant to be cute and kind, emphasized through large eyes and a round head, with four ears for an unusual touch. Anton Zlatopolsky, the general director of the "Russia" channel, approved the concept and commissioned the series to air on the program "Good Night, Little Ones."

Finances

Production of the series began in 2005. According to Alexander Boyarsky, the cost of producing one episode of "Luntik" in 2006 ranged from 4,000 to 6,000 dollars. Half of the production costs are covered by the "Russia" channel. Revenue from DVD sales of the cartoon is shared between the "Melnitsa" studio and the "Russia" channel. Around three million viewers tune in to the program "Good Night, Little Ones."

Technologies

The use of a technology called "shifting" in creating "Adventures of Luntik and His Friends" speeds up production without compromising the character design style. This technology allows for expressive and vivid visuals.

Format

Each episode runs for four and a half minutes, presenting a complete story so viewers can start watching from any point without losing the essence. All episodes conclude with a wise message from the author. The animators at "Melnitsa" produce eight episodes per month.

Characters

The series features over twenty characters with their own personalities, appearances, and voices, mainly comprising meadow and pond creatures, insects, and animals.

Success

Since its debut, the series garnered significant attention from the media and television audiences. In 2009, "Luntik" ranked seventh among the most popular children's brands. Within a year, it rose to the third spot, trailing behind "Smeshariki" and "Spiderman." 68% of Russian moms trust the content of the show, agreeing to let their children watch it. Nearly 8% of children surveyed by the job recruitment portal SuperJob.ru expressed a desire for a Luntik toy as a New Year gift in 2010, placing the character second on the list of desired presents. Many Russian celebrities have publicly endorsed the character. The proliferation of pirated products and counterfeit toys also serves as a testament to the brand's popularity. Despite some criticism, the project continues to gain momentum.

Business

The creators initially planned for "Luntik" to be profitable through merchandise, but they delayed any significant action, allowing the audience to get used to and love the characters while building the brand. The efforts bore fruit after a little over two years when manufacturers began lining up for licenses to use the trademarks. About twenty companies have already acquired such licenses. The turnover from licensed products of the series was estimated by the brand owners to be around 1.5 million euros within the first three years. Currently, a vast array of products bearing the "Luntik" brand are being produced, including discs, games, books, clothing, stationery, and sports goods. The manager of the publishing house "Egmont," Tatiana Saprykina, asserts that merchandise related to Luntik is the most in-demand in the book market.

Today, "Luntik" has its website Luntik.com where fans can download coloring pages and participate in contests. Theatrical performances with actors dressed as the animated characters take place at various festivals and events.

In conclusion, the series gained immense popularity due to various factors, including its educational focus, unique character traits, sincerity, kindness, the moral nature of its plots, and effective marketing strategies.