After an acclaimed first season, Freaked Out returns in 2025 with Season 2, whose "Major Decision" episode has received the Audience Award (TV and commissionned works section) at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Adapted from Théo Grosjean's autobiographical comic strip ("L’Homme le plus flippé du monde"), the series humorously and sensitively depicts the daily life of Théo, a character suffering from anxiety disorders, through short independent stories.
Directed by Théo Grosjean and Mothy, and produced by Autour de Minuit, FKLG., and Panique !, the series features a brilliant voice cast: Kyan Khojandi, Garance Marillier, and Cyprien Iov, among others. On the occasion of this selection, Nicolas Schmerkin and Guillaume Ange, respectively founder & co-producer, and Head of International Sales at Autour de Minuit, agreed to talk about the genesis of the series, the challenges encountered, and its international potential and ambitions.
Unifrance: How did the project to adapt Théo Grosjean's comic strip come about?
Nicolas Schmerkin: It all began when Kyan Khojandi discovered Théo Grosjean's comic strip, originally published on Instagram. Kyan contacted Théo with a proposal for an animated series adaptation, and then spoke to Canal+, who quickly became interested in the project. Having no experience in animation production, Kyan then approached us to co-produce and create the series. Autour de Minuit agreed, and took charge of finalizing the financing (CNC, Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Département de la Charente) and overseeing putting the series together
The animation was produced at Borderline studio, part of Autour de Minuit in Angoulême. Kyan Khojandi plays the lead voice and, with co-directors Théo Grosjean and Mothy, has assembled a 5-star cast including Garance Marillier, Cyprien Iov, Morgane Cadignan, and Brigitte Lecordier, among others.
What were the main challenges you faced in adapting the series, whether in terms of the short format or the sensitive subject of anxiety, which is still rarely portrayed on screen?
NS: One of the first challenges was to adapt the length and rhythm of some of the comic strips to fit the 2-minute format..
As far as the themes were concerned, Canal+ gave us a lot of freedom, as long as we kept to the light-hearted tone already present in the comic. The series also benefited from Kyan's experience in producing short formats and managing the pace of the story, which helped us strike the right balance between emotion and comedy.
How did you manage to gather such a stellar cast around this project, and what was the collaboration like?
NS: We auditioned several actors to play Theo, but weren't totally convinced. Then Kyan gave it a try, and his voice proved perfectly suited: just right in terms of flow, timbre, and variation. He did, however, have to make his voice a little younger to match the character's age, and so that audiences didn't recognize his voice-over from Bref.
It was also Kyan who suggested Garance Marillier for the role of Auriane, and Morgane Cadignan for the role of Anxiety. For his part, Mothy had already worked with Cyprien on his first animated series, Épopée temporelle, and convinced him to join the project. The whole cast was won over by the sensibility of Grosjean, who is very present on social networks, and whose message is universal.
The directors, steeped in pop culture, wanted the casting of the secondary characters to reflect this heritage, so they included the French voices of Dragon Ball, Batman, and so on. They dreamed of having the French voice of San Goku! At Autour de Minuit, we had already collaborated with Brigitte Lecordier. She then called on her own network as artistic director to bring together the cream of French dubbing.
Season 2, recently broadcast in France on Canal+, plunges Theo into new everyday situations that are a source of immeasurable anxiety for him. How does this new season differ from the first, while remaining true to the series' DNA?
NS: This season introduces new characters representative of Theo's anxiety, such as Toc, a specialist in obsessive-compulsive disorders, and Mort, a specialist in dangerous and risky situations. We also learn more about the father figures in his life.
Another new feature is recurrent incursions into Théo's head, in a command center of his brain where the agents in charge of his emotions struggle, with humor and clumsiness, against everyday situations.
Season 2 also explores Théo and Auriane's relationship as a couple, from the moment they move in to the first questions they ask themselves.
Overall, this season goes further in terms of emotion: it tackles themes that are still universal, but deeper and more difficult, such as death, mourning and separation – always with sensitivity and humor.
The Major Decision episode (Season 2) has been awarded at the Annecy Festival, in the category dedicated to television. Why do you think this particular episode was selected?
NS: On the one hand, this episode embodies the spirit of Season 2: Théo wants to take a step forward in his relationship with Auriane by moving in with her, but it's a decision he doesn't take lightly. We then enter his head, where a summit meeting pits the different entities of his pysche against each other. In the end, love wins out.
On the other hand, it's funny, profound, nostalgic, and universal. It touches on a pivotal moment in Theo's life, one that viewers can easily identify with: the transition to adulthood, the commitment to a relationship, and all the anxieties that brings.
After the international success of Season 1, do you think this selection could open up new prospects for Season 2 abroad?
Guillaume Ange:Season 1 got off to a quiet start internationally, despite its recognized scriptwriting and graphic qualities, supported by Autour de Minuit's committed distribution work. Financed by Canal+, it also convinced TV5MONDE and TV5 Québec, enabling it to be broadcast in several French-speaking territories. Belgium, co-producer via Panique!, also enabled it to be broadcast on RTBF.
TV5 Québec wished to continue the adventure with Season 2, demonstrating its true loyalty to the project. This confirms the export potential of the series, even if its short format – often perceived as less attractive by traditional broadcasters – is a real obstacle to international distribution.
The first season consisted of just 20 episodes, which limited sales opportunities abroad. Now with a total of 40 episodes, Freaked Out has a much greater volume, enabling it to pursue a more ambitious distribution strategy, particularly in the non-linear market, a very promising sector for this type of series.
The selection of the "Major Decision" episode from Season 2 at Annecy represents a real opportunity to rekindle interest in the series. A presence at the festival not only enables us to reach the major international broadcasters and platforms present, but also to promote the series among animation and youth professionals. We hope that this exposure will boost the visibility of Season 2 and lead to new sales, including outside the French-speaking world: Switzerland, Spain, Germany, United Kingdom…
The series tackles a universal subject that is all too often taboo: mental health among teenagers and young adults. In your opinion, is this universal aspect one of the series' major appeal factors for international audiences?
GA: Freaked Out tackles the issue of mental health among teenagers and young adults with a touch of humor. It's a theme that's still all too often taboo, even though it resonates strongly with our times, well beyond cultural borders. This universal dimension enables the series to reach a wide audience, without lapsing into pathos, and to create a genuine space for identification and reflection.
What do you think Freaked Out's other strengths are in attracting broadcasters and audiences abroad?
GA: In addition to the thematic aspect, Freaked Out stands out for its brilliant writing, which is funny, tender, and hard-hitting, thanks to the combined talents of Théo Grosjean and Mothy. Its distinctive visual identity sets it apart in the animation landscape for teenagers and young adults.
The quality of the production, guaranteed by the involvement of Autour de Minuit, as well as its co-producers FKLG (Kyan Khojandi's production company) and Panique! in Belgium, further strengthens the series' credibility on foreign markets.
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Annecy International Animation Film Festival - 2025
Feature film and short film festival
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