On the occasion of the 22nd Unifrance TV Export Awards, presented to Hari for Mystery Lane — Season 1, in the Animation category, Josselin Charier, Co-founder and Producer, and Sophie 'Kido' Prigent, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Financing, look back on the series' international success and discuss upcoming projects.
Created in 2019 by Antoine Rodelet and Josselin Charier, founders of Studio Hari, and directed by Victor Moulin and Cédric Lachenaud, Mystery Lane follows the adventures of Clever, a female detective hamster who is the only one capable of confronting strange phenomena in London and solving mysteries with the help of her little brother, Bro.
Unifrance: Could you please introduce your company?
Sophie 'Kido' Prigent: A multi-award-winning company, Hari is a story house creating IPs for kids and families. As one of the leading players in animation, the company develops, produces, and distributes original content across TV and digital platforms. Hari develops premium content with a distinct visual style and feature-quality CGI, creating strong brands with universal stories that naturally resonate across TV, film, and consumer products.
Focused on quality over quantity, Hari cultivates premium IPs with a unique editorial line centered on family comedy. Hari’s series — Grizzy and the Lemmings, Mystery Lane, and the latest one, The Weasy Family — are international hits, reaching audiences in over 200 territories worldwide.
What’s the pitch of your programme in a few words?
Sophie 'Kido' Prigent: If I only had one minute, I would say this series is an instant classic — a premium animated show with feature-TV ambition, mixing investigation, adventure and comedy in a way that has never been done before. Its high-quality narrative naturally engages young audiences, trusting their curiosity while delivering genuine thrills and humor.
And if I have a little more time, my pitch goes like this: "Strange things are happening in London. And there’s only one animal capable of tackling mysteries of this scale: a hamster named Clever — a detective with a prodigious sense of observation and razor-sharp deductive skills. When things don’t go quite according to plan, she can always rely on her hot-headed little brother Bro, who’s never afraid to take on foes far bigger than himself. The dangers they face are as extraordinary as their cases, often bordering on the supernatural. Will they manage to crack the mysteries that continue to baffle Scotland Yard?"
In which key territories did you sell it?
Sophie 'Kido' Prigent: Beyond France, the show has gained strong visibility in Germany on Disney Channel, and once Season 2 is delivered, Super RTL will come on board for both seasons. In China, the series has been airing on Youku since 2024. In Italy, it is performing very well on Rai.
More than individual territories, what truly stands out to us is the collective momentum behind the show. In today’s challenging environment for original creations, every supporting market matters and helps shape the story of a series. From the Nordics — often early adopters when it comes to new shows — to Eastern Europe, Southern Europe and Southeast Asia, this broad international backing has become one of Mystery Lane’s real strengths.
According to you, what convinced the buyers to vote for Mystery Lane — S1?
Sophie 'Kido' Prigent: First, I would point to the overall quality of the series, which stands out on every level — from storytelling and animation quality to atmosphere and visual execution. Some TV partners even thought Mystery Lane was a feature film when they first discovered the teaser!
Secondly, one of the series’ most distinctive strengths is that it never underestimates children’s intelligence. It inspires a spirit of adventure and scientific curiosity, while fostering their imagination.
Finally, Mystery Lane reached audiences across Europe, the US, and China, proving that its stories resonate with children around the world. And it delivered outstanding ratings across all territories — the ultimate proof of its appeal!
What’s next for Mystery Lane, after winning this award ?
Sophie 'Kido' Prigent: After breaking all records for an original series on France Télévisions, we immediately followed up Season 1 with a Christmas special, White Investigation (1 x 44’), which aired on Christmas Eve 2024 in France. The special is now scheduled to roll out internationally this coming Christmas, and we’re very much looking forward to the feedback from our broadcast partners — we already know that children are eagerly waiting for new Mystery Lane adventures.
Season 2 (26 x 22’) is now in production, with strong support from Season 1 broadcast partners. This new season will bring fresh mysteries, ingenious new villains, and higher stakes that will challenge Clever and Bro like never before!
Excitingly, Season 2 will start to link Clever and Bro to characters and storylines from other Hari IPs, gradually unveiling a shared universe that brings all Hari original creations together.
Watch the Mystery Lane trailer ⬇️
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