Bunny Maloney is a animesque computer-animated television series created by and directed by Stéphane Stoll. The series is produced by MoonScoop, in co-production with Telegael and France 2. It was based on Studio Tanuki's Flash-animated short film Pinpin le Lapin. The series chronicles the adventures of a pink anthropomorphic rabbit named Bunny Maloney and his friends.
Pinpin le Lapin had a few sexual references, as according to Nicolaï "Méko" Chauvet, it was originally aimed towards a mature audience. In spite of its adult nature, Chauvet's pitch was picked up by MoonScoop, a studio known for producing family-friendly content. While Bunny Maloney aired on family-friendly networks internationally, the show became notable for its sexual references and visuals. A second season was planned but never materialized.
Synopsis The show focuses on Bunny Maloney, who's constantly overconfident and blunderous. He lives in an apartment with his ill-tempered girlfriend Candy Bunny, and his meek friend Jean-François, who frequently get dragged into his conflicts. The three form the ProtecTeam – seen as notable heroes in Bunnyville – who only come together to defeat Professor Débilouman, a strange, evil yet stupid man who hinders their everyday life.
Characters
Main Bunny Maloney Voiced by: (French); Matt Wilkinson (English) A pink rabbit with a New York accent. Bunny prefers to slack off in the apartment, indulging in video games, television and junk food. He is also extremely selfish if there is an opportunity he can take advantage of. He may use Jean-François to his own selfish benefit. Bunny is Candy's boyfriend, though he's a frequent target of her hostility, and doesn't think about what she wants. However, he does care about her, as misguided as he is. Candy Bunny Voiced by: (French); Jules de Jongh (English) Another pink rabbit, with prominent blush and a red scrunchie. Candy prefers anything prissy and clean – however, she is known for an abrasive outlook. In spite of her horrible temper, the only person she can tolerate is her friend, Charlotte. Candy is Bunny's girlfriend, though she frequently lashes out on him to physically abusive extents, and outright admits to hating him. In spite of the extremely petty conflicts they have, she still cares about him. Candy even tells Bunny to stop indulging in junk food, to no success. Jean-François A blue cat/rabbit-like alien with droopy ears and blank eyes – only capable of saying his own name, similar to a Pokémon. Jean-François is humble and a bit odd, casually enjoying a mundane lifestyle. However, he is emotionally vulnerable, and has his limits if Bunny and Candy go too far. Jean-François usually accompanies Bunny, but due to his docile nature, Bunny may take advantage of it (sometimes to Bunny's detriment). He's frequently seen playing the fictitious rhythm game "Bust-a-Para Dance", and rather skilled at it. Professor Débilouman Voiced by: Marc Duquesnoy (French); Walter Lewis (English) A short, old man with a white labcoat, spiky black hair and a long nose. Débilouman's name is derived from "débile" ("stupid" in French), fitting his comically unintelligent personality. He always comes up with bizarre, elaborate schemes that initially work, but when he's been caught, he ends up sinking in his submarine – a running gag in the series. He hates Bunny, but misses Bunny's presence when he assumes Bunny's dead. Sometimes, he's also shown to have a crush on Candy. Modchi Voiced by: (French); Keith Wickham (English) A purple octopus with bumps, scars and red eyes. Modchi is unwilling to help Débilouman, giving him condescending and snarky remarks instead. He does not have any grudge against Bunny, Candy and Jean-François, though there are times where he's in it with Débilouman's schemes. In a few episodes, he'll sometimes deliberately sink Débilouman's submarine.
Recurring Stan Ookie Voiced by: (French); Keith Wickham (English) A tanuki who resides in the ProtecTeam's headquarters that he communicates within a small, light blue hologram. Stan is nerdy, especially with technology, and the most level-headed – however, he also has a sillier side shown in "Stan's Perfect Match", and his solitude may have made him attached to the idea of a potential girlfriend. He may help Bunny, Candy and Jean-François out and investigate what's happening. Sometimes, he's wrongfully roped into a conflict. His name is a pun on tanuki. Charlotte Voiced by: Corinne Martin (French); Philippa Alexander (English) A cow or goat (sources differ) who is Candy's best friend. Charlotte means well but is dim-witted, sometimes giving strange solutions to problems in "Bunnies Are from Mars" – and being happy to be involved, but being unskilled in "Oh! Bust-a-Para Dance". Charlotte is unashamedly sexual – she usually poses in suggestive ways, suggests Bunny to use an enema in "Cold Turkey" and is implied to have several kinks. However, these aspects end up alienating others. She has a one-sided crush on Bunny. Noacak Voiced by: (French); Tom Clarke-Hill (English) A short old man with a large white moustache and a green militia outfit, Noacak's the general of his army in Bunnyville. He is incompetent at his job – sometimes leading to others' expense, as seen in "Text Message Madness" and "S.T.U.P.I.D". Ben Tonari A young boy with brown hair, who wears a yellow shirt with a red star, and somewhat speaks gibberish. He is Jean-François's friend, and the two can be seen dancing together in "Bust-a-Para Dance". He also can be seen skating in a plaza, or within crowds. His surname is derived from the Japanese term for . Louis Picollin Voiced by: Marc Duquesnoy (French); Dan Russell (English) A overweight fly who wears a green and orange superhero suit. Optimistic and caring, he wants to join the ProtecTeam, but his job is to clean up poop around Bunnyville. In "Community Service", he temporarily becomes the leader of the ProtecTeam, though, he gets called to help out for mundane things, much to Candy and Jean-François's chagrin. He idolizes Bunny, much to the latter's chagrin. Secretary Octopus Voiced by: Philippa Alexander (English) The news reporter of Bunnyville. She may show up to report something that is relevant to an episode, sometimes with a few snarky quips. In "Community Service", she punishes Bunny due to misbehavior while driving, but it's revealed that she accidentally ran over some people when she was driving herself – to which Bunny, Candy and Jean-François expose her for it. She still keeps her job, nonetheless. Marc and Ting Voiced by: Tom Clarke-Hill (English) Two tall men who wear matching suits and sunglasses. Marc and Ting are a quirky duo of salesmen who advertise suspicious products. They show up for any business opportunity and appear in Bunnyville's commercials. Their names are a play on the word "marketing". Potchi and Bunny's fish The pets of Candy Bunny and Bunny Maloney, respectively. Potchi is a blue dog-faced puffer, though, he can only say "onyo". Bunny's four pet fish, by comparison, have a semblance of intelligence, and will either participate in Bunny's mischief or enable his behavior.
Voice cast
French as Bunny Maloney as Candy Bunny Marc Duquesnoy as Professor Débilouman, Louis Picollin Corinne Martin as Charlotte as Stan Ookie as Modchi as Noacak
English Matt Wilkinson as Bunny Maloney as mattwilkinson on Vimeo Jules de Jongh as Candy Bunny Walter Lewis as Professor Débilouman, ROBOT Keith Wickham as Stan Ookie, Modchi Philippa Alexander as Charlotte, Secretary Octopus Tom Clarke-Hill as Ting Dan Russell as Additional voices
Episodes
A second season was planned to be made in 2011, but ended up being unproduced, due to funding issues and MoonScoop going bankrupt at the time.
Production
Bunny Maloney was originally conceptualized as an adult-animated short film titled Pinpin le Lapin: Attack of the Giant Red Octopus () in 2002 by Studio Tanuki, consisting of artist Nicolaï "Méko" Chauvet and his friends Utku Kaplan and Nicolas Flory at that time. Pinpin le Lapin has various references, mainly to anime and a few Japanese properties. In 2003, Pinpin le Lapin was sent as an entry to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, and the short film won an award. Chauvet later changed this concept if he were to pitch it as a televised series, intending to aim it towards teenagers.
MoonScoop greenlit Pinpin le Lapin for a series, though many changes were made to cater the concept to a younger audience. Chauvet was unable to contribute to the show, only being called for graphic design at most. Pinpin le Lapin's name was eventually changed to Bunny Maloney, due to middle-aged mothers at MoonScoop thinking it would be more appealing to an English-speaking audience. Chauvet said that he's lucky to have Stéphane Stoll direct, as Stoll understood Chauvet's concerns and wanted to push the show's limits, causing it to have prominently sexual jokes compared to other animated shows at that time.
Characters from the show were also used in a Moët & Chandon campaign in February 2010, a short film known as "Fallen in Love", as well as three e-mail animations known as "Moët's 'Love Mail'" were made, as well as co-produced by MoonScoop.
The series was also subjected to having a mobile offer for the Club Zed brand in 2011, under the partnership of MoonScoop and Zed Group; containing logos, animations, videos, ringtones, etc.
Broadcast In France, Bunny Maloney was officially premiered on 29 June 2009, on the TV channels Canal+ and Canal+ Family during the programming block.
The show was originally intended to air on 29 March 2009, but was postponed at the last minute, due to the leaders of Canal+ Family finding the show unsuitable to air on – a block aiming for young audiences. The show was later delayed to a new premiere date at June. Prior to official release, the first three episodes were broadcast on Canal+ throughout April and May as sneak previews.
The show also planned to air on France 2, but never did; later airing on sister channel France Ô (via their youth-oriented block) in 2011, until 2013. It was also planned to be broadcast on France 4 (via the tween-aimed block). The show was also aired on regional France Télévisions channels (e.g. and the La 1ère channels) until March 2016.
An English dub aired on Kabillion in the United States, and Kix in the United Kingdom.
Network Country Canal+Canal+ FamilyGame OneFrance Ô Kabillion Kix! Canal Panda NTV7 True Spark Orlando Kids Chutti TV
Awards Award Year Category Result Ref 2010 Best Non-Japanese Anime Cartoons on the Bay 2010 TV Series for Tweens
References