A lot has been said about originality over the years. While a few animated programs can claim to be original – a certain sponge who lives in a pineapple comes to mind – most animated programs have a premise that doesn't really stand out when compared to the ones that came before it. Some believe that it has gotten worse over the past few years, with networks clamoring to copy their peers in a desperate attempt to find the next big thing. I stumbled across an animated program being developed for TF1 in France that amused me with its originality: Hareport.
I know what some people are thinking: it doesn't look that good. In terms of animation and visual style, it may not be your cup of tea, but the fact that they are basing an animated program around the concept that all animals can fly is something that I would never have expected. Also, while some cartoons have had episodes that took place in-or-around an airport, it isn't often that one makes it its primary setting. These two things could provide a lot of interesting scenarios for the series to work with, and from the scripts that I've read, it lays the foundation for much of the series' humor.
The one concern that I have is that the characters aren't particularly oozing with the same originality that the series has as a whole. The main characters are two hares, Fred and Ned. Fred is uptight. Ned is laid back. Fred is generally well-mannered. Ned absolutely lacks tact. I could go on, but they're just a run-of-the-mill odd couple who were designed to have clashing personalities. The two of them also have a crush on the same girl, a squirrel named Cookie who isn't romantically interested in either of them, which isn't that original either. However, I liked how the characters were portrayed in the scripts that I've read and there are enough side characters to balance things out, so the series should be alright.
From what I’ve gathered, the series should premiere on TF1 in a couple of months. While the series may never see the light of day in the United States, it has a chance. Its distributor, Cake Entertainment, was responsible for bringing “Skunk Fu!” to the U.S. as well as “Total Drama Island” and “Total Drama Action”. Even if it doesn't make its way here, you can still check out the official website. It has a lot of information about the series on there, including a compact version of the show’s bible and even scripts and story outlines.
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