Classic comic series Kajko and Kokosz to become Netflix’s first Polish animated series
A beloved cartoon from the 1970s will be the first Polish animation to become a Netflix Original.
Available on the platform from 2021, the comics following the adventures of two warriors called 'Kajko and Kokosz' were first published in 1972 but the origin of the characters stretches back to the 1958 comic strip 'Kajtek and Koko', both created by Janusz Christa.
In the comics, the two main characters are protecting their small village from military invaders.
The loveable title characters’ journey through 20 comic albums, various short stories and a number of video games has not led to overexposure and demand for more content has spurred the move to Netflix.
Ewelina Gordziejuk, who is the showrunner and executive producer of the series, said: “I decided to make the series ‘Kajko i Kokosz’ in honour of the memory of Janusz Christa.
Often compared to the more famous Asterix, the Polish cartoon was created first but shares striking similarities.
“A large part of Polish literature, including the Master's comics, deserve a film adaptation, not only because of the huge, ever-growing popularity and the crowd of loyal fans, but also because of the film potential of the story and the unique artistic layer.
“It is these unique qualities of the comic book ‘Kajko i Kokosz’ that convinced me that it is worth taking up the challenge and facing something so huge and important for our culture.”
The beloved cartoon from the 1970s will be the first Polish animation to become a Netflix Original.
Ewelina Gordziejuk, who is the showrunner and executive producer of the series, said: “I decided to make the series ‘Kajko i Kokosz’ in honour of the memory of Janusz Christa.
Often compared to the more famous Asterix, the Polish cartoon was created first but shares striking similarities. The two main characters are protecting their small village from military invaders, one is small while the other is large and visually the cartoons look very similar.
Explaining how his own experiences shaped the characters he created, before his death in 2008 Janusz Christa said: “I was brought up in the cult of Piłsudski, and I did not want to say that I hated communism with my mother's milk, but we, the people of the borderlands, and especially from Vilnius, had a reason to disobey the Bolsheviks.”
The writers for the series are Rafał Skarżycki and Maciej Kur. Skarżycki is well known to Polish animation fans for his creation Jeż Jerzy and his books Hej, Jędrek!
Explaining how his own experiences shaped the characters he created, before his death in 2008 Janusz Christa said: “I was brought up in the cult of Piłsudski, and I did not want to say that I hated communism with my mother's milk, but we, the people of the borderlands, and especially from Vilnius, had a reason to disobey the Bolsheviks.”
The animation is the latest in a string of Polish series and films becoming available on Netflix.
An increasing number of series and movies from Poland are becoming available on the worldwide leader in video-on-demand service.
The first to premiere was the alternative history drama ‘1983’ while the movie ‘365 Days’ topped the charts for the service around the world earlier this year.
