While the troublemaking cat-and-mouse duo Tom and Jerry run amok in the United States, their opposite (and far removed) distant cousins of the North, a confident mouse named Toopy and a mute kitty named Binoo, are teaching children wholesome lessons and having lighthearted fun.

Created by Québécois author and illustrator Dominique Jolin, the Toopy and Binoo franchise has charmed kids and parents through literature and their animated television show.  Now, the silly pals are taking a leap to the big screen with the heavily advertised Toopy and Binoo The Movie.

As someone who has seen the movie but was previously unfamiliar with the franchise, I was itching to ask more questions about the characters and their first feature-length film to co-directors Jolin and Raymond Lebrun (a former key animator and layout artist on PBS’ Arthur).  Especially as a father and film buff who is curious about the mechanics behind making children’s entertainment.

Addison Wylie: After watching Toopy and Binoo The Movie, my three-year-old daughter and I watched Ralph Breaks the Internet.  She enjoyed both movies, but the differences in storytelling towards kids were so jarring.  In your movie, we have a contained story about reuniting with a lost toy, and the other movie is a much more frenetic example that uses popular trends to motivate the plot (going viral, online gambling and loot hunting, etc.)

As writers and filmmakers making children’s entertainment, do you believe material resonates more with kids if the stories are pulled from skill sets rather than modern references?

Dominique Jolin and Raymond Lebrun: It’s quite difficult to draw parallels.  Children’s films are like adult films: there is something for everyone no matter how complicated or simple the stories are.  We like simple stories, which can often take on their own life and are surprise us.  There’s also a matter of the budget: $6,000,000 for Toopy and Binoo The Movie versus $175,000,000 for Ralph Breaks the Internet.  These limits force us to think “smaller”.

We try to make the plot basic and accessible to a younger audience.  On the other hand, the dialogue and the situations are more elaborate, which should please the adults that will be accompanying the younger viewers.  We’re also considering returning teens who were children when they watched the TV series between 2005 and 2012.

AW: On their adventure for the lost toy, Toopy and Binoo travel across different realms with new friends and acquaintances.  As world builders, are there unwritten rules when it comes to creating and connecting these environments and characters?

DJ/RL: The challenge when playing with imaginary, absurd worlds is that everything is still logical within the created universe.  For example: at the beginning of the movie, Toopy and Binoo are able to float in the candy world, but are grounded for the rest of the film.  We also have to think about transitions from one universe to another, and keep following that logic we’ve created without going too far and disturbing the viewer.

AW: The animation is so crisp and imaginative.  What inspirations did you draw from when storyboarding the movie?  For me, Toopy and Binoo The Movie was a nostalgic throwback to interactive, problem-solving CD-ROM adventures I loved playing as a kid.

DJ/RL: We chose to make a 2D-animated movie to adhere to the budget and the already existing TV series.  We had two artistic directors (Alejandra Arganaraz and Pierre Houde) who gave a personal touch to the whole film.  The staging of the animation was more about humour and emotion rather than action.

AW: Having worked on the Toopy and Binoo television show prior to the movie (and with Dominique writing the books), what challenges did you face when adapting Toopy and Binoo for a longer vehicle?  And, what did you enjoy most about taking them to the big screen?

DJ: In the first season (104 segments, 5 minutes each), only Toopy spoke.  But in the second season (6 episodes, 30 minutes each), we had several characters talking and we immediately saw the potential to go to a feature film.

RL: There are no antagonists in the world of Toopy and Binoo;  just characters and their differences which allow the story to move forward while respecting the incredible and unique universe created by Dominique.

AW: What do you hope families will take away from Toopy and Binoo The Movie?

DJ/RL: That the spectators, young and old, leave the cinema with smiles on their faces; and that they take pleasure in saying “please”, “thank you”, and “you’re so very welcome”.

Toopy and Binoo The Movie is now playing in theatres.

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Addison Wylie: @AddisonWylie