Zig & Sharko
| Company type | Animated television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Animation, Entertainment |
| Founded | December 21, 2010 |
| Founder | Olivier Jean-Marie |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Animated slapstick comedy series |
| Parent | Xilam Animation |
Zig & Sharko (original French title: Zig et Sharko) is a French animated slapstick comedy series developed and helmed by Olivier Jean-Marie, produced by Xilam Animation for French broadcasters such as Canal+ Family, Gulli, and M6. The narrative revolves around Zig, a brown hyena, who is frequently accompanied by a hermit crab named Bernie, and Sharko, a great white shark, engaged in their perpetual rivalry centered on the mermaid Marina.
Drawing inspiration from timeless cartoons like Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner and Tom and Jerry, the show utilizes silent comedy techniques—characters do not use spoken language but instead communicate through gestures, facial expressions, and nonverbal sounds. Following the first season, new marine characters including dolphins, octopuses, and various fish were incorporated, alongside enhancements to the environment and character histories.
Debuting on December 21, 2010, Zig & Sharko has produced four seasons comprising 104 episodes of approximately 30 minutes each. The series broadened its international audience via digital release on Xilam’s YouTube platform featuring English titles and credits. In 2021, Xilam introduced a spin-off titled The Adventures of Bernie, further expanding the franchise.
Premise
The storyline focuses on Zig, a brown hyena, Sharko, a great white shark, Marina, a mermaid with distinctive red hair, and Bernie, a hermit crab. The central conflict arises from Zig’s persistent efforts to capture Marina for food, which are consistently thwarted by Sharko’s protective devotion. Inspired by slapstick classics such as Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner, Zig’s elaborate plans frequently fail due to Sharko’s intervention or unfortunate circumstances. Despite their antagonism, Zig and Sharko share a complex friendship reminiscent of Tom and Jerry. The cast includes anthropomorphic terrestrial and aquatic animals as secondary figures.
In the initial season, events take place around a tropical volcanic island’s surrounding ocean where Marina relaxes on rocky shores and resides underwater with Sharko. Season two expands the setting to include the island’s beaches, volcano, and jungle; Marina inhabits a sandcastle constructed by Sharko while Zig and Bernie occupy a crashed cargo plane in the jungle. Sharko assumes the role of lifeguard for beach visitors. The third season transitions the location to a cruise ship navigating various seas. In season four, the cruise ship returns to the island; Marina acquires magical sandals that enable her to transform into a human with enhanced leg abilities, continuing adventures spanning island, ship, and ocean environments.
Characters
The series features no spoken words; communication depends entirely on gibberish noises, body language, and expressive gestures. Principal characters include:
- Zig: An anthropomorphic brown hyena who is Bernie’s closest companion. He relentlessly devises schemes to capture Marina but is invariably stopped by Sharko. Zig is portrayed as desperate and single-minded without genuine romantic interest; some episodes depict him receiving unwanted romantic advances.
- Sharko: A robust great white shark exhibiting a tough exterior coupled with a compassionate nature. He dedicates himself to safeguarding Marina from Zig’s attempts. Over time, he evolves from swimming exclusively to walking upright on land using his fins. He also enjoys playing table tennis.
- Marina: A kind-hearted and intelligent mermaid with an eagerness for new experiences. She maintains amicable relationships despite being oblivious to Zig’s intentions. She adorns her hair with a living sea star and can walk using her fins; in season four, magical sandals grant her human legs along with stretching abilities.
- Bernie: A red anthropomorphic hermit crab who acts as Zig’s resourceful partner in plotting against Marina. He does not hold genuine hostility toward Marina or Sharko and harbors affection for Marina’s sea star accessory. Bernie is also featured in his own spin-off series.
Additional characters encompass various jungle fauna, marine creatures, and humans. Season one includes a recurring comedic element involving a Japanese cargo ship captain who repeatedly crashes near the island. Mythological figures such as Neptune—a vain merman competing with Sharko for Marina’s affection—and Poseidon appear in later seasons. Season two introduces an amnesiac cargo plane pilot exhibiting primate-like behavior alongside an antagonistic volcano-dwelling sorcerer who pursues Marina using dark magic but faces opposition from both Zig and Sharko. Another recurring joke involves malfunctioning cargo plane doors that eject crates onto the island.
Production and development
In 2008, Canal+ selected Zig and Sharko from a pool of 135 submissions, choosing it as one of nine pilot projects for the 2010–11 lineup and providing a development budget between €6 and €6.5 million. Initially named The Mermaid, the Hyena and the Shark, the series is a joint venture between TF1 and Canal+ Family. Its animation style pays homage to classic American slapstick cartoons, drawing inspiration from creators like Tex Avery and Bob Clampett.
Marc du Pontavice attributes the show's concept to a conversation with Olivier Jean-Marie, known for directing Oggy and the Cockroaches. Their goal was to recreate the slapstick, wordless comedy style using fresh characters: a mermaid, a shark, and a hyena. To create balance within the storyline, they introduced Bernie as Zig's companion.
The animation work was carried out by Dong Woo Animation and Armada TMT, with French studio Xilam Animation overseeing development. The series debuted on Canal+ in December 2010 and subsequently aired on Canal+ Family in February 2011. Season two arrived in 2013, featuring an updated visual design consistent with Xilam’s modern productions such as Paprika and Lupin's Tales. Currently, there are no announced plans for a fifth season.
Distribution
The official YouTube channel for Zig & Sharko was launched on May 6, 2015, presenting high-definition widescreen episodes from the first three seasons complete with English title cards. By March 2025, this channel amassed 16 million subscribers, placing it among the top ten most popular French YouTube channels. The episode titled "The Were-Yena" (Season 1, Episode 67) holds the record for most views with over 144 million, while the leading compilation video has accumulated 118 million views.
Spin-off
In 2021, Xilam introduced a spin-off series called The Adventures of Bernie, developed by Alexandre Simard, Mathieu Peters-Houg, and Lucille Briand. This new show centers on Bernie, who becomes stranded in the deep ocean following an unexpected accident during one of Zig’s attempts to capture Marina. Relying on his cleverness and resourcefulness, Bernie embarks on a quest to return home while meeting new characters along the way. Set within the same universe as Oggy and the Cockroaches: Next Generation, it adopts a distinct art style and maintains silent slapstick humor. Except for its premiere episode, each installment runs approximately three and a half minutes.