Molang and The Smiley Company Join Forces for First Time Collaboration
Millimages, one of Europe’s oldest independent animation studios and IP developers, owner of Molang, and world-renowned brand licensing company The Smiley Company have joined forces on a new venture to create a range of products for adults and kids.
As a first for both brands, the Millimages flagship property and global phenomenon Molang will feature as part of an iconic Smileys brand collaboration with SmileyWorld® and S.W.Smiley®, as part of the 30 Years of Smileys anniversary, with the creation of an extensive range of apparel, fashion accessories, home decoration, gifts and much more, for adults and kids. Millimages will also develop exclusive content for social networks and YouTube to support the collaboration in time for the release.
Roll-out of the new range of products will commence circa Q1 2027, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of Smileys. This anniversary is an opportunity for fans, and brands to come together, combining digital and physical activations with true emotional expression and positivity.
With more than 10 million followers across digital platforms – Molang YouTuber series attracting 433,251 subscribers to date since its launch in 2023, 256k+ views on both TikTok (3,516.086 followers) and Instagram reels (852,668 followers) since 2022, as well as 40.7+ billion GIF views on Giphy, as well as 2,213.719 Molang Cartoon channel subscribers – the future roll-out of Molang/Smileys products will be supported by tailor-made exclusive content for these specific social media platforms and many more.
From early discussions, both companies were aligned both on creative opportunities and on shared values, so by combining flagship products and strengths, this alliance is an organic convergence that has made the partnership meaningful as well as exciting. Since 2015, Molang, aka The Ambassador of Kindness, has become an international TV, social media, licensing, and merchandising phenomena, touching the hearts of young children AND ‘kidults’ across the globe!
Nicolas Loufrani, CEO, The Smiley Company said: “At TSC we view IP mash ups as a real opportunity to develop content that is in line with our company values, and especially creativity and storytelling. I am really excited to see the Millimages and Smiley teams bring the best of their talent to bring unique stories and beautiful products to our global fans.”
Alexandra Algard-Mikanowski, Commercial Director, Millimages said: “This partnership has emerged as a result of two companies that share the same vision to promote core values of kindness and joy. With Molang’s appeal proving transgenerational – attracting kids, teens, kidults and of course, cool parents, now more than ever, it is important to shower consumers with positivity and uplifting energy, so that there is a ripple effect in the world. Both brands share that capacity and we trust that collaborating will only make that power stronger.”
Molang – Kind and affectionate Molang has a unique, instantly recognizable style. Molang is all about empathy, softness, tenderness, and joy. Has no nationality, is ageless and gender-neutral. Molang cares for everyone and everything. Everybody loves Molang and Molang loves everybody. The iconic character of Millimages’ studios, Molang celebrates 10 years of success in 2025! Born from the encounter of two very different women, Marie Caroline Villand and Hye Ji Yoon, the adorable Franco-Korean character is the star of an animated TV series that now has 6 seasons, a digital first spin-off and an international licensing brand. A true viral phenomenon, Molang stands for unfailing kindness and has over 10 million fans on social networks, dazzling with his pop culture parodies on Instagram, his dances on TikTok, and his gaming videos on YouTube.
S.W.Smiley® – S.W.Smiley® is the bold, adult-oriented streetwear brand from The Smiley Company, created for a new generation of self-expression and cultural edge that sits under the Smileys brand. Building on an iconic heritage, S.W.Smiley transforms underground influences into modern, geometric graphics and unapologetic style. Designed for young adults, the brand bridges raw attitude with refined design, delivering trend-led apparel, collaborations, and visuals rooted in authentic identity. Through S.W.Smiley, partners and licensees connect to a powerful platform of creative freedom and cultural relevance-anchored by Smiley’s global legacy of positivity.
SmileyWorld® – A brand owned by The Smiley Company. SmileyWorld is a market leader and the first lifestyle brand dedicated to emotional expression, The Original Smileys™ is a creative universe filled with thousands of unique icons that make emotional expression easy and fun. Smileys provide a shortcut to understanding complex emotions and kickstarting meaningful conversations. With a comprehensive library of over 3,000 icons, SmileyWorld® is a treasure trove of emotional expression that embodies the spirit of the digital revolution.
Quelle: Erstveröffentlichung dieses Artikels auf Licensing International.
