Noodle & Bun

Who is Noodle & Bun?

Noodle & Bun is a South African 3D animated character duo centered on a wobbling cat named Noodle and his anxious pug friend Bun. The series plays as short, slapstick, largely non‑verbal comedy aimed at children and family audiences and has grown from viral social shorts into an internationally distributed franchise.

Background and mission

The project began as short, highly expressive CG animations optimized for social platforms. Its creative focus is light, physical humor and simple story beats that work without dialogue, designed to entertain young viewers and global short‑form audiences.

Creator & studio

Noodle & Bun was created by Gottfried Roodt and Lloyd Wilgen and is produced by Polycat Visual Effects, a Cape Town animation and VFX studio. Polycat has developed the series from web shorts into a longer episodic format and manages production and distribution relationships.

Visual style and aesthetics

The series uses stylized 3D character models with rounded, exaggerated proportions and clear, expressive facial animation. Visuals emphasize bold silhouettes, simple textures, and high‑contrast lighting to make actions readable in very short clips.

Costuming and props are minimal and iconic: Noodle and Bun are defined more by posture and movement than by changing outfits, which helps each short feel immediate and universal. Character designs lean toward cute and cartoony rather than hyperreal, supporting slapstick comedy and quick punchlines.

Content Type & Format

Noodle & Bun’s primary content format is short animated clips and web shorts that run as social posts and micro‑episodes. On platforms like TikTok and Instagram the team publishes bite‑sized sketches and visual gags built to loop or land a single comedic beat.

The property also exists as slightly longer five‑minute episodes for kids’ platforms and streaming partners, packaged as short episodic content for young viewers. These episodes expand simple premises from the social shorts into a clear three‑act gag structure while keeping the non‑verbal, visual style.

Noodle & Bun’s social tone is playful and family friendly: the characters act out physical comedy and curious adventures rather than speaking, and content is delivered as quick posts, compiled videos on YouTube, and visual clips suitable for in‑flight or kid‑safe streaming services.

Noodle & Bun Collaborations and Campaigns

Canal+ acquisition: Canal+ in France acquired seasons of Noodle & Bun to broaden the show’s linear and streaming reach, taking completed episodes for broadcast and platform distribution. The deal positioned the shorts for a television audience while preserving the series’ short‑form visuals for promos and clips. International platform deals: YLE in Finland, Filmin in Spain and Portugal, Megogo in Ukraine, Kidoodle and select airlines acquired streaming or in‑flight rights. These agreements packaged the short episodes for child‑friendly services and airline entertainment, increasing global exposure through curated video formats. Talent show appearances: Noodle & Bun content and performances have appeared on major international talent series, bringing the animated duo into televised variety formats and live‑show promotion. These events paired the characters’ visual performance with recorded vocal talent and TV clips to introduce the franchise to broadcast audiences.

Brand fit & target market

The property fits kid‑centric and family brands, children’s streaming services, toy and plush merchandise partners, and travel or airline entertainment programs. Its simple, non‑verbal humor makes it suitable for international licensing, family marketing campaigns, and product tie‑ins aimed at young children and parents.

Narrative and characters

Stories focus on everyday mischief: Noodle pursues small goals with big physical comedy while Bun reacts nervously, and a small mouse character often acts as a foil or catalyst. Episodes rely on visual escalation and a gentle, optimistic tone rather than complex plot.

Platforms and merchandising

Noodle & Bun maintain an active presence on short‑form social platforms and a dedicated YouTube channel for compiled videos and longer shorts. The official online store offers character plush and branded merchandise, tying the digital audience to retail products.