A new animated series featuring Molly the Magpie and his canine pals has been predicted to be bigger than Bluey, as the animals’ owners deny accusations they are breaking strict rules around profiting from the wild bird.
Molly the magpie became a social media phenomenon when wildlife enthusiast Juliette Wells and her partner Reese Mortenson shared the unlikely ‘interspecies friendship’ between the bird and their Staffordshire terriers, Peggy and Ruby.
Last month, they revealed that Molly and Peggy would feature in a new cartoon series designed by animation studio Xentrix, which has worked with the likes of Disney, Warner Brothers and Lego.
Ken Cantrill, head of creative for Xentrix in Australia, was asked if he thought the new series could surpass the popularity of beloved Aussie cartoon Bluey.
‘The engagement is already there, the characters are already there s I do hope that we can surpass them, yes,’ Mr Cantrill told A Current Affair.
Ms Wells told the program the show would be about the ‘real-life story of how the relationship started’.
‘I can’t wait to see it on the big screen. I can’t wait to see it going around the world,’ she said.
Molly the magpie became a global phenomenon when wildlife enthusiast Juliette Wells and her partner Reese Mortenson documented the unlikely ‘interspecies friendship’ between the bird and their Staffordshire terriers, Peggy and Ruby (pictured together)
Last month, they revealed that Molly and Peggy would feature in a new cartoon series designed by animation studio Xentrix, which has worked with the likes of Disney, Warner Brothers and Lego
Mr Mortenson added: ‘It’s a great story, people want to see it, people want to watch it.’
But the couple were quizzed on whether the project breached rules imposed by authorities after they seized the bird in March over fears it was being ‘kept unlawfully’.
After a public outcry, Queensland’s Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) eventually returned Molly under strict conditions, including that they stop making commercial gain from the bird or its image.
But Ms Wells insisted the animation did not break these rules.
‘We’ve got an expert legal team ad they’ve ensured us that we are in complete compliance,’ Ms Wells told the program.
‘There are no real animals used in this animation apart from any artistic expression.’
Daily Mail Australia approached DESI for comment.
The couple revealed the news about the planned TV show last month, claiming it would be a ‘wholesome heartwarming animated series’.
‘[It is] about a kind-hearted, animal loving couple and their beautiful staffy girls, a magpie and their friends,’ the social media post read.
The series will feature animated characters of Molly, Peggy and Ruby and additional characters, including Sarg the Jack Russell terrier.
Sarg is described as a ‘government official’, who tries to get in the way of Peggy and Molly’s adventures.
Fans of Molly the magpie will be treated to a new animated series about the bird’s friendship with two canines, Peggy and Ruby (pictured)
Other characters include alley cats Jinx, Rascal and Bandit, and fat cat Shelly.
Xentrix Studios describes itself as the ‘fastest growing’ animation studio in Asia with offices in Australia, Singapore and India, with expectations the animated show will reach a vast audience in these countries.
Social media users were overjoyed by the announcement and said they can’t wait for the TV show to come out.
‘Amazing! That is such lovely news!’ one person wrote.
‘I love this, so beautiful, another person wrote.
‘Great for family entertainment,’ a third added.
The move came just months after Molly was reunited with the two dogs.
The animated series (pictured) will highlight the unique friendship between the trio and some of their unexpected adventures
The move comes just months after Molly was reunited with Peggy (pictured) after the bird was removed by officials from Queensland’s Department of Environment, Science and Innovation
Officials from Queensland’s Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) removed the Molly from the Gold Coast home of Juliette Wells and Reese Mortenson, on March 1, saying the wild bird was being kept unlawfully.
In response the pair explained Molly was not looked after like a parrot or a caged budgerigar, as was free to fly away and forage for food.
DESI eventually granted the pet owners a specialised license to look after the bird.
‘Independent expert veterinary advice has shown that Molly is highly habituated and may have developmental issues, meaning it can never be rehabilitated or returned to the wild,’ the department said in a statement.
Ms Wells and Mr Mortenson have since received wildlife carer training.
The couple previously said they rescued Molly as a chick after he fell from his nest in 2020.
Molly was originally thought to be a female by Ms Wells, but is actually a male and the name stuck.
Videos of Molly playing with the couple’s two Staffies soon gained traction online and the friendship between the pets grew a loyal fanbase.
