This is the first animated adaptation (and first film & TV adaptation overall) of the famous Franco-Belgian comic-strip character Spirou, the adventurous young bellhop; his pet squirrel Spip (both created in 1938 by
Rob-Vel); and his slightly older/taller sidekick, Fantasio (created for the strip in 1944 by Rob-Vel's successor,
Jijé), a comical and skeptical reporter. The characters were made their most iconic by the third artist on the strip,
André Franquin, who created almost all of the supporting characters, including the Count of Champignac, an eccentric scientist; Seccotine, a pretty young girl reporter, who is an invaluable ally for the heroes (and an occasional love interest for Spirou), despite the intense rivalry between her and Fantasio; the pompous Mayor of Champignac; Zantafio, Fantasio's evil cousin (a popular villain in the franchise); Zorglub, a misunderstood mad scientist (a popular anti-villain); and the lovable wild animal, Marsupilami (who got a spin-off comic-strip of his own).
