The screen will soon welcome Mafalda, the iconic six-year-old character created by renowned Argentine artist Quino, thanks to an adaptation spearheaded by Oscar-winning director Juan José Campanella. The news emerged during Netflix’s uncovering of their 2024 ‘Made in Argentina’ slate to an enthusiastic audience of industry insiders and media representatives.
Campanella is set to direct, produce, and oversee the series, with Gastón Gorali co-writing and serving as general producer, while Sergio Fernández takes on the role of production director. The adaptation will be produced by Netflix and Campanella’s studio, Mundoloco CGI, known for the successful animated film “Metegol.”
Campanella expressed his admiration for Mafalda, noting, “Mafalda and her friends brought me immense joy and occasionally sent me to the dictionary, adding humor and learning to my life.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining Quino’s original humor and observations, hoping the adaptation would allow families to enjoy Mafalda together while still preserving elements meant for adults.
Hosted by actor Darío Barassi, known for “Love Is Blind Argentina,” the event also previewed other anticipated productions. These included Bruno Stagnaro’s adaptation of the graphic novel “El Eternauta” featuring Ricardo Darín, Daniel Burman’s projects, and the follow-up to “El marginal,” titled “En el barro,” which explores the lives of female prisoners.
Adrián Suar’s “No puedo vivir sin ti” and Griselda Siciliani’s “Envidiosas” were also highlighted, with their stars present to engage the crowd. Darín praised the collaborative effort behind “El Eternauta,” reflecting on the dedication and passion invested in the project. He expressed optimism that the series would pave the way for future ambitious projects, despite the inherent challenges and nervousness.
Paco Ramos, Netflix’s VP of content for Latin America, described the initiative as one of the most outstanding in Argentina and Latin America’s audiovisual sector. The event, held at the Centro Cultural San Martin, came despite cuts to state funding for Argentina’s film industry. Netflix aims to showcase Argentina’s diverse talent through its ‘Made in Argentina’ banner, hoping to invigorate interest in the country’s rich storytelling tradition.
Ramos highlighted Netflix’s ongoing commitment to Argentina, noting the progress of previous projects and emphasizing the network’s continued investment in Argentine talent. With 19 titles planned, Netflix seeks to highlight the country’s vibrant and evolving creative landscape.