Few Hungarian comic characters have enjoyed a revival quite like Jucika. Created by cartoonist Pál Pusztai in 1957, the witty and resourceful heroine has found an unlikely new audience around the world thanks to an American animation project. In less than a year, animated adaptations produced by KBT Studios have attracted more than 60 million views across social media platforms, with particularly strong followings emerging in Brazil, Mexico and the United States.
How an American animator discovered Jucika
For KBT Studios founder and head animator Keegan, the journey began with a passion for silent cinema.
“The idea came from my love of silent cinema and its comparative nature to the Jucika comic strip,” he told Daily News Hungary.
The connection proved natural. Much like classic silent films, Jucika’s original comic strips relied heavily on visual storytelling, expressive characters and physical comedy rather than lengthy dialogue.
According to the creators, that timeless format is one reason the character continues to resonate with modern audiences despite being rooted in 1960s Hungarian life.
“I believe people are attracted to the simplistic yet stylish design of Jucika and how the comic strip can be applied to most time periods and cultures,” Keegan said.
YOGB, KBT Studios‘ legal representative, added that artists are particularly drawn to the character’s fluid design and charming personality.
“The comics are cute and funny and I think that really sticks with people. There’s nothing really extra there – it’s perfect.”
More than 60 million views in under a year
The scale of the series’ success has surprised even its creators.
The animated shorts began appearing online in the summer of 2025 and quickly spread across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Newgrounds. Combined, the animations have now surpassed 60 million views in less than a year.
Two productions proved especially important in driving the channel’s growth.
The first breakthrough was Jucika Receives Love Letters, originally created as a thank-you to supporters but which unexpectedly became the animator’s biggest success at the time.
A second viral hit followed with The Junior Executive Model, inspired by a scene from the 1960 film The Apartment directed by Billy Wilder.
Why Brazil loves Jucika
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the phenomenon is where the audience comes from.
While Hungarian fans remain highly engaged, they are outnumbered by viewers from much larger countries.
“I have very many supportive Hungarian fans, though they tend to get dwarfed by the amount of Brazilian, Mexican and United States audiences,” Keegan explained.
Brazil in particular has emerged as one of the strongest markets for the character.
“It’s very interesting to me how much Brazil connects with Jucika,” he said.
The creators believe the character’s near-universal appeal comes from her visual storytelling and relatable humour rather than any specific cultural references.
“The lack of dialogue is entirely universal,” Keegan noted.
Staying faithful to Pál Pusztai’s vision
Although the series introduces Jucika to a new generation, the creators emphasise that preserving Pál Pusztai’s original concept remains their highest priority.
“The whole point [of Jucika] being a mirror of the average Hungarian woman in 1960 and how she problem-solves her way around life’s obstacles,” Keegan said.
He argues that the satire and everyday situations depicted in the original strips remain relatable regardless of culture or nationality.
YOGB agrees, saying the team deliberately avoids placing Jucika in a modern setting.
“We wouldn’t want to place her in modern day,” he said.
One creative decision did generate considerable debate: how prominently to portray Jucika’s sexuality.
Keegan believes many modern reinterpretations focus too heavily on the character’s physical appearance while overlooking her intelligence, humour and resourcefulness.
“A lot of others who make art or animation of Jucika tend to overemphasise her promiscuity or her busty body proportions, which I believe distract from the point of her character.”
A one-man animation effort
Despite the project’s global reach, production remains remarkably small-scale.
Depending on complexity, a single episode can take anywhere from one week to six weeks to complete.
At present, Keegan serves as the sole animator and artist, occasionally receiving assistance from friends with sound work.
The most difficult stage is not animation itself but planning.
“Jucika plays out like an old silent film,” he explained. “The whole thing must play out with easy-to-understand physical comedy and stage blocking.”
Once that groundwork is complete, production becomes significantly smoother.
The biggest obstacle: Who owns Jucika?
Perhaps the most intriguing challenge facing the project is not creative but legal.
According to YOGB, KBT Studios has spent months attempting to determine who currently holds the rights to Jucika.
“The biggest issue we’ve faced is rights,” he said.
He claims extensive enquiries with government agencies, intellectual property offices and lawyers have so far failed to provide a definitive answer regarding ownership.
The studio hopes eventually to secure an official licence or acquire the rights, allowing it to work with Pusztai’s heirs and potentially develop authorised future projects.
Could Jucika return to television?
Looking ahead, the creators believe Jucika has the potential to move beyond social media.
Both interviewees said television or streaming platforms would be natural homes for a larger-scale animated series, while Keegan also expressed interest in seeing an official collection of Jucika comic strips published.
“Once legal steps are sorted, I would like to prove to investors and distributors that Jucika is something that has potential with audiences around the world,” he said.
Given the extraordinary online response, he is confident that any campaign to launch a full animated series would attract substantial support.
For a character born in the pages of Hungarian newspapers more than half a century ago, Jucika’s unexpected international revival suggests her story may be only just beginning.
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