Mediawan frames this as a creative triumph—a seamless brand integration that brings European animation excellence to new global audiences. BYD gets to associate itself with one of France's most successful cultural exports, positioning the EV giant as a supporter of premium international content rather than just an advertiser.
Insiders say the €15 million+ price tag raised eyebrows internally at Mediawan, with some questioning whether embedding BYD vehicles into theatrical releases and original formats risks alienating family audiences who may not connect with Chinese government-linked brands. The Cannes ceremony—staged mere weeks before this announcement—looks increasingly like a carefully choreographed relationship-building exercise.
The deal was announced June 2, 2026, with the "Watt a Dream Date!" episode launching same day on YouTube. Financial terms are believed to exceed €15 million in cash injection. The new 52-episode season of Miraculous Chibi debuted December 2025 and has already accumulated over 350 million YouTube views globally.
This isn't just product placement—it's a calculated cultural infiltration strategy, and Mediawan just handed BYD the keys to one of France's most beloved franchises. Smart business or brand overreach? Parents watching their kids beg for a Chinese electric car will be the real judges.
Mediawan and BYD dropped their first collaboration Tuesday, and it's exactly as ambitious—and quietly controversial—as you'd expect from a deal worth north of €15 million in cash injection. The special episode "Watt a Dream Date!" features Marinette racing across Paris in BYD's new Dolphin Surf electric vehicle to make it to a date with Adrien, because apparently nothing says romantic comedy like aggressive automotive branding. Here's where it gets interesting for those of us who track the money behind the magic.
The deal was sealed at Cannes mere weeks ago, complete with their shiny new Build Your Dream Award ceremony chaired by Chinese filmmaker Chen Kaige and featuring jury members Mélanie Laurent, Hafsia Herzi, and Yann Demange. Ukrainian filmmaker Zhanna Ozirna's "Honeymoon" won that inaugural award at Albane's terrace—a nice touch of prestige to soften up European industry players before the real business dropped. The Miraculous franchise itself is no small potatoes.
Created by Thomas Astruc, Jérémy Zag, and Nathanaël Bronn, it spans six seasons with a seventh currently in production, plus spin-offs, feature films, and broadcast reach across more than 150 territories. The new Chibi season that launched in December 2025 has already racked up over 350 million YouTube views globally—a 132% year-over-year jump. That's the kind of audience metrics that made BYD's nine-figure EV empire take notice.
But let's talk about what's really happening here. BYD has officially surpassed Tesla as the world's top electric car company, and now they're buying their way into Western living rooms through one of France's most successful animation exports. As part of this financial and creative alliance, BYD vehicles will appear in future Mediawan productions—including the upcoming Miraculous theatrical feature film—plus original formats "inspired by the BYD brand." Translation: expect more branded content woven into your favorite shows.
Mediawan's portfolio spans over 80 companies including Plan B (F1, Adolescence), See-Saw Films (Slow Horses), and North Road, so this partnership has reach far beyond children's cartoons. Pierre-Antoine Capton's Mediawan isn't exactly hurting for partners, which makes the specificity of this arrangement notable. BYD wanted premium international content with global distribution, and Mediawan delivered—along with what sources describe as significant creative latitude for the automaker in how their vehicles are portrayed.
Whether families will embrace a Chinese state-adjacent brand being woven into their children's entertainment remains to be seen. The episode drops on YouTube Tuesday; the real test comes when kids start asking parents for a BYD Dolphin Surf for Christmas.
