Cartoon characters often live fantastical lives, where strange and amazing things happen to them every day. Their setting can be anywhere from other universes or outer space to Ancient Rome or modern times. Titeuf, the titular character of a Swiss French-language comic series, lives in the latter and even goes to a real school.

The Jacques-Dalphin school in Carouge was the inspiration for Titeuf and his antics for the French comic writer Zep who had a studio just across the street in the 1990s. According to the artist, it was the lively playground and the children’s conversations that ranged from silly to serious that inspired him to make the character. This combined with his childhood memories allowed him to make Titeuf and his friends into the lively bunch that they are today.

Zep published the first Titeuf comic in 1993 and gained almost immediate success. Almost 30 years later, the franchise has sold over 25 million comics worldwide, and the character has come to life in series, comics, board games, stamps, and much more. What has made the franchise so popular is perhaps the fact that Titeuf discussed adult topics in an approachable way. Everything from love to sex, but also migration and harassment has been covered over the years.  

For his 25th anniversary, the eternal child has gotten a statue to commemorate his origins which was placed at “his” school. The bronze statue weighs 100 kilograms and is about the height of a typical school child; 140 centimeters (about four and a half feet tall). He is carrying his school bag and walking away from school, probably ready for some adventure after a long day of learning.