Quentin Tarantino has labelled Peppa Pig “the greatest British import of this decade”, admitting he watches the pre-school favourite “a lot”.
The 59-year-old director revealed his penchant for the “lovable but slightly bossy little pig” in an interview with film magazine Empire, talking about time spent with his two-year-old son Leo.
The animated series first aired in 2021 and has accrued £1.1 billion in global retail sales over that time and been broadcast in over 118 territories throughout its seven seasons – including America.
Explaining that Despicable Me Part 2 was the first movie he’d watched with his son, Tarantino said it was “a more consuming experience than, say, Peppa Pig.”
However, keen not to malign the gutsy little porker, he went on: “I actually do like Peppa Pig; I watch it a lot. I’ll say it – Peppa Pig is the greatest British import of this decade”.
Peppa Pig draws millions of viewers in the US and was last year’s second most in-demand cartoon in America (pipped to the post by SpongeBob SquarePants).
Such is its influence, it’s been blamed for the “Peppa effect” after American pre-schoolers began saying “mummy” instead of “mommy” and pronouncing tomato in the British way.
Former British Prime minister Boris Johnson also discussed a visit to Pepper Pig World with enthusiasm, during a speech to business leaders.
Earlier this year, the series also became collateral damage of the Ukraine war after a Russian court ruled that the cartoon character’s trademarks could be used by Russian businesses without punishment.
The move followed economic sanctions imposed following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Peppa “is four years old and lives with Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig and her little brother George” according to the Peppa Pig World website.
She also enjoys “making fun of her daddy because he has a big tummy” and “jumping in muddy puddles”.
Tarantino last week welcomed his second child, a baby girl, with his wife Daniella Pick Tarantino. The name is yet to be revealed.