Bullying: moving beyond the moralising speech

Tackling school bullying through a pop opera took nerve! With Le Monde de Gabriel, Anne-Chrystel Mercy and Serge Benaim make the bold bet of blending music, manga and emotion to raise awareness without moralising. Talking to Alexis Ferrebeuf, they tell the story behind a project where entertainment serves a cause, and where nothing is left to chance, from creation to communication.

From a wound to a musical

It all starts with a shock. One day, Anne-Chrystel’s son comes home from school hurt, a victim of bullying. The anger is huge. But rather than letting it explode, this singer songwriter decides, over time, to turn it into a creation.

Her idea: speak to teenagers without lecturing them. Because between an institutional speech and a story that grips you, the message does not travel at quite the same speed.

West Side Story meets manga

Gabriel is 17. New at his high school, he discovers the cliques, their codes and how hard it is to be yourself. After a fight, he tips into a fantasy world inspired by manga and isekai (Japanese for “another world”). A detour through the imagination to better face reality. And a precious insight for brands: to reach an audience, better to step into its world than to impose your own.

A good cause does not fill a theatre.

Serge Benaim, a producer used to bold bets, knows it: a beautiful story is not enough. You have to convince investors, bring talents together and turn a conviction into a show.

The result: a production expected at the Salle Pleyel from 25 October 2027.

Proof that a committed project also needs artistic ambition, convinced partners and a solid sense of production. Heart, yes. But with a solid business plan.

TikTok, manga and flash mobs: the campaign speaks fluent teen

To bring Le Monde de Gabriel to life even before its first performance, the team explores teenagers’ codes: songs, video capsules, a manga universe, flash mobs and TikTok campaigns.

AI also has a role in the visual creation, but there is no question of handing it the keys to the show. Behind the images there are first of all artists, a script and a creative direction. And the commitment goes beyond communication: with the association Stop & Flow, the songs also become teaching materials against bullying.

Brand content that is not just after views, but also wants to move the lines.

In short

With Le Monde de Gabriel, Anne-Chrystel Mercy and Serge Benaim remind us that you can tackle a serious subject without giving up creativity, emotion or spectacle.

For brands as for producers, the same score: a strong message is not enough. You still need to invent a story the audience wants to live. And find the right channels to speak to that audience.

*To find out how to make bullying, manga and pop opera rhyme without a wrong note, head to the Entertainment Lab podcast (in French)!