The format we're using is called "piccolo", which was popular in Italy and Germany in the 50s to early 60s. The dimensions are about 17x8cm, pretty close to a cinematic widescreen. Sometimes the artists would take advantage of it and compose their panels with that in mind.
It also was the still ongoing age of pulp heroes, so naturally they were the topic of a whole ton of piccolo series. Lots of damsels had to be saved, wild animals had to be fought - and of course the inevitable townsfolk was there for a salute.
However, during our research we only found ONE funny animal series in this format, the very short-lived "Ahoi", from around 1957. Which means that "Pico" may very well be only the second funny animal piccolo series to be made - in 61 years!