Dargaud Distribution, holder of one of Europe’s largest animation catalogues, has picked up television, home entertainment and licensing rights to the children’s show Canopus from French production company Croqueplume. The series features a mix of 2D and 3D animation and aims to promote tolerance and understanding.
In the show, joyful kids known as Canopus live in harmony with exotic animals on an imaginary planet brought to life in pleasing water-color hues. The children represent different races, including Eskimo, Japanese and Indian, and shows how friendship and cooperation always wins over rivalry and division.
A co-production of France 5, Croqueplume and Spirit Prods., Canopus is based on an original idea by Jacqueline de Rosnay. The Maritime Ventura/H’l’ne Fabou series was developed by Francis Nielsen and designed by Valeri Rindoff Pekroff.
‘I am delighted to add this fresh and universally appealing series to our catalogue,’ says V’ronique Chalandar, Dargaud’s deputy general manager. ‘It is our primary aim to develop a long-term merchandising program for the property alongside television sales.’ Chalandar tells us one of the company’s new initiatives is to diversify by developing a merchandising arm to generate additional revenue streams from the many properties in its catalog. Other popular animated productions handled by Dargaud include the feature film properties Lucky Luke, Asterix and Tintin, as well as the series Kid Paddle, which has 52 new episodes available.
Additional new Dargaud shows being showcased at MIPTV in Cannes include Yakara, a 52×13 traditionally animated adventure-comedy series about a young Indian brave who can communicate with animals. The show is a production of Storimages, 2 Minutes, Belvision and RTBF, with the participation of France 3, Teletoon and TSR.
Time Jam (40×26) from Dargaud Marina, Europacorp and Satelight takes place in the year 2417 and follows time-traveling adventures of Temporal Secret Cadet Valerian, who traverses the galaxy with a girl from the Middle Ages and battles the evil, power-hungry Vlagos.
The preschool series Dim, Dam Doum, the Little Dollies (39×5) takes place in an enchanted meadow where the adorable Dim, Dam and Doum enjoy little everyday adventures and treat young viewers to song. The show is produced by Sita Prods. and TV10 Angers with the support of the C.N.C. and the Pays de la Loire.
Parker and Badger (52×1) chronicles the exploits of a badger who prefers to be a dog and whose full time job is keeping pal Parker out of trouble. Parker, meanwhile, can’t seem to hold down a job for longer the two hours, despite being super cool, super nice and super smart. Cuadrado, Dupuis and Canal J are production partners on the series.
