Alphanim looks set for a busy summer

French toon studio Alphanim is developing a number of new titles, including a co-production with Canada's Decode Entertainment based on Pants of Steel, a series of webtoons.

Pants of Steel was created and designed by Jan Van Rijsselberge as a series of 13×150{ web shorts. After a co-pro deal with Decode, the French outfit will produce a 26×26' television series, with the first episodes due off the production line in September.

The family-oriented animated sitcom follows life in an average family whose father just happens to be a has-been super hero. Featuring an ageing dad perpetually clad in metal underpants, the show is described as a cross between All In The Family, King of the Hill and Superman.

Also in the pipeline, with episodes due for MIPCOM 2001, is Ralph the Record Rat. The series of 104×1' interstitials is based on the syndicated cartoon strip of the same name, also from Van Rijsselberge.

The stories consist of the spectacularly ill-fated attempts to break various world records by the stupidly optimistic eponymous piece of vermin. The show has been developed with the support of the Centre Nationale de la Cinamatographie and the EU Media Programme. Alphanim will produce and distribute.

Another Van Rijsselberge product is Robotboy, a 52×13' series about a trio of kids who get sent a crate from their Japanese uncle that contains a prototype robot. Together they have to fend of a bunch of villains who want to steal the Uncle's technology. The series is currently in development.

In production till January 2002 is Spaced Out (26×26'). This is a co-production between Alphanim, Canal+, Les Productions Tooncan, in association with Animation Enterprises HK.

It follows the plight of a family who has been taken off to a space station to be used as guinea pigs by an evil technology conglomerate. The show was created by Leon Noel and Claude Lerist, and is directed by Marc Perret.

Alongside the broadcaster co-producers, Spaced Out has been pre-sold to France3, Cartoon Network France, Cartoon Network UK and Canal Famille.

Elsewhere in Alphanim's production slate is X-Duckx (78×7'), a comedy toon being produced with France3 that is due to wrap this December. Alphanim and Germany's Telepool will distribute, with Super RTL pre-buying the show.

Alphanim is also producing Cosmic Cowboys (52×13') over this summer, as well as developing The Delta State (26×26') and the pre-schooler Potatoes & Dragons (78×7'). (see link below).

Finally, production on the Alphanim-Mameli-Casterman co-production Mamemo has wrapped, with RTBF Belgium due to air the show. The 72×5' show has also been sold to Disney (Lat-Am), ABC (Australia), Sesame Street (Germany) and Noga (Israel).