CineGroupe & Sesame line up feline fun for MIPCOM

Canada's CineGroupe, in association with Sesame Workshop, has wrapped up production on the new animated series Sagwa the Chinese Siamese Cat.

Combining classic animation, music and folk stories and created by the best-selling author of The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan, Sagwa is intended to bring Chinese culture to kids through the tales of a curious cat.

Premiering stateside on PBS Kids on September 3, the 40×30' series is set in ancient China and follows the adventures of the headstrong Sagwa as she sets out to explore her world.

Aimed at kids 5-8, the tales are interspersed with live-action segments that feature children telling family tales and talking about the day’s topic. Each half-hour comprises two 11-minute animated segments, with related interstitials.

The show, produced in Montreal, debuted in June on PBS Kids' website

The series is directed by Joseph Jacques, produced by Leon G Arcand, with CineGroupe and Sesame Workshop sharing distribution rights. Sesame holds rights for the US, the UK, Eire, Asia, Eastern and Central Europe, Scandinavia, Middle East (ex Israel), Australia, New Zealand, and German-speaking territories. CineGroupe has the rest.