France’s Andarta Pictures visits 5 Worlds in adaptation of graphic novel series

The cover art for 5 Worlds graphic novel The Emerald Gate

French animation studio Andarta Pictures is making an animated series based on sci-fi graphic novel collection 5 Worlds, which it describes as “the meeting of Star Wars and Narnia.”

Aimed at kids and tweens, 5 Worlds is a series of five graphic novels written by Mark and Alexis Siegel and illustrated by Boya Sun, Xanthe Bouma and Matt Rockefeller.

The Franco-US novel series has sold more than 500,000 copies and been translated into seven languages. The books are published by Gallimard in France and Penguin Random House in the United States.

Andarta Pictures will work with the Siegel brothers on the adaptation and will also involve the IP’s community of fans. The studio will present the project at Cartoon Forum in Toulouse this September.

The plot follows young heroes who must travel through different worlds to save their universe from an impending threat. Each volume explores a unique planet with its own ancient cultures, varied geographies and ecological challenges.

The protagonists tackle complex themes such as cultural integration, class struggle, shared humanity and corrupt politics, offering “a rich and multidimensional universe that addresses adult issues at a child-friendly level,” according to Andarta.

Bruna Pegoraro, head of development at Andarta Pictures, said: “The 5 Worlds is the meeting of Star Wars and Narnia, a space opera with young adults at the heart of the plot. The combination of animation with the authors’ vision makes this adventure particularly exciting: we’re not talking about building just one universe, but five – each with its own issues, people and customs… A beautiful challenge for our creative teams.”