France’s Little Nick heads for TV

French animation houses M6 Studio, Method Animation and Luxanimation are teaming with Indian producer DQ Entertainment (DQE) on a coproduction based on an iconic French cartoon character.

The four companies will create an animated series about Le Petit Nicolas (left), or Little Nick, which will air on French commercial net M6, of which M6 Studio is a production subsidiary.

M6 Studio owns the television exploitation rights to the brand and will put up the bulk of the funds for the production. Method, DQE and Luxanimation will handle the animation production.

Written by Asterix creator René Goscinny and illustrated by Jean-Jacques Sempé, the Little Nick cartoons are the nostalgic vision of an ideal 1950s French childhood.

“Adapting Little Nick for the small screen represents quite a challenge,” said Natalie Altmann, head of children’s programmes at M6 and deputy manager of M6 Studio. “The dialogue and humour of Goscinny are so unique and subtle and the graphic talent of Sempé is so sensitive that we needed to surrender ourselves with the best artistic teams in the animation industry.

“The association of Method Animation and DQE on this great project is, for me, the best possible choice. Together with the financial and commercial support of the M6 group, we have all the elements to make of Little Nick not only a commercial success but a creative breakthrough in the arena of animated series for television.”