Toon Factory preps Ducobu adaptation as Canal+, FTV board Squoosh, Moods

Moods is being made for France Télévisions

French broadcasters Canal+ and France Télévisions (FTV) are on board forthcoming animated shows from Paris-based Toon Factory, which is also developing a series based on comic book L’Élève Ducobu.

Toon Factory is in production on How to Squoosh? (52×12′) for Canal+ and Moods (52×7′) for pubcaster FTV.

Based on the books of the same name by Catherine Leblanc and Roland Garrigue, How to Squoosh? is a 2D animated comedy featuring monsters that symbolise children’s fears, which can be defeated by humour, intelligence and joy. The series will be distributed by StudioCanal.

Moods will be distributed by FTV Distribution and follows 12 little characters who each represent an emotion. Developmental psychology specialists Professor Rebecca Shankland and Dr Béatrice Lamboy have helped develop the series alongside Nathalie Reznikoff and Séverine Vuillaume, who came up with the original concept.

Meanwhile, Toon Factory is in development on The Ducoboo Gang (52×11′), featuring the mischievous schoolboy well known in France from the comic series L’Élève Ducobu by Godi and Zidrou.

Aimed at six- to 10-year-olds, the 2D animated series will takes a “whimsical, sensitive look at a gang of friends in a schoolyard setting” while also highlighting “important values like solidarity, tolerance and living in a multicultural society,” Toon Factory said.

“We will be working with the author of the comics to meld our dear little blonde friend and his cohorts into more complex characters,” said Toon Factory CEO Thierry Berthier.

“The message here is playing down the guilt and promoting guidance in the face of scholastic failure, thus fighting against preconceived ideas and stereotypes – a little nod to all those bad students who succeeded in life.”

A live-action feature film focusing on the character was released in 2011, when French animation house Storimages (now Mediatoon) began developing an animated series featuring the character that never came to fruition.