Xilam shares Lupin’s Tales with Youku

Lupin’s Tales

Chinese streaming platform Youku, owned by Alibaba Group, has boarded French studio Xilam Animation’s preschool series Lupin’s Tales as a coproducer.

Set to launch in 2021, Lupin’s Tales (78×7’) follows a wolf cub who dreams of being like the storybook heroes he admires and goes from one tale to another to live out their adventures.

Under Xilam and Youku’s deal, Youku will launch the series on its platform, with Alibaba holding all distribution and merchandising rights in mainland China. Xilam will handle the rights in the rest of the world.

The pair will collaborate to develop a range of merchandise for the Chinese market, with an initial focus on educational products.

Marc du Pontavice, CEO of Xilam Animation, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with Alibaba’s Youku on our first ever French-Chinese coproduction project.

“Lupin’s Tales has many values that will resonate with audiences in China, such as its encouragement to create your own path in life and using your imagination to explore a variety of cultures.”