A Beloved Classic Returns With a New Animated Adaptation
That’s right! Madeline is getting a new animated feature adaptation. Many of us grew up with the Disney Channel version of the children’s book on tv. Now new generations will be able to share the same nostalgic feeling when thinking of the franchise. Sycamore Studios, a popular kids and family animation studio, will be heading the project. The studio which was founded by former Participant exec Christian McGuigan and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Timothy Reckart have acquired the rights to the children’s book series written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans.
Sycamore has started early development for a new animated musical feature. They are also looking to expand the Madeline brand across film, television and other licensing initiatives. Think children’s’ clothing and toys in the toy aisle of your favorite places to shop with the family.
They aim to capture the whimsical nature of the books at hand. Deadline says the project will, “focus on preserving the heart and legacy that has resonated with generations of families.”
The Bemelmans Family Helps Preserve Madeline’s Legacy
Sycamore will be working directly with the Bemelmans family, including Barbara Bemelmans. Barbara was actually the inspiration for her father’s classic character. They will also be working with John Bemelmans Marciano, author of the Klawde series. He also expanded his father’s work and wrote six more Madeline books following the passing of his grandfather, Ludwig Bemelmans.
We are incredibly excited to be working with Sycamore Studios. From the start, they’ve been so respectful of the legacy that has been part of our family for nearly nine decades now. Most important has been their willingness to understand what makes Madeline a timeless character, and not a vessel for the most popular kid trends of the moment.
Bemelmans Marciano
Madeline told the story of a fearless redheaded girl living in Paris at a boarding school. The school, run by Miss Clavel would be the jumping off point for many adventures around the city. Bemelman’s won a Caldecott Honor title with these books. He wrote six Madeline books spanning from 1939 to 1961.
Previous Madeline Shows, Films, and Childhood Memories
If you’re older like I am you may remember the French-American DIC Entertainment adaptation of the first book. They originally created an animated special for HBO in 1988. However the success of the film begat the other well known animated project, an animated series that ran from 1993 to 2001. That particular show won multiple Emmys and ran for several seasons. I remember watching it on the Disney Channel but it was also broadcast other places such as The Family Channel and PBS. There was also a movie that came about in 1998 which starred Hatty Jones as Madeline and Frances McDormand as Miss Clavel.
We’re pretty excited for this project. If there is anything that is wholesome and good, it’s Madeline.
