UK TV personality Dermot O’Leary‘s beloved book series Toto the Ninja Cat is being adapted into an animated series. Studiocanal and Superprod are producing it. It’s a significant step for a children’s franchise. It has quietly built a serious following over the past decade.
O’Leary, a former X Factor host, will see his books transformed into a 52-episode action-comedy show. Emmy-winning head writers Nick Ostler and Mark Huckerby will write it. They are the duo behind Danger Mouse.
The novels follow the titular character. She is the newest member of a secret league of international ninja cats. Partially sighted from birth, she has turned her visual impairment into a ninja superpower. She uses heightened senses to navigate the city and outsmart villains.
O’Leary has previously said he based the character on his real pet. It was a blind moggy he adopted in Italy. That personal connection clearly runs deep.
A seventh book, Toto the Ninja Cat and the Football Fiasco, is coming out later this year. The existing six books have been translated into 19 languages. They have sold more than half a million English-language copies. Based on Nick East‘s illustrations, the first book was also turned into a stage play. It premiered earlier this year.
O’Leary shared his enthusiasm directly. “I am thrilled that Toto is about to become the star of her own television series,” he said, adding, “I cannot think of a better inspiration than Toto herself; with her kind nature and the simply wonderful idea that Toto is a loving mild-mannered kitten by day and a Ninja by night.”
Who is O’Leary?
O’Leary is a British TV stalwart. Currently fronting ITV’s This Morning with Alison Hammond. He also hosts a popular BBC Radio 2 Saturday breakfast show. He’s executive producing the project alongside Dee Koppang O’Leary. She is a director on Rivals.
On the studio side, the enthusiasm is just as strong. Studiocanal Worldwide TV MD M-K Kennedy said she is “over-the-moon” to be welcoming Toto to the Studiocanal family. She noted it is alongside iconic characters like Paddington and Miffy.
Studiocanal is producing the series through its Studiocanal Stories adaptations label. Sarah Reese Geffroy oversees this label. It also has adaptations of Beth O’Leary‘s Swept Away and Freida McFadden‘s The Divorce in the pipeline.
Studiocanal Kids & Family is handling worldwide sales of Toto the Ninja Cat. Last month, Hachette Livre and Studiocanal announced a strategic book-to-screen adaptation joint venture called On Screen. However, the O’Leary adaptation pre-dates that deal.
With 52 episodes ordered, a seventh book is on the way. It also has a stage debut already under its belt. Toto the Ninja Cat is shaping up to be a very complete children’s IP rollout.
