French SVOD platform ADN, dedicated to Japanese and French animation since 2013, announced that well-established Japanese studio Toei Animation (One Piece, Sailor Moon) has boarded its upcoming comic-book adaptation Le Collège Noir, joining French producer La Cachette (Star Wars: Visions; Love, Death + Robots).
“Meeting with the members of Studio La Cachette and ADN, who both have a deep knowledge of Japanese animation, was decisive,” explains Yosuke Asama, Senior Producer at Toei Animation. For several years, the studio has been developing links with European partners to produce works with a Western feel, diversifying its production styles and reaching a new audience.
“I am very happy to be able to work here in France with a company that has the same ambitions as Toei Animation. Le Collège Noir will undoubtedly be among our most memorable and entertaining works. I hope you will be as excited as I am to see the final result!”
Synopsis: In a school lost in the middle of the Cantal mountains, five young high school students spend the All Saints’; Day holidays under the supervision of Lena, a moody caretaker. But when the spirit of their missing classmate appears in the middle of the night, the teenagers find themselves confronted with the curse of a wicked witch and the most terrifying creatures in French folklore…
Based on the comics by Ulysses Malassagne, the (6 x 15′) series will offer a blend of action, adventure, comedy and horror, combining an anime-inspired aesthetic reflected in the characters and their world with “totally French” fantasy. The show will debut on ADN in Fall 2023.
Malassagne drew inspiration for his work from old legends of the Auvergne region, noting: “I was fascinated by the idea of doing with French folklore what Japanese artists do so well with their yokai stories. They have this habit of reincorporating them into their modern stories, whereas in France, we are forgetting all our rural folklore. Le Collège Noir was created as a response to this observation.”
The project was announced at the 2022 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, where ADN also teased Dreamland (co-produced with Ellipse Animation and La Chouette Compagnie) and Lance Dur (with Ankama), which launched on the platform in March.
“We have been following La Cachette’s work since its early days and we are happy to finally be able to collaborate with them! Even more so with Toei Animation, a long-standing partner. It’s the perfect combination for a one-of-a-kind project.” concludes Julien Lemoine, ADN’s CEO.
ADN, Studio La Cachette and Toei Animation will return to Annecy to introduce Le Collège Noir in a studio focus presentation on Tuesday, June 13 from 6-7:15 p.m. in the Imperial Palace, Salle de la Volière.
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