Banijay Kids and Family today announced a partnership with Belgian publisher Editions Dupuis (Spirou, Lucky Luke), part of Média-Participations, to transform the hit ‘spy-fi’ animation Totally Spies! into a unique webtoon for recently launched digital platform ONO.
Developed for smartphone reading, the vertical strips will bring the characters of Totally Spies! to a new medium. The webtoon will be available as a weekly serialization in French, and available for foreign rights.
“We are so pleased to announce this very exciting deal which marks the start of our relaunch strategy of this iconic brand, prior to the new series reveal on M6/GULLI (France) and Discovery Kids LatAm in 2024,” said Delphine Dumont, Chief Commercial Officer, Banijay Kids & Family. “Lots more to come for our favorite spies!”
The 2D-animated Totally Spies! franchise, produced by Zodiak Kids & Family France, is set to return to screens in 2024 with a brand-new series, following its original six-season run between 2001 and 2013. The upcoming series follows the three legendary secret agents, Sam, Clover and Alex, as they move to a new city and take on a fresh crop of villains.
“Totally Spies! is a globally-loved show with a strong existing fanbase, and given the excitement for the new series, demand from fans for brand extensions is high. Webtoons offer a new and modern reading format for young audiences, and this project will ensure we continue catering to our audiences and the changing ways in which they consume their entertainment,” notes Annick Bizet, New Business & Strategic Alliances Director, Banijay Kids & Family.
Stéphane Ferrand, Senior Publishing Director, Editions Dupuis adds, “Strong, leading female characters, action and adventure, humor, fashion, gadgets … Totally Spies! is one of those rare transgenerational licences whose ingredients conceal an ever-relevant modernity. The webtoon is now a favored medium for reading content among young people around the world and the marriage between this and such a strong IP was inevitable.”
