Paris – PGS Entertainment has recently closed licensing deals for the animated series Ladybug (26 x 26’) on three continents. LadyBug is a co-production from French animation companies Zagtoon and Method Animation with Japan’s Toei Animation. International partners on the series include SAMG Animation and SK Broadband in Korea, AB International as French co-producer and co-distributor, and its leading commissioner in France, TF1.
New distribution deals for LadyBug include Gloob, a Globosat’s channel in Brazil; Télé-Québec in Canada and ABC in Australia. The series will be launched during the second quarter of 2015 and has now been sold in six continents.
LadyBug follows the story of Marinette and Adrien, Parisian junior high school students with a big secret – they’re superheroes. Using magical powers, they transform into the bickering duo Ladybug and Cat Noir. But neither knows the other’s true identity, so Marinette has no idea that her school crush, Adrien, is Cat Noir. And Cat Noir has no idea that his crush, Ladybug, is really Marinette. They have been chosen to save Paris from the mysterious evil villain Hawk Moth who wants their magical powers for himself. Marinette has to juggle her two identities: saving Paris as Ladybug and winning Adrien’s heart as Marinette.
“Since becoming the top show at Mip Jr last fall, interest in LadyBug has been huge,” said Philippe Soutter, president of PGS Entertainment. “It brings such a unique twist to the superhero genre with a modern-girl, central character who is in sync with kids’ and teens’ lives today. We are confident LadyBug will be the next girl superhero.”
“We fell in love with LadyBug as soon as we laid our eyes upon it,” said Paula Taborda dos Guaranys, Head of Content & Programming at Canal Gloob. “We’re witnessing in the entertainment industry throughout the world that girls are finally taking on their worthy role as heroes. They are strong and powerful – and LadyBug is part of that. She takes part in a great adventure and does it with grace. The series brings action in a wondrous setting and dynamic characters combined with amazing artwork. It has all the values that Gloob stands for, that’s why it fits so perfectly with us. We’re certain it’s going to be a worldwide success!”
Disney Channel recently acquired exclusive pay-TV rights to LadyBug in Europe, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, and free-to-air rights in Spain, Germany, Russia and Turkey.
