Montreal/Madrid-based international sales and distribution company Pink Parrot Media (PPM) has boarded the upcoming CG animated feature “Tistou” – an adaptation of Maurice Druon’s classic French children’s novel Tistou les Pouces Verts, which tells the story of an 8-year-old with a magical talent. The film is produced by France’s Finalement in a co-production with Belgium’s Walking The Dog. PPM will handle worldwide distribution rights (excl. France and Benelux) on “Tistou” and is set to introduce the project to buyers at the upcoming American Film Market (AFM) in Los Angeles, running 11-16 November, where the company will have a promo to present.
First pitched at Annecy International Film Festival, at which it won a Mifa Pitch Award, “Tistou” is currently in development and set to be delivered in 2028. The feature is targeted at family audiences and kids aged 6-12 years old.
Tistou les Pouces Verts has been translated into more than 27 languages and published in over 30 countries. The new feature adaptation is written and directed by Amandine Taffin, with William Picot producing for Finalement, and Eric Goossens and Anton Roeben for Walking The Dog. Pink Parrot Media’s Tania Pinto Da Cunha and Marie Claude Beauchamp are Executive Producers on the project.
Tistou is destined for a bright future. His father runs an arms factory that has been the pride and joy of the entire town for generations, and no one doubts that Tistou will take over the business when he grows up. The only problem is that Tistou is slow to mature. He has far too much imagination, an alarming naiveté. When his parents finally send him to school, it’s an immediate disaster. But with the help of the old gardener Moustache, Tistou finally discovers an astonishing gift: he has green thumbs.
Wherever he places his thumbs, flowers and plants begin to grow, obeying what his imagination dictates. Overnight, the city prison is obliterated by nature, causing beauty but also complete chaos and backlash from a brigade of “botanists” with particularly heavy-handed methods, who have sworn to solve the problem. But while the plants are generating increasingly widespread enthusiasm, dark events are beginning to overshadow the news. And Tistou discovers, to his horror, that his father’s factory is somehow involved. Convinced that his power can save the day, he naturally decides to intervene. What he doesn’t realize is that he’ll now have to contend with more than just the police brigade.
Tania Pinto Da Cunha, Partner / Vice-President and Head of International Sales & Acquisitions at Pink Parrot Media, said: “Tistou is a deeply loved story that has taught generations of children the importance of the environment and using your talents for good – themes that transcend borders and are today more relevant than ever. It’s a joy to collaborate with such wonderfully skilled partners as Finalement and Walking The Dog, who – together with a top-class creative team – are bringing this story to life in a beautiful and humorous way. Tistou makes the perfect addition to our slate, and we look forward to presenting our vibrant line-up at AFM that will offer something for the whole family to love.”
William Picot, Producer at Finalement, added: “Tistou is a film I’ve dreamed of producing for many years. It’s about hope, imagination, and the way children can see our world differently. But Tistou, unlike us, also has the power to change it. I’m delighted to see this film now traveling the world with Pink Parrot Media.”
Eric Goossens, Producer at Walking The Dog, said: “Adapting Tistou the Green Thumb is about replanting a seed of hope in the hearts of audiences. This tale tells of a child who still believes we can change the world – and we want every image, every musical note, to convey that conviction. In a world often shrouded in grey, animation has this unique power, like Tistou, to bring colour back into bloom. It’s a critical and poetic story often read in schools, but it also resonates with adults, much like Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince: behind the emotion and adventure that entertain lies a profound reflection on the world. And we are convinced that Pink Parrot Media can help us deliver this message with passion and professionalism to buyers of premium animated films worldwide.”
PPM’s slate for AFM also includes “Lotte & Totte”, a Danish 3D CG animated feature based on the bestselling Scandinavian book series by Gunilla Wolde; and “MoMonsters: The Movie”, the first film featuring the beloved characters and gentle lessons from the Spanish Momonsters series. Additionally, PPM will present 3D CG animated films “Unstable” and “The Bottanix”, currently in production and set to be delivered in 2027.
