By Kayla DeKraker
“In an old house in Paris all covered in vines, lived 12 little girls in”…an upcoming animated musical?
Kids and family animation studio Sycamore Studios has acquired animation rights to the classic children’s story Madeline. An animated musical of the classic, as well as other “film, television and strategic licensing initiatives, with a focus on preserving the heart and legacy that has resonated with generations of families,” are in the works, per Deadline.
Madeline was published in 1939 by author Ludwig Bemelmans. Bemelmans died in 1962, and his grandson John Bemelmans Marciano took over keeping his legacy alive.
“Between our leadership team, we have 15 kids under the age of ten,” said Christian McGuigan, CEO of Sycamore Studios. “In every one of our homes, Madeline is a favorite, as it has been for millions of families around the world for generations.”
“We are incredibly excited to be working with Sycamore Studios,” added Bemelmans Marciano of the acquisition. “From the start, they’ve been so respectful of the legacy that has been part of our family for nearly nine decades now. Most important has been their willingness to understand what makes Madeline a timeless character, and not a vessel for the most popular kid trends of the moment.”
This won’t be Madeline’s first on-screen debut, though. The beloved Parisian girl appeared in several other projects, including a live-action 1998 movie, appropriately titled MADELINE.
Movieguide®’s review reads, “This movie is very innocuous and has many moral elements. Miss Clavel prays before dinner and before bed. She tells Leopold, who seems at one point to be getting a little fresh, that she prays on her day off. Madeline can be seen as a little rebellious, but she is more precocious and active than rebellious. She has a good heart and doesn’t do anything explicitly wrong.”
Movieguide® adds that “she learns many lessons. Ultimately, she is very respectful of authority and demonstrates love to someone she has found hard to love in the past.”
The book follows “Madeline, a young girl living in Paris with her eleven closest friends under the care and protection of Miss Clavel. What she lacks in size, Madeline makes up for in courage — she’s not afraid of tigers or mice, and often likes to stand out amongst the rest of the girls. Nothing seems to frighten her — until one night, when things take a scary turn.”
Madeline is a Caldecott Honor Book and has sold over 8 million copies. The New York Times said that it is “Perhaps the best bedtime book ever written.”
Stay tuned for more updates on upcoming Madeline projects!
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