The Média-Participations’ french animation production company Elipse Animation announced a partnership with the Château de Versailles for the new series "Belfort & Lupin". Co-produced by Ellipse Animation and Belvision, the series is commissioned by France Télévisions and already sold to several international partners by Mediatoon Distribution.
"Belfort & Lupin" features 26 humorous adventures set in the heart of Versailles and its gardens, seen through the perspective of the animals. Belfort, the King's favorite—a young spaniel who has lost his sense of smell—and his friend Lupin, a wolf as laid-back as he is instinctive, are both surrounded by the exotic animals of the 17th-century royal court.
Created by Teddy Stehly, "Belfort & Lupin" was born from the artist's fascination with the aesthetic and historical universe of Versailles. Since the beginning of the project, the teams from the Château de Versailles and the Versailles Research Center have worked closely with the creator and the series' writers. This collaboration allowed them to imagine a fictional and sometimes fantasized Versailles, but one always tied to historical accuracy.
Teddy Stehly referred to the historiographical challenge: "I was keen to create a well-documented series, and the support of the Versailles teams, including their curators and historians, was of great help. I’ll never forget capturing the unique sounds of Versailles—the creaking wooden floors, the resonant echoes of the Hall of Mirrors—and witnessing a Château clockmaker activate centuries-old mechanisms for our recordings," commented.
The collaboration with the Château was also essential during the production phase, particularly for the animation of historical sites. The Château de Versailles, shaped by successive changes over time, was reinterpreted and incorporated into the universe of "Belfort & Lupin," with a strong foundation in historical documentation. The archivists also ensured the accurate representation of the many personalities encountered in the series. Finally, each episode ends with an educational segment, providing historical insights into the theme and characters mentioned.
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