XILAM ANIMATION AND ALIBABA’S YOUKU TO CO-PRODUCE “LUPIN’S TALES”

Xilam Animation announced a partnership with Alibaba Group’s video streaming platform, Youku, to co-produce its new 2D and 3D animated preschool series “Lupin’s Tales,” set to launch in 2021. “We’re thrilled to partner with Alibaba’s Youku on our first ever French-Chinese co-production project,” Marc du Pontavice, CEO at Xilam Animation, said. “Alibaba’s outstanding expertise across content and e-commerce make them the ideal partner to launch the brand in the market, and we look forward to seeing the series and consumer products range come to life.” 

Xilam and Youku will also collaborate to develop a range of merchandise for the Chinese market to further support the show. The products will initially be focused on with an initial focus on materials that serve an educational purpose.

Alibaba will hold all distribution and merchandising rights to Lupin’s Tales in mainland China, and Xilam will manage the rest of the regions worldwide. “‘Lupin’s Tales’ has many values that will resonate with audiences in China, such as its encouragement to create your own path in life and using your imagination to explore a variety of cultures,” Pontavice said.

Targeting a preschool audience, the 78 7-minute episodes of ‘Lupin’s Tales’ follows a wolf-cub who dreams of being like the storybook heroes he admires and goes from one tale to another to live out their adventures through all continents and ages. Though Lupin is far from perfect, his bad qualities don't stop him from having a happy ending.