3 days ago
‘Arcane' Producer Fortiche Teaming With ARTE France on Coming-of-Age Mini-Series ‘Miss Saturne'
At the Annecy Animation Festival today, Fortiche, the acclaimed French animation house behind the hit series 'Arcane,' announced it is diving into original IP with the upcoming miniseries 'Miss Saturne, a 10×10-minute animated project currently developed in collaboration with ARTE France and Les Storygraphes.
'Miss Saturne' was previously pitched as a feature and appeared at Cartoon Movie in 2017, but has been retooled as ten, 10-minute episode project to better align with younger viewing habits and digital platforms. How closely the new series will adhere to that original pitch hasn't been made clear, but the companies are describing it as a 'generational fiction infused with music.'
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'Miss Saturne' is based on the novel by Barbara Israël and will target teenagers and young adults with a visually stylized 2D look and a heavy dose of 1980s pop atmosphere. The series is currently in development, with a production start eyed for 2026 and a release scheduled for 2027. It follows 16-year-old Mercy and her companion Tom as they flee their past aboard a night train out of Nice. The story unfolds through flashbacks triggered by a New Wave mixtape, delving into themes of adolescence, grief and personal identity.
Screenwriter Louise Silverio, known for 'Happiness' and 'Ceux qui rougissent,' is leading the writing, while Anne Raffin, an alum of 'Arcane' and various music videos, is on board as art director and director. Other confirmed credits include Israël and Vincent Tavier on the literary bible, with Israël's original novel serving as the foundation for the series.
''Miss Saturne' is a unique project that, while rooted in the '80s, captures the essence of adolescence with a musical and emotional intensity that crosses generations,' said Annelyse Vieilledent, co-producer at Les Storygraphes. 'At a time when young people are rediscovering the retro musical repertoire of that decade, I'm convinced that this free, visceral and resolutely pop tale will resonate strongly with them.'
Fortiche co-founder Jérôme Combe added: 'With 'Miss Saturne,' we've found a team with the perfect artistic sensibility. Louise Silverio brings her already known flair for coming-of-age stories, having worked on the award-winning series 'Happiness' and 'Ceuxqui rougissent.' Anne Raffin, who worked on 'Arcane' and music videos, fully shares our desire to explore a strong aesthetic for today's youth. This project is an opportunity for us to explore indie animation designed for the new generation.'
As part of its development push, Fortiche is actively seeking international partners, broadcasters and distributors interested in young adult animation. Financial support has already been secured from Région Occitanie and Pictanovo. Production is being handled by Fortiche Films (Jérôme Combe, Hervé Dupont), with Les Storygraphes and ARTE France onboard as co-producers.
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