Gaumont Television Finalizes Broadcast Deal for ‘Belle and Sebastian’

PARIS -- Gaumont Television has announced that the company has just finalized a major broadcast deal with ZDF, the leading German public-service television broadcaster, for Belle and Sebastian, its highly anticipated 2D/HD animated series based on an original live-action TV series from the 1960s by Cecile Aubry.  Belle and Sebastian is a co-production with Canadian Producer PVP Group.  The new deal comes on the heels of other recent sales for this classic, including M6 (France), Piwi+ (France), Radio Canada (Canada), VRT (Belgium), RTBF (Belgium), and RTS (Switzerland). The announcement was made by Pierre Belaïsch, President of Animation.

"Belle and Sebastian features the wonderful friendship of a boy and a dog in a rural area. Their adventures take place far away from big cities in the wild countryside of the Alps. We believe that this is what children of today, who are mostly living in a domestized environment, dream of and really like to see on television,” commented Nicole Keeb, Head of International Co-productions and Acquisitions ZDF.   “Belle and Sebastian, with its classical appeal in the best sense, fits perfectly into ZDF's portfolio, which includes Lassie, Heidi, Wickie, and Robin Hood, among others.”

“From day one, reaction to this project has been extremely positive,” commented Belaïsch. “It is a series filled with humor, adventure, and captures a unique story of friendship. Basically it's a boy and his extraordinary dog against the world, in a beautiful Alpine setting.  We are thrilled to have ZDF onboard.”

Source: Gaumont Television