The French animated film Pil’s Adventures has captivated audiences since its 2021 release, drawing inspiration from the beloved classic The Princess Bride. Now, following its theatrical success and enduring popularity through the pandemic, the project is gearing up for a small-screen adaptation, with pre-sales set to take place at the upcoming Annecy International Animation Festival.
Produced by France’s TAT Productions and distributed by Folivari International (formerly Federation Kids), the new series plans to deliver 52 episodes chronicling the adventures of Pil, a spirited young vigilante living in the medieval city of Mistcastle. The television adaptation picks up shortly after the events of the film, focusing on Pil and her friends as they confront dangers ranging from car chases to monsters.
Julien Fournet, the show’s creator, explained that while maintaining the original film’s adventurous spirit, the series leans more heavily into comedy and explores the characters’ everyday lives. “Our goal is to create a show that is equally entertaining for children and their parents,” Fournet told Deadline ahead of Annecy.
The creative team cites the 1987 cult fantasy adventure The Princess Bride as a key influence. “We all loved the subtle blend of adventure, quirky characters, comedy, and heartfelt emotion in that film,” Fournet said. “We wanted a young female lead who isn’t a traditional princess but serves as the true driving force of the story, showing strength against evil.”
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Pil’s Adventures performed well at the box office in 2021, selling around 500,000 tickets globally and earning approximately $15 million. The film found particular success in Central and Eastern Europe, Israel, and the Middle East.
Folivari International has already initiated pre-sales of the small-screen adaptation to broadcasters in France (France Télévisions), Sweden (SVT), and Switzerland (RTS). The series is expected to launch around Christmas or early next year. Producers are optimistic, with French broadcasters viewing it as a potential flagship children’s program for 2026.
However, Jean-François Tosti, producer at TAT and a veteran animator, noted the broader animation industry faces serious headwinds. The rapid expansion of animation studios during the pandemic has now given way to declining demand, making financing and pre-sales increasingly difficult. “This is the toughest crisis I’ve seen in 25 years,” Tosti remarked. “Producers must take huge risks to complete projects before they can be sold.”
Despite these challenges, Tosti remains hopeful for a market rebound next year. He credits France’s strong tradition in animation, supported by generous subsidies, robust markets, and public broadcasters, for cultivating talent and studios capable of producing high-quality work. “European animation has come a long way,” he said. “When I was young, I only watched American and Japanese animation — European animation was barely on the map. Now we have everything needed to grow.”
As the Annecy festival draws top executives and creatives from major Hollywood studios and around the world, Pil’s Adventures stands out as a promising example of a local production ready to make a global impact. With its blend of adventure, humor, and heart, the series aims to carve out a strong place in the increasingly competitive small-screen animation landscape.
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