ZDF, France Televisions Greenlight for Production Cottonwood Media’s Animated Ballet Adventure ’20 Dance Street’

As a movie enthusiast with a penchant for animation and a soft spot for stories that resonate deeply, I am absolutely thrilled about the upcoming series “20 Dance Street”. Having grown up watching animated shows from around the world, I have seen the transformative power they possess in shaping young minds.

As a devoted cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that two of Europe’s most prominent TV giants, ZDF from Germany and France Televisions, have hopped aboard the production of “20 Dance Street,” a hilarious blend of CGI animation, comedy, and drama. This project has officially received the green light for production!

France Television purchased the series prior to its release. Meanwhile, in a separate agreement, the Belgian public broadcaster RTBF obtained the rights to air the series within Belgium.

The upcoming animation series “20 Dance Street,” produced by Cottonwood Media from Federation Studios, is being managed for global distribution by both Federation Kids & Family and ZDF Studios. This series will be presented to potential buyers at this week’s Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Le Havre and at Cannes Mipcom trade fair next month. With 26 half-hour episodes, it is set to make a significant impact as one of the heavier new European premium animated series launching in these markets.

The show, among the rare ones proposed during the Cartoon Forum last September, has been approved for production due to the challenging landscape for animation commissions. European state-owned TV channels are now the primary networks consistently ordering new animations.

Starting this fall, “20 Dance Street” is being collaboratively produced, linking it with shows like “Find Me in Paris” and “Spellbound.” This partnership includes Cottonwood, ZDF, and ZDF Studios. Aimed at viewers between 6-11 years old, “20 Dance Street” continues the theme of diversity found in “Spellbound.”

The series turns on 11-year-old Maya, who leaves the Caribbean to join the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet School. The move will change her destiny forever. “Her resilience and altruism shine through as she is plunged into the unknown far from home, whilst moving forward through joys and sorrows, guided by a single dream, to become a prima ballerina,” the synopsis runs.

The primary storyline of “20 Dance Street” intertwines both serious and humorous elements, and it traces the journey of Maya as she navigates her initial year at a ballet academy throughout the entire series.

Cottonwood Media co-founders David Michel, Cécile Laurenson, and Zoé Carrera Allaix stated, “We think ’20 Dance Street’ will resonate with children everywhere because our strong protagonist has faced numerous challenges in life but remains an admirable role model who handles everything gracefully.” As the narrative unfolds, it reveals several themes that audiences can identify with, such as friendship, abandonment, the joys of life, betrayal, and more, which will keep viewers captivated.

“20 Dance Street,” based on the popular French children’s book series, “20 allée de la danse” by Elizabeth Barféty, is now being adapted. Since 2016, Barféty has published 20 books, which adds a contemporary touch to the series.

“Michel mentioned to EbMaster that ballet was previously exclusive and high-class, but it’s only quite recently become more inclusive, with the U.S. taking a leading role in this change. The aim is to make the art form appealing to a wider audience,” Michel said.

The address “20 Dance Street” was created and developed by Christel Gonnard, who also collaborated on the 2015 popular animated TV series “Heidi.” The project will be helmed by Romy Yao, a talented animator known for working on “Funan” and Paramount Animation’s “Sherlock Gnomes.” The designs are being handled by David François.

Michel noted that the age range of 6 to 11 is particularly significant when it comes to children’s animation. This gives the creators the opportunity to showcase exceptionally realistic dance sequences, captured using motion capture by Paris Opera dancers. The emotionally compelling narratives provide an engaging, distinctive experience for kids, comparable to some live-action drama series, as the series investors pointed out in a statement released on Monday.

“Nicole Keeb, Head of International Co-productions and Acquisitions for Children and Youth programs at ZDF, described ’20 Dance Street’ as a “novel, thrilling, and emotionally powerful ballet journey.” She continued, “Given the success of our live-action series like ‘Find Me in Paris’ and ‘Spellbound,’ we thought it was appropriate to delve into the realm of animation for ballet, targeting a younger demographic. And here it is!” she concluded.

“Arne Lohmann, VP Junior at ZDF Studios, was quickly drawn into the tale of Maya and her companions, as well as the prospect of Elizabeth Barféty’s books being transformed for the big screen,” he said.

2024-09-02 14:47

ZDF, France Televisions Greenlight for Production Cottonwood Media’s Animated Ballet Adventure ’20 Dance Street’

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