Copyright Deadline
EXCLUSIVE: Pink Parrot Media has picked up world sales rights (excl. France and Benelux) on Tistou, an animated adaptation of Maurice Druon’s classic French children’s novel Tistou les Pouces Verts, and will launch the film at AFM. France’s Finalement produces the film in a co-production with Belgium’s Walking The Dog. The project was first pitched at Annecy, where it won a Mifa Pitch Award. Tistou is currently in development and set to be delivered in 2028. The story follows an 8-year-old with a magical talent. The feature has been written and will be directed by Amandine Taffin, with William Picot producing for Finalement, and Eric Goossens and Anton Roeben for Walking The Dog. Pink Parrot Media’s Tania Pinto Da Cunha and Marie Claude Beauchamp are Executive Producers on the project. Tistou les Pouces Verts has been translated into more than 27 languages and published in over 30 countries. The official synopsis reads: Tistou is destined for a bright future. His father runs an arms factory that has been the pride and joy of the entire town for generations, and no one doubts that Tistou will take over the business when he grows up. The only problem is that Tistou is slow to mature. He has far too much imagination, an alarming naiveté. When his parents finally send him to school, it’s an immediate disaster. But with the help of the old gardener Moustache, Tistou finally discovers an astonishing gift: he has green thumbs. Wherever he places his thumbs, flowers and plants begin to grow, obeying what his imagination dictates. Overnight, the city prison is obliterated by nature, causing beauty but also complete chaos and backlash from a brigade of “botanists” with particularly heavy-handed methods, who have sworn to solve the problem. But while the plants are generating increasingly widespread enthusiasm, dark events are beginning to overshadow the news. And Tistou discovers, to his horror, that his father’s factory is somehow involved. Convinced that his power can save the day, he naturally decides to intervene. What he doesn’t realize is that he’ll now have to contend with more than just the police brigade. “Tistou is a deeply loved story that has taught generations of children the importance of the environment and using your talents for good – themes that transcend borders and are today more relevant than ever,” Tania Pinto Da Cunha, Partner, Vice-President and Head of International Sales & Acquisitions at Pink Parrot Media, said in a statement. “It’s a joy to collaborate with such wonderfully skilled partners as Finalement and Walking The Dog, who – together with a top-class creative team – are bringing this story to life in a beautiful and humorous way. Tistou makes the perfect addition to our slate, and we look forward to presenting our vibrant line-up at AFM that will offer something for the whole family to love.”
