Mediatoon Distribution and Ellipse Animation hosted an exclusive showcase to unveil the next audiovisual chapter of the beloved 50-year-old Franco-Belgian comic franchise, Yakari. The event, attended by a large contingent of global buyers and foreign press, highlighted a modernized direction for the classic property, including an ambitious new animated feature film.
The presentation was spearheaded by Caroline Duvochel, Managing Director of Ellipse Animation and Head of Audiovisual & Innovation at Média-Participations, alongside Morgann Favennec, Deputy Managing Director at Mediatoon Distribution and VP of International Financing at Ellipse Animation.
Opening the showcase, the executives reflected on the enduring legacy of the character. ‘Yakari has been with us for over fifty years, whether in books, on screen, on stage, and even in the theme park. This is a hero that has touched the hearts of generation after generation’, expressed Duvochel. Emphasizing the franchise’s timeless core values, they described the IP’s world as a place ‘where nature is protected, where humans respect animals, where parents respect children, and even where children respect their parents’. Recognizing the property’s immense value to Média-Participations, the team spent several years developing new content to refresh its visual style and cultural resonance for modern audiences.
Directed by Xavier Giacometti, the film follows the young Lakota hero as he sets out to win the trust of a giant guardian buffalo to save a wounded friend, discovering the true meaning of courage, wisdom, and friendship along the way.
Transitioning the classic 2D aesthetic into a new era, the film delivers a fully immersive 3D adventure that gives the characters a brand-new look while taking audiences deep into Lakota territory alongside their animal protectors.
The ambitious feature is a French-Belgian co-production that brings together France Télévisions and Wild Bunch Germany. It is slated for a theatrical release in France and Belgium during Easter 2027, followed by a premiere in Germany in early May. From there, Mediatoon Distribution plans to expand the film’s reach across numerous European territories, spanning from Portugal to the Baltics and across Central and Eastern Europe.
