Canadian studio Avanti-Toast has appointed Barcelona-based GoldBee as the first international distributor of its teen-skewing series First Line.

A young female hockey player faces challenges in her budding career and personal life when she joins a men’s team in this 26 x 21-minute live-actioner. It’s based on Canadian author Nadia Lakhdari’s Premier Trio (in English, First Trio) book series, which spans five titles and is published by Montreal-based Les Éditions les Malins. 

The show’s focus on the relationship between teens facing the challenges of puberty gives it universal appeal, says GoldBee managing director Christophe Goldberger. “First Line portrays the contemporary trials and tribulations of today’s youth, echoing the very real experiences of young women in elite sports and society in general.”

GoldBee was also drawn to the series because it shows how the world of hockey is changing to be more inclusive, but there’s still room for improvement—something kids today fully recognize, Goldberger says.

Canadian broadcaster ICI Radio-Canada Télé and Radio-Canada’s streamer ICI Tou.tv EXTRA commissioned First Line and have already started airing it. A second 26 x 30-minute season is in production now and will hit both platforms in 2024.

GoldBee, which won Distributor of the Year at last week’s Cartoon Forum event, sells more than 2,000 half hours of programming from studios including Canada’s Sphere Animation (The Game Catchers) and Sardine Productions (Chop Chop Ninja).