Mediatoon has finalized several presales for a new CG/2D-animated series from Ellipse Animation and Belvision called Belfort & Lupin (formerly Versailles Unleashed), which will deliver in Q1 2025. 

SWR (Germany), VRT (Belgium), RTS (Switzerland) and MTVA (Hungary) have all put in orders for the toon, joining co-commissioners France Télévisions, Radio-Canada and RTBF (Belgium). 

Aimed at six to nines, this 26 x 22-minute comedy inspired by real French history is in production now. It’s set in 17th-century France at the Palace of Versailles, with a premise revolving around a royal dog and a wolf living in the garden. Each episode also contains a one-minute clip explaining the historical fact that influenced its story. 

Belfort & Lupin‘s producers were granted access to the palace and modeled the show’s settings and stories to reflect real events that took place there. In one episode, for example, Louis XIV wants ice cream (well-documented as one of the monarch’s favorite treats). But when his servants bring in the ice to make it, a marmot inadvertently tags along. The palace’s resident animals have to figure out how to melt the ice so the servants will go back out for more—and take the unwanted marmot with them. 

Creator and showrunner T.J. Stehly was struck when he visited Versailles by the extent to which animals permeate its history, paintings and architecture. (In the 17th century, there was even a menagerie that housed elephants, lions and exotic birds.) He developed this observation into a series concept about life at the palace from the animals’ perspectives. Philippe Vidal (The Garfield Show) is directing the series. 

Mediatoon has scripts and animatics available to share, and two first episodes will be completed in time for Annecy in June.