EXCLUSIVE: Sycamore Studios, the kids and family animation studio from former Participant exec Christian McGuigan and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Timothy Reckart, has acquired animation rights to Madeline, the iconic children’s book series written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans.
Under the deal, Sycamore has begun early development on a new animated musical feature envisioned as a sweeping celebration of Bemelman’s timeless world. Subsequently, they’ll look to expand the Madeline brand across film, television, and strategic licensing initiatives, with a focus on preserving the heart and legacy that has resonated with generations of families.
Sycamore will do so in close collaboration with the Bemelmans family, including Barbara Bemelmans — who was the inspiration for her father’s classic character and has been a devoted steward of his work — and John Bemelmans Marciano, author of the bestselling Klawde series and writer of six additional Madeline books that built on his grandfather’s legacy following his passing.
Calling Madeline “one of the great treasures of children’s literature,” Sycamore CEO McGuigan told Deadline, “Between our leadership team, we have 15 kids under the age of ten. In every one of our homes, Madeline is a favorite, as it has been for millions of families around the world for generations.”
The connection he and his colleagues have to the books is “deeply personal,” he said, and thus, expanding the franchise will be handled with “love and responsibility” toward Bemelman’s work.
Speaking on behalf of the Bemelman family, Bemelmans Marciano added, “We are incredibly excited to be working with Sycamore Studios. From the start, they’ve been so respectful of the legacy that has been part of our family for nearly nine decades now. Most important has been their willingness to understand what makes Madeline a timeless character, and not a vessel for the most popular kid trends of the moment.”
Kicking off with the eponymous 1939 picture book, the Madeline franchise chronicled the adventures of a fearless redheaded girl living in a Paris boarding school run by Miss Clavel. Bemelman’s original work was a Caldecott Honor title, and he ultimately went on to pen six Madeline books through 1961.
The Madeline books have sold millions of copies worldwide. An early steward of the franchise in its journey to the screen, the French-American DIC Entertainment adapted the first book into an animated special for HBO in 1988 before going on to produce a well-known animated series from 1993 to 2001. That teration won multiple Emmys, including the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Animated Program, and ran for several seasons, broadening the brand’s global footprint as it moved between The Family Channel, PBS, and later, Disney Channel.
In 1998, Madeline hit movie theaters via a TriStar Pictures title starring Hatty Jones as Madeline and Frances McDormand as Miss Clavel. Beyond these adaptations, the franchise has generated stage adaptations, plenty of merchandise, and more.
Founded in 2024, Sycamore Studios’ slate of family-driven event projects also includes an adaptation of Hugh Lofting’s children’s classic Doctor Dolittle, penned by the Paw Patrol franchise’s Cal Brunker and Bob Barlen, as well as Zita the Spacegirl, written by Despicable Me‘s Ken Daurio and exec produced by Marvel Studios vet Jeremy Latcham. Additionally, they’ve set a first-look deal with John Patrick Green, creator of the graphic novel series InvestiGators.
McGuigan, Waterman, and Brandon Milostan of Greenberg Glusker negotiated the Madeline deal on behalf of Sycamore Studios. Repping the Bemelmans estate were Jill Grinberg of Jill Grinberg Literary Management, Lee Rosenbaum for RLG LLP, and Bemelmans Marciano.
