Dargaud Distribution, the sales arm of leading French producer Dargaud Marina, has signed a raft of sales for CHILDHOOD STORIES, eight animated television specials based upon popular children’s books. Broadcasters on board include Italy’s RAI 3, Teletoon in France, Spain’s TV3 and NRK Norway for this unique collection of films while Dargaud Distrib. is targeting further international sales at MIPCOM.

Aimed at a family audience, each 26-minute special is the screen adaptation of a popular children’s novel chosen from contemporary and classic literature. The books include Mark Twain’s THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER, ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS by Lewis Carroll, THE KING OF THE CLOUD FOREST by Michael Morpurgo and HAROLD PEBBLE by Sempé as well as CATFISH BLUES by Gerard Herzhaft, Marie Desplechins’ GREEN, SUN HORSE by Anne Labbé and THE PROVERB by Marcel Aymé.

French animation companies Storimages and Les Films De L’Arlequin made four specials each while Dargaurd Distrib. has worldwide distribution rights to all eight CHILDHOOD STORIES.

“It’s fantastic to bring these films to new broadcasters,” said Guillaume Galliot, gm at Dargaud Distrib. “CHILDHOOD STORIES combines wonderful story-telling with eye-catching animation. Audiences young and old will enjoy these magical tales bought to life.”

Part of Groupe Dargaud, Dargaud Distrib. (www.dargaudmarina.fr) is one of Europe’s leading catalogs of children’s and family programming specializing in animation. In addition to Dargaud Marina’s slate of shows, it handles the distribution for its recently acquired animation producer Ellipsanime, as well as third party distribution for other leading independent producers.