Bad guys and police inspectors, beware! This fall, TF1, Amazon Prime Video, and Big Band Story are bringing back Tsukasa Hojo’s female trio Cat’s Eye to the TV screen for the first time in a live-action series. Meanwhile, Banijay Kids&Family – partnering with Amazon MGM Studios and Gloria Sanchez Productions – announced in June a brand-new live-action adaptation of the Totally Spies! franchise.
On both fronts, turning to live-action brings new challenges but also opens new perspectives for growth and reaching new audiences, a key element in keeping these IPs top-of-mind.
Announced in 2023 for the 40th anniversary of the franchise, the Cat’s Eye live-action series, created by Michel Catz and directed by Alexandre Laurent (Women at War), will shed new light on the Chamade Sisters origin story while reuniting French and international fans with the beloved characters. “We’re all from the Cat’s Eye’s generation”, says producer Mehdi Sabbar. *Michel is an expert on Hojo’s oeuvre, but it took no less than five years of exchange with Hojo’s team before the project could be confirmed. It’s a matter of building trust with the artist and the original owner of the IP, but also adapting the material and fitting it to modern audiences without altering the spirit of Hojo’s story more than seven years ago.“
“Cat’s Eye is a story with action, emotion and fun,” adds Michel Catz. “We wanted to retain those elements but in the meantime dive deeper into the characters’ backgrounds and their motivations for becoming thieves in this Parisian setting. Our goal is to remain truthful to the fans who love the show, but also captivate young girls and boys alike and create a new generation of Cat’s Eye fans.“
Captivating new generations is the leitmotif for every producer, when it concerns longstanding IPs. And going to live-action with the Totally Spies! franchise is definitely a good way to achieve this goal, according to Benoit Di Sabatino, CEO at Banijay Kids and Family.
“The live-action adaptation of Totally Spies! will bring a fresh and dynamic dimension to the franchise. This transition allows us to explore more grown-up, multifaceted themes and narratives, aligning with the interests of a young adult audience. The tone of the series will naturally develop to reflect this shift, incorporating deeper character development and more sophisticated storylines while maintaining the core elements of adventure and espionage, and the show’s positive messages about friendship and teamwork that fans love.
Not only revitalizing the franchise, this approach broadens its appeal, ensuring Totally Spies! remains relevant and engaging for both new and long-time fans. Young-adult series are highly sought after by streaming platforms, so Totally Spies! is the perfect fit for Prime Video. Additionally, the series’ main characters are women, catering to the streamers demand for live-action content with a strong ‘girl power’ theme. In taking this step, we also strengthen our capacity and expand on the opportunities to deliver a broader range of merchandise for fans new and old around the world.“
After being modernized into tech-savvy, skillful gamers in season 7 of the animated series to match current trends and technological advancements, Samantha, Clover, and Alex will now become new empowering teenage icons, opening fresh opportunities for Banijay’s commercial teams.
For Roubina Tchoboian, Head of Global Licensing at Banijay Kids & Family, navigating these international markets is hardly a new challenge. “Today, the brand resonates hugely on a global scale, and we are able to cater to a dual audience: its main target of six-to nine-year-olds, and a secondary audience of Millennial and Gen-Z fans. By focusing on retro-themed merchandise and experiences, we can maintain the strong existing fanbase while introducing the show to a new generation of kids.
We just launched our collaboration with Skinnydip London and you can expect to continue seeing Totally Spies! in this realm with more tech, apparel, accessories, beauty and gifting, with the help of our new agent CWA in North America. Another category worth exploring is experiences and live events. We’ve received some interest in this area, and, since the brand’s essence is rooted in spy adventures, there are many opportunities to create engaging experiences.“
Cat’s Eye is set to air in November on TF1, and globally on Prime Video in the following months. Fans will have to wait a little longer for the Totally Spies! adaptation, set to release in 2025. An 8th season of the show has also been confirmed, set to air also in 2025.
Curated by Kévin Giraud
