Gaumont Animation (formerly Alphanim), along with rights owner Calidra and Italy’s Studio Campedelli, has signed on Japan’s TV Tokyo as a co-producer of the new 104 x 11-minute Calimero animated series.

Coinciding with the Italian/Japanese brand’s 50th anniversary, TV Tokyo will co-produce the series in Japan and handle distribution and licensing in Japan and across Asia. The Japanese premiere of the series is expected for 2014.

Additional broadcasters already on-board include France’s TF1, Italy’s RAI Fiction, Disney Junior, Tele Quebec and TSR in Switzerland.

The popular little black chicken character was created in 1963 by Nino Pagot, Toni Pagot and Ignazio Colnaghi, and has since been the focus of 290 episodes of animation aired in more than 80 countries. The series was first seen in Japan in the 1970s and later in the 1990s.

The new series has also expanded into apps and spawned a consumer products program that’s so far scored toy, apparel and plush licensing deals.