France Télévisions, Italy’s RAI and Germany’s ZDF have co-commissioned a CG-animated series adaptation of American writer Bonnie Bryant’s kidlit series The Saddle Club.

The series is aimed at six to 12s and focuses on the coming-of-age story of a trio of kids who bond with horses during the summer on a picturesque bay. Bryant’s books have sold more than 16 million copies worldwide. 

Paris-based Frog Box and Italy’s Red Monk Studio are producing the series with Studio Moshi and ZDF Studios, with Superights handling international distribution. Delivery is set for mid-2027. 

Bryant’s books have sold more than 16 million copies worldwide, according to a release from Frog Box and Red Monk.

Crawford Productions and Protocol Entertainment previously made a live-action series based on the books more than 20 years ago. That three-season series drew multiple broadcasters and licensing partners, including Gulli (France), ABC Australia, YTV (Canada) and Discovery Kids in the US. 

This new series marks the first time the books are getting an animated adaptation. 

The Saddle Club has a lot going for it. Besides being based on a popular book series, kids have a perennial interest in horses. Long a source of inspiration for kids shows, companies such as Imagine Kids & Family, DreamWorks and Sixteen South and Nelvana have all saddled up their own horse-focused projects over the years. (And that’s not even including all the hit shows about unicorns and little ponies.)

Images courtesy of Frog Box and Red Monk Studio.