A new animated TV series about Pippi Longstocking is in development. Behind the project are StudioCanal together with Heyday Films, Submarine, and Astrid Lindgren Aktiebolag, who now want to give the classic Swedish children’s book hero new life for today’s young audience.
The new series is described as a modern reinterpretation of Astrid Lindgren’s stories and will be produced with 3D CGI animation. The plan is for the series to consist of 52 episodes, each about eleven minutes long, with production starting in October 2026. International distribution will be handled by StudioCanal.
The scriptwriter will be Sara Daddy, who says it is a great privilege to manage one of the world’s most beloved children’s book characters. She emphasizes her desire to preserve Pippi’s independence, free thinking, and strength, while adapting the stories for a new generation of viewers.
Max Hallén, CEO of Astrid Lindgren Aktiebolag, tells Variety that Astrid Lindgren’s stories continue to attract new generations worldwide and that the ambition is to let Pippi reach even more children through modern platforms.
One of Sweden’s Most Beloved Literary Characters
Pippi Longstocking was created by Astrid Lindgren and made her book debut in 1945. Since then, the stories have been translated into over 80 languages and sold in more than 90 million copies worldwide. The books still sell about 1.5 million copies every year, making Pippi one of the most widely spread Swedish literary figures of all time.
Over the years, the character has been the subject of several film and TV productions. The most well-known is the classic Swedish TV series from 1969, while an animated series was produced in the late 1990s as an international co-production between Sweden, Canada, and Germany.
The new TV series is not the only project involving the red-haired heroine. StudioCanal, Heyday Films, and Astrid Lindgren Aktiebolag have also been working for some time on a new feature film about Pippi Longstocking. The film project was announced back in 2019 and is still under development.
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