New animation of 'The Little Prince' set for release in 2026
(ECNS) -- A new animation of “The Little Prince” will be released in China in the second half of 2026, according to Shanghai-based producers El Pajaro Pictures and Stars Collective.
Employing a hybrid animation approach that blends 2D watercolor techniques with 3D oil painting aesthetics, the new adaptation will present the author’s life from 1940 to 1944 alongside the little prince’s whimsical world.
The movie will be directed by Li Jihong, whose translation of “The Little Prince” in 2013 has sold over six million copies to date.
Li noted that they would adopt a completely new technological approach to present innovative visual effects and showcase a style never seen before, beyond American comics, Japanese anime, and Chinese animation.
This project has received full authorization from POMASE, the official body managing Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s legacy.
“The family of Antoine de Saint Exupéry has been thinking for a long time to a Chinese animated movie adapted from the original story ‘The Little Prince,’ given the success of the book in China,” said Olivier d’Agay, president of POMASE.
First published in 1943, The Little Prince has been translated into more than 300 languages and sold over 200 million copies globally. It has been adapted multiple times into TV series, musicals, stage plays, and films.
Peter Luo, founder of Stars Collective, stated that this collaboration would not only expand The Little Prince’s global influence but also open new possibilities for the convergence of culture and technology.