French animation studio and Arcane co-creator Fortiche is partnering with French-German broadcaster Arte on original, coming-of-age mini-series Miss Saturne.
Described as a generational fiction infused with music in 2D animation, the project is adapted from French writer Barbara Israël’s eponymous 1984-set novel about 16-year-old Mercy and Tom, who flee Nice, the French riviera, and their past aboard a night train.
Carried along by a 1980s New Wave mixtape, they revisit the key moments of their adolescence and the personal drama that marked them forever.
Miss Saturne marks Fortiche’s second announced project in development since the second and final season of Arcane, their League of Legends-inspired spin-off with Riot Games and Netflix which propelled the company to international fame.
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Aimed at teenagers and adults, the series is being developed with ARTE France and Les Storygraphes. Louise Silverio, scriptwriter, and Anne Raffin, art director and director, are leading development.
“With Miss Saturne, we’ve found a team with the perfect artistic sensibility. Louise Silverio brings her already known flair for coming-of-age stories, having worked on the award-winning series Happiness and Ceux qui rougissent,” said Fortiche founder Jérôme Combe.
“Anne Raffin, who worked on Arcane and music videos, fully shares our desire to explore a strong aesthetic for today’s youth. This project is an opportunity for us to explore indie animation designed for the new generation.”
Co-producer Annelyse Vieilledent at Les Storygraphes described Miss Saturne as a unique project rooted in the 80s, and capturing the essence of adolescence with a musical and emotional intensity that crosses generations.
“At a time when young people are rediscovering the retro musical repertoire of that decade, I’m convinced that this free, visceral and resolutely pop tale will resonate strongly with them.” she said.
Fortiche said the project also aligns with its own close relationship with music which has always influenced its visual and narrative identity.
Initially conceived in a longer format, Miss Saturne has recently been redesigned as a short series of ten 10-minute episodes to adapt to new uses and better reach the young adult audience.
This evolution is in line with ARTE’s editorial line, which supports the project and affirms its desire to support contemporary animated stories with committed narratives aimed at adolescents and young adults.
Currently in development, the series aims to go into production in 2026 for broadcast in 2027. As part of this dynamic, Fortiche is seeking to strengthen the project’s international scope, and is actively engaged in discussions with foreign partners, broadcasters, platforms, co-producers and distributors, all of whom are invested in animation for young adults.
The Fortiche team are at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival this week for a special behind-the-scenes exhibition devoted to Arcane. It was curated and produced by Fortiche and Riot Games in partnership with the festival and features concept and research artwork, video and content showing the major production steps as well as props and behind-the-scenes material.
