Update (1/27) - Official Nickelodeon press release:
NICKELODEON SETS U.S. DEBUT OF BRAND-NEW ANIMATED PRESCHOOL SERIES MR. CROCODILE ON FEB. 23
Acquisition from Joann Sfar’s Magical Society & Mediawan Kids & Family, Based on Best-Selling French Children’s Book Mister Crocodile is Very Hungry from Joann Sfar
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| Lucky Croc | Episode #101 | Mr. Crocodile |
NEW YORK--JAN. 27, 2026--Nickelodeon will introduce the colorful characters and charming world of Mr. Crocodile to preschoolers with the debut of the brand-new animated series on Monday, Feb. 23, in the U.S. The series is based on the beloved French children’s book Monsieur Crocodile a Beaucoup Faim (Mister Crocodile is Very Hungry) by best-selling author Joann Sfar, published by Gallimard. Produced by Joann Sfar’s Magical Society and distributed by Mediawan Kids & Family, with the participation of Nickelodeon and France Télévisions, Mr. Crocodile launched in select markets internationally last year and will continue to roll out globally on Nick Jr. channels following the U.S. debut.
Mr. Crocodile follows the toothy, lovable Mr. Crocodile, alongside his best friend Daisy, as he cheerfully navigates life with boundless enthusiasm and comical misunderstandings due to his instinctive crocodile logic. New to a diverse and lively mobile home community, Mr. Crocodile lives with Daisy, and they split their time between her Mom and her Dad’s homes. Together, they turn everyday activities into zany adventures as they share an unconditional acceptance of each other's approach to life.
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| Lucky Croc | Episode #101 | Mr. Crocodile |
In the premiere episode on Monday, Feb. 23, at 10:30 a.m. (ET/PT), “Lucky Croc / Sleepover Croc,” Daisy and Mr. Crocodile search for a lucky item to help them win a bike raffle. Then, Mr. Crocodile can’t fall asleep at his first sleepover until the whole family pitches in to help. Mr. Crocodile will continue to premiere Monday-Thursday, at 10:30 a.m. (ET/PT) for four consecutive weeks, with encores at 5:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on the Nick Jr. channel.
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| Lucky Croc | Episode #101 | Mr. Crocodile |
Monsieur Crocodile a Beaucoup Faim is a beloved French children's book written by New York Times bestselling author Joann Sfar. Published by Gallimard, the story follows the adventures of a hungry crocodile who sets out to find something to eat, encountering unique challenges along the way. The book is a cherished favorite among children and parents alike, known for its charming illustrations and humorous narrative. For the past 30 years, Joann Sfar has created universes of fantastical worlds and magical characters, his works spanning comic books, novels, series, films that reach a worldwide audience. Sfar is also known for his bestselling illustrated book Little Vampire and for his adaptation of the French literary classic, The Little Prince.
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| Birthday Party | Episode #102 | Mr. Crocodile |
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| Sleepover Croc | Episode #103 | Mr. Crocodile |
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| Birthday Party | Episode #102 | Mr. Crocodile |
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| Lucky Croc | Episode #101 | Mr. Crocodile |
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Credits:
Mr. Crocodile was developed by Simon Nicholson and Joann Sfar, and is directed by Fabien Brandily. Rachel Lipman serves as Executive Producer alongside producers Aton Soumache, Joann Sfar, Rachel Lipman, and Cédric Pilot.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 46th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon is a division of Paramount, a Skydance Corporation (Nasdaq: PSKY).
About Mediawan Kids & Family
Mediawan Kids & Family is the division of Mediawan, the European independent multigenre studio, dedicated to the production and distribution of children and family content for audiences worldwide. The company is the European leader in animation and produces premium TV shows, high-end feature films and digital content for kids, teens, young adults and families.
Mediawan Kids & Family houses four production labels headquartered in France: the well-established animation label Method Animation (The Three Musketeers, Pirate Academy, Robin Hood Mischief in Sherwood, The Little Prince and Friends), brand-new 2D animation TV label for kids Somewhere Animation (Temtem, Leaves and Roots, Chefclub Adventures), live-action shows for youth and family studio Elliott Studio (Boule & Bill) and Mediawan Kids & Family Cinema (The Magnificent Life of Marcel Pagnol, Miraculous - The Movie, Little Nicholas: Happy as Can Be, The Little Prince). Mediawan Kids & Family is also present internationally through three labels: Palomar Animation in Italy (The Enchanted Village of Pinocchio, The Three Musketeers) Wildseed Studios in the UK (Tuff Pom, Dodo), and Submarine Animation in the Netherlands (Apollo 10½ : A Space Age Childhood, They Shot The Piano Player, Fox and Hare Save the Forest).
Mediawan Kids & Family hosts the distribution of all children's and family content within the Mediawan group, including Miraculous - Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir now produced by Miraculous Corp, the new company created by Mediawan and Zag and sold in over 150 countries. But also a significant catalog of 2,500 half-hours of programs such as Robin Hood – Mischief in Sherwood or The Enchanted Village of Pinocchio broadcasted in over 150 countries, and third-party acquisitions such as Maddie + Triggs, Duck and Frog (co-produced with BBC), Dogmatix and the Indomitables sold in over 45 countries and BarnKidz, a real international success.
About Joann Sfar’s Magical Society
Magical Society is a film and television studio based in Paris and London, where the London office is led by producers Paul Trijbits and JJ Lousberg. Co-founded by Aton Soumache and Joann Sfar, the studio is defined by its independent and innovative spirit. Under Sfar’s creative direction, Magical Society champions bold, singular, and impactful projects, bringing together exceptional creative, visual, and writing talents to bring audacious and unconventional stories to life. The studio has produced several animated feature films, including The Rabbi’s Cat and Little Vampire, both adapted from Sfar’s best-selling books. Magical Society is currently developing a premium and diverse slate of animated and live-action TV series and feature films, drawn from Sfar’s original IPs as well as other renowned works.
With his vast experience in publishing and comics, Sfar has successfully transferred a unique know-how to film and television, based on collective work and the attraction of talent. This ability to unite leading international authors, directors, screenwriters, and creators, along with Sfar's personal involvement in the studio's overall editorial line and his active participation in numerous projects, not only ensures quality but also maintains the unique and innovative spirit that characterizes Magical Society. The studio is committed to offering new and original perspectives, with premium content that challenges norms and explores singular, introspective, unusual, epic, or fantastical subjects, all with a distinctive aesthetic
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Nickelodeon will treat viewers to a sneak peek of Mr. Crocodile on Friday, January 30 at 11:00 a.m. (ET/PT).
From Animation Magazine:
How the ‘Mr. Crocodile’ Creative Team Turned Joann Sfar’s Story into a ‘Croc’ Solid Show
This article was written for the
March ’26 issue of Animation Magazine (No. 357).
Bestselling French author and comic-book writer Joann Sfar is no stranger to the world of animation. Two of his beloved books, The Rabbi’s Cat and Little Vampire, have been adapted into acclaimed animated movies. This month, TV audiences can enjoy a new adaptation of his children’s book Monsieur Crocodile a Beaucoup Faim (Mister Crocodile Is Very Hungry) on Nick Jr. channels worldwide and on France Télévisions in France.
Produced by Mediawan, France TV and Nickelodeon, Mr. Crocodile follows the adventures of the sharp-toothed reptile and his best friend, Daisy, who splits her time between her mom and dad’s homes. The show was developed by Simon Nicholson and Sfar, and is directed by Fabien Brandily. Rachel Lipman serves as executive producer alongside producers Sfar, Aton Soumache and Cédric Pilot.
“Our series tells the story of a little girl trying to understand the real world, accompanied by a real crocodile,” says Sfar. “To bring it to television, we changed many things, but we kept the friendship between the two characters, the joy they share and the idea that it’s the little girl who teaches the creature how to adapt to the human world.”
Watch the Teeth: Based on the book by Joann Sfar, ‘Mr. Crocodile’ centers on a giant reptile and his friendship with an optimistic young girl named Daisy who lives in a mobile home community.
Perfect for Animation
“Joann is an incredibly prolific author with more than 300 books to his name,” says producer Aton Soumache. “Together, we founded the production company Magical Society with a clear mission: to bring his universe to the screen. When we partnered, we mapped out his various children’s properties. Several had already found their way to animation, including Little Vampire and The Rabbi’s Cat, in 2D feature films and series. But we wanted to venture into CGI and create a 3D-animated series, and Mr. Crocodile immediately came to mind. We felt it had all the qualities to become Joann’s very first 3D series.”
Layla Lewis, senior VP of global acquisitions and content partnerships at Nickelodeon, adds, “The animation perfectly captures the delightful whimsical tone of Joann’s book, and we are excited to finally introduce the visually distinct world of Mr. Crocodile, Daisy and their friends, along with its theme of friendship — combined with plenty of humor and heart — to our Nickelodeon audiences worldwide.”
The animation for the show was produced in France and India. “In France, we worked with our own studio and teams at Magical Society, as well as Digital Banana Studio who, among many other contributions, did a remarkable job translating Joann’s drawings into 3D character models,” says Soumache. “The animation was also produced in Hyderabad, India, where we have built a great partnership with Warnick Studios, a newly launched company bringing together exceptional talents I had previously collaborated with on major shows I produced. We ran tests with them early on, and they immediately understood the spirit of Joann’s universe and our creative intent. They assembled an outstanding team of artists, and we could not be happier with the animation they delivered; it is truly beautiful.”
“Our series tells the story of a little girl trying to understand the real world, accompanied by a real crocodile. To bring it to television, we changed many things, but we kept the friendship between the two characters, the joy they share and the idea that it’s the little girl who teaches the creature how to adapt to the human world.” — Mr. Crocodile creator Joann Sfar
Soumache describes the show’s visuals as “truly unique,” thanks to Sfar’s distinctive style. “Moving from 2D to 3D is always a wonderful process, as it opens the door to interpretation. Just as with William Steig’s Shrek or Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts when adapted into CGI, when the translation works, something magical happens; it becomes its own thing, unlike anything else. Joann’s loose and lively line work makes his drawings feel spontaneous yet always incredibly expressive, and we were determined to keep that energy.”
He points out that by preserving the eccentricities of Sfar’s characters — faces that stretch, noses that hook, proportions that bend — and staying true to what makes the artist’s creations unforgettable, the team brought that spirit into CG animation. “We knew that if we held on to that essence, the visual style of the series would be just as charming as his books,” Soumache adds. “That is what we hoped to achieve with Monsieur Crocodile: You can still feel Joann’s line, the designs carry real personality and uniqueness, and it looks like nothing else on the market.”
Mr. Crocodile [France TV/Nickelodeon/Mediawan]
All character designs and the early visual research by Sfar and the production artists began as hand-drawn illustrations. From there, the production shifted into digital production using industry-standard tools: Photoshop for digital development, Toon Boom for storyboarding, Adobe Premiere for both animatics and final editing, ZBrush for character sculpting and Maya for overall series modeling. “Throughout the process, we placed our artists at the heart of the creation, combining traditional craft with the most reliable CGI tools to bring Joann’s characters and universe vividly to life,” the producer notes.
Julien Borde, president of Mediawan Kids & Family, which handles the worldwide distribution of the show, says the reception to the series has been quite strong in France since it premiered on Christmas. “The show launched on both Okoo, the dedicated platform for preschoolers and children, and on France 5, one of the French public broadcaster’s main channels,” he says. “It has been very positively welcomed by children and their caregivers. Mr. Crocodile has already achieved strong linear and on-demand ratings, outperforming all competitor shows in its timeslot … Mediawan Kids & Family is distributing the show internationally, and we can’t wait to see the reaction of children worldwide.”
Sfar says he loves that the animated series has preserved the spirit of his characters and artwork. “I immediately recognize my universe, even as it has been reshaped for animation,” he says. “I am thrilled by what feels new as much as what feels familiar. There is a wonderful freedom in the adaptation.”
“The teamwork that brought this series to life has been exceptional,” says Soumache. “We assembled a wonderful writing team. Rachel Lipman, [the] executive producer, did extraordinary work in close collaboration with the Nickelodeon teams. Director Fabien Brandily was the true guardian of Joann Sfar’s universe and humor throughout the process. We are very fortunate to have had them with us, and I am incredibly proud to have delivered this ambitious international series, one that speaks to today’s children, combining the rare beauty of Joann Sfar’s unique style with global talent, resulting in something genuinely magical and one of a kind.”
Snoopy, Shrek, Calvin and Hobbes
Sfar says the most challenging aspect of the project was translating his drawings and watercolors into CGI. “I am a draftsman in the tradition of William Steig and Quentin Blake, artists who work in line and watercolor, and turning that into volume requires countless back-and-forth adjustments,” he explains. “Rather than trying to copy my line exactly, the goal was to reproduce the proportions, personalities and attitudes, and in that respect, it has been very successful.”
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| Monsieur Crocodile a Beaucoup Faim |
When asked about his inspirations, Sfar says, “The artists I love and who inspire my books are Charles Schulz with Peanuts and Bill Watterson with Calvin and Hobbes, but when it comes to discovering volume, I draw a lot from puppet shows. There is a great deal of Sesame Street in Mr. Crocodile, and beyond the feel-good aspect, the idea of spending real time with the characters. A bit like in Peanuts or The Muppet Show: Yes, there is a story, but equally the impression and the joy of simply being with them.”
He adds, “I just rewatched Blue Sky’s animated feature The Peanuts Movie, and I find it both very faithful to the book and wonderfully inventive. I would love for viewers to feel the same with Mr. Crocodile, to sense the sincerity and the care shown toward both the original book and the audience. The team behind the series has truly brought this mix of kindness and ambition.”
Mr. Crocodile premieres on Nick Jr. U.S. on Monday, February 23.
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