A feminist, women-created animated series is on the way. “Brazen,” Penelope Bagieu’s graphic novel about rebellious, independent women throughout history, will be adapted for TV, Variety reports. The series will boast 30 three-minute episodes, each of which will showcase a trailblazing woman. Characters will include real-life ladies like journalist Nellie Bly, astronaut Mae Jemison, dancer Josephine Baker, and revolutionary Naziq al-Abid.
Sarah Saidan, director of “Beach Flags” and an alumna of the French animation school La Poudriere, has signed on to helm “Brazen.” Agat films & Cie and Silex Films are producing the show, which will air on France Televisions.
“Through these portraits, we’ll chart the battles and achievements of these women who have gone mostly unnoticed,” said Silex Films producer and co-founder Judith Nora. “Our aim is to create mini-biopics which will be playful, funny, moving, and engaging enough to interest multiple demos.”
Originally published as the two-volume “Les Culottées,” “Brazen” has sold 200,000 units in France. Bagieu’s book will hit U.S. shelves on March 6, 2018 to coincide with International Women’s Day. The U.S. publication will be called “Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World.”
Another woman-written graphic novel headed to the screen is Emil Ferris’ “My Favorite Thing Is Monsters.” Sony recently acquired the film rights to the story about a young woman trying to solve a murder while facing off with monsters — some imaginary, some all-too-real.
