Academy Award-nominated French animation studio Xilam Animation has greenlit its brand-new adventure comedy Submarine Jim, following the signing of its first pre-sales for the series with European broadcasters France Télévisions (France) and Super RTL (Germany). Xilam Animation is now commencing production on the 52 x 11’ 2D animation, which targets kids aged 6-9 years old and is set to be delivered by Q2 2026.
Submarine Jim, created by Frédéric Martin – the acclaimed director behind Xilam’s hit preschool series “Oggy Oggy” – delves into the tale of a naive, young dolphin named Jim. Tasked with steering the world’s first-ever submarine on wheels, Jim leads a motley crew of underwater friends on a whirlwind journey across land and sea.
Their water-filled tube has left the ocean to seek out an unlikely destination, the pristine waters of ‘Fishland’. Luckily, with no set route in sight, their journey promises to be a long and winding one. Along the way, as they embark on their mission and navigate plenty of twists, Jim will be torn between his captain responsibilities and fun times with his best friends: Bianca, the daring orca and the ever-reliable ship steward, Cyril the anchovy. Together, they navigate the choppy waters of friendship and self-discovery.
Marc du Pontavice, Founder and CEO at Xilam Animation, said: “We’re excited to be working with the highly talented Fred Martin once again – he has a remarkable track record in crafting comedy for global audiences, and we all instantly loved his concept for Submarine Jim. It’s a pure, laugh-out-loud funny series that builds on our long-standing experience in the comedy space, and we know it will appeal to kids and families all over the world. We’re also thrilled to have the trust of our long-term partners France Télévisions and Super RTL and for them to be joining us on this new adventure – which will bring unforgettable experiences and surprises galore for Jim and audiences alike.”