People who were children in the 1980s surely remember the Japanese animated series Cat's Eyes, the story of three sisters who run a café by day and steal works of art by night. Forty years after the broadcast of this anime based on a manga, the three heroines Sylia, Tamara, and Alexia are returning to television in a TV series on TF1. Here are 5 things to know about this fiction that should delight many nostalgic viewers.
1- The story was transposed to Paris.
The manga by Tsukasa Hojo and the animated series derived from it tell the adventures of Sylia, Tamara, and Alexia, three sisters who run a café called Le Cat's Eyes. But that's not all! At night, the three sisters become skilled thieves as they seek to recover artworks that belonged to their father, a German artist who disappeared without a trace. By reuniting his entire collection, they hope to find him.
TF1's new adaptation is expected to follow this story, with a few differences... The action now takes place in Paris in 2023.
Sylia, Tamara, and Alexia reunite after several years apart. At the same time, an artwork that belonged to their father resurfaces during a prestigious exhibition at the Eiffel Tower: the three sisters decide to retrieve it by any means necessary, even if the police quickly start chasing them.
2- This series brings together a stellar cast.
To portray the Chamade sisters in the new series Cat's Eyes, the production has enlisted faces well-known to French viewers:
• Camille Lou in the role of Tamara.
• Constance Labbé as Sylia.
• Claire Romain (seen in Ici tout commence) in the role of Alexia.
In addition to this lovely trio of actresses, singer and actor MB14 is part of the cast, playing Quentin Chapuis, the police inspector who tracks the thieves while unaware that one of them is his great love.
In the very enticing trailer for the series, Élodie Fontan and Gilbert Melki appear. Actors Carole Bouquet, Gilles Cohen, and Ophélia Kolb are also said to have participated in this project.
3- It is directed by Alexandre Laurent.
If the casting of the Cat's Eyes series on TF1 is promising, the name of the director is just as much. The channel has indeed entrusted the adaptation of the famous 1980s manga and animated series to Alexandre Laurent.
Alexandre Laurent has already directed numerous fictions for TF1: Le secret d'Elise in 2016 and La Mante in 2017. He is also the director behind the historical dramas Le bazar de la charité (in 2019) and Les Combattantes (in 2022).
Although experienced, director Alexandre Laurent stated in the press that this shoot was "the most challenging of his career" because it required many hours of night work. But it was worth it since this TV series promises us magnificent shots in iconic locations of the capital: the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre as well as the Palace of Versailles!
She asked for 6 years of work.
The adaptation of the Cat's Eyes cartoon into a TV series is a project that TF1 is taking very seriously. According to information revealed by the production in the media, this highly anticipated fiction by fans required no less than six years of work.
Prior to filming, which took place in Paris between October 2023 and May 2024, five years of discussions were necessary to bring this 8-episode adaptation of 52 minutes each to life.
The author of the original manga, Tsukasa Hojo, supervised the writing of the script and imposed certain rules on the writers, including not portraying the three heroines as criminals.
5- The release date is not yet known.
In the trailer, the Cat's Eyes series is announced as the must-see series of the season on TF1. However, the channel has not yet revealed any specific broadcast date.
While waiting for this new adaptation, the most eager fans can find the manga Signed Cat's Eyes for free on the TF1+ platform.