Cat’s Eyes on TF1: How did the series team convince the manga creator?

This is definitely the day everyone has been waiting for!

This Monday, November 11, TF1 will broadcast the first episodes of Cat’s Eyes, the live-action series adapted from Tsukasa Hojo’s cult manga of the same name.

A phenomenon in Japan since the early 1980s, cat eyes were first filmed in an animated series in 1983. However, we will have to wait another three years before the French discover the adventures of Tami, Cilia and Alexia. television.

Over time, Tsukasa Hojo’s work became established around the world, leading to various adaptations. Today it’s France’s turn to adapt it into a TF1 series.

But how did the team behind the series led by Camille Lu, Constance Labe and Claire Romain convince Tsukasa Hojo to take on the project?

A passionate team

A team of enthusiasts is behind this modern version of Cat’s Eyes. Be it Michel Katz, the screenwriter, Benjamin Dupont-Jouben and Mehdi Sabari, the producers, or even Alexandre Laurent, the director, everyone is a fan of Tsukasa Hojo’s work.

Big fans of manga, Benjamin Dupont-Jouben, Mehdi Sabari and Michel Katz have always dreamed of working in this world. And for them, if the manga had to be adapted, it had to be Cat’s Eyes.

“It’s a story that seemed clearly transferable to France. It was also a time when no one went to Japan. So we contacted Mr. Tsukasa Hojo and told him that we wanted to adapt the cat’s eyes.” explained Benjamin Dupont-Joubien at the microphone of Allociné.

So the team submitted the first proposal, stating their desire to tell the origin story of the cat’s eyes. Indeed, Benjamin Dupont-Jouben, Mehdi Sabar and Michel Kat wanted to answer the questions that arose in their heads while reading the manga: How did the Shamade sisters become thieves? How did they come to own the cafe?

The Tsukasa Hôjô manufacturing company responded positively to this first proposal. “We met in Rome. We showed them that we were really into it, that we were true fans and that we would do our best to honor the spirit of his work and modernize it. They were totally ready for it. And then it took time to negotiate, sign contracts in Japanese. All this takes some time“, Michel Katz told us.

And after five years of negotiations, the project finally took shape.

“We slowly gained his trust”

However, before obtaining the rights, it was necessary to gain the trust of Tsukasa Hojo.

“Slowly we gained his trust– Benjamin Dupont-Jubien told us before adding.He had to trust the people who were going to adapt his work and that their vision for the adaptation would respect his work. He encouraged us to find our voice and told us, “Do your own show.” But he could only say this when he realized that he could trust us and that we were not going to betray his cause. So the first step was to let him know that we knew his work, his work, the values ​​and emotions he was trying to convey, and that we were going to live up to that spirit. Once we got that, we had a lot of room to maneuver“.

This is largely why discussions between the two sides have continued. Benjamin Dupont-Jubien, Mehdi Sabbar and Michel Catz sent the first 80-page document to start the discussion and gain the mangaka’s trust.

“When we got to the Japanese, the coordinator asked us what exactly we wanted to do when they received the document. They wanted us to share our vision. This ensured that the document was not written by an intern, but was definitely our vision. They were very willing to trust the people they worked with“, explains Benjamin Dupont-Jouben.

What was important to Tsukasa Hojo?

Adaptation necessarily involves some changes. If the French team had carte blanche, Tsukasa Hojo still set certain conditions.

Mangaka’s interest is primarily directed at “The story of these three sisters“, – explains Michel Katz.What Tsukada Hojo asked us to do was to respect the fact that the Shamadi sisters are not criminals. So they don’t have guns, they don’t shoot people. They can protect themselves, but they are not violent or criminals. They only steal works of art belonging to their father“.

The detail makes this commitment clear. The writers had originally planned a scene where Tam, Celia, and Alexia steal gear from a sports store, an idea that Tsukasa rejected. For him, Shamadi’s sisters are not thieves. They only take back what belongs to them.

“It was very important to him. He also asked us to hold onto the fact that Quentin didn’t suspect Tam for as long as possible. Which in the end was the most difficult for us. And then he wanted them to respect the works of art and not throw them off the building for example.– concludes Michel Katz.

The first episodes of Cat’s Eyes can be seen this Monday 11 November from 21:10 on TF1.