Stars Collective, a media investment group, has partnered with El Pajaro Pictures to produce a new adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's renowned classic "The Little Prince."

The new version tries to connect the narrative to Saint-Exupéry's life from 1940 to 1944, using a hybrid animation style that combines 2D watercolor methods with 3D oil painting aesthetics. The director is Li Jihong, who has previously translated "The Little Prince" into Chinese. His 2013 translation has sold more than six million copies. Li added that the new animated film will portray the author's enthralling and engaging tale behind his creation.

"The Little Prince" is a story of a young monarch who journeys from planet to planet, encountering weirdly interesting people who provide metaphoric insights into human nature. The narrative is told by a stranded pilot, as the prince relates his travels and desire to discover life's deeper truths. The short novel has inspired several adaptations over time and the book has been translated into over 200 languages with more than 100 million copies sold.

The agreement extends Stars Collective's aggressive rights-acquisition approach. Founded in 2020 by Peter Luo, the business recently optioned ‘Fortune Sons’ with Oscar winner Donna Gigliotti producing, and acquired rights to the bestseller "Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor".