The Tiger Who Came to Tea Gets Animated Special

The Tiger Who Came to Tea, written by Judith Kerr and published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, has been adapted as a new hand-drawn animated special for Channel 4 in the U.K.

The picture book is being brought to the screen by Lupus Films, which also did We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. The 30-minute special will air on Channel 4 next year.

The book property has sold over 5 million copies since it was first published in 1968.

Caroline Hollick, Channel 4’s head of drama, said: “The Tiger Who Came to Tea was one of my favorite books as a child, and I loved reading it to my own children when they were small. I’m thrilled that Channel 4 is bringing this beloved book to life this coming Christmas, so we can enjoy it all over again, as well as introduce the story to a whole new audience.”

Chloe Tucker, commissioning executive for Channel 4 Drama, said: “We are delighted to bring Judith Kerr’s iconic and much-loved children’s book to our screens. The Tiger Who Came to Tea is a timeless classic, and we hope this film will capture the same special place in every family’s imagination watching it. This will be real a Christmas treat, created by the wonderful Lupus Films, who created We’re Going on a Bear Hunt for us and whose hand-drawn animation is perfect for bringing classic children’s books to life.”

Ruth Fielding, producer and co-founder of Lupus Films, said: “We are delighted to be creating a new animated film for Channel 4 using our unique hand-drawn style. This timeless tale, with huge cross-generational appeal, is the perfect literary classic to adapt for a seasonal special when the whole family can come together to watch it. We cannot wait to bring Judith’s delightful illustrations to life in animation and have assembled an exceptional team to do so.”