Welcome to Global Breakouts, Deadline’s fortnightly strand in which we shine a spotlight on the TV shows and films killing it in their local territories. The industry is as globalized as it’s ever been, but breakout hits are appearing in pockets of the world all the time and it can be hard to keep track… So we’re going to do the hard work for you.

After a short hiatus, we’re back this week, spotlighting the French animated series Samuel. The show is about a 10-year-old boy living in a small town who keeps a diary documenting his life, from his crush on Julie, to interactions with school mates Basil, Dimitri, Corentin and Bérenice. The unusual program consists of 21 episodes running two to six minutes. Having enjoyed success in France, Germany and Spain, it is now poised for a wider global push following the recent acquisition of...