The special was nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Animated Program (One Hour or Less). The special was narrated by Christopher Plummer, and featured original music and songs by Joe Raposo (who died four months before the special aired), with lyrics by Judy Rothman and Howard Ashman. The screenplay was written by Judy Rothman, who was writer, lyricist and story editor for nearly all subsequent Madeline animated projects.
In 1988, DIC Entertainment and Cinar (later Cookie Jar Entertainment, both are now subsidiaries of DHX Media) adapted the first book into an animated television special for HBO. It was Madeline's first appearance on television. Madeline was played by Gina Gillespie, child actor Michel Petit played Pepito, and Imogene Coca portrayed Miss Clavel.
In 1960, the Madeline stories were adapted into a one-hour color episode for the NBC series The Shirley Temple Show. He has a crush on Madeline and is also the son of a spanish ambassador and his wife. He then became friendly to Madeline and the others after they saved him from a group of dogs. When he first appeared in the series, he appeared rude to the girls, and cruel towards animals, But seemed friendly to Miss Clavel. Pepito (voiced by AJ Bond (1993-1994), David Morse (1995)) - Pepito is roughly 7-8 years old and is the girls' next-door neighbor. She acts as teacher, caregiver, and role model to the girls. Miss Clavel (voiced by Louise Vallance) - The headmistress of the boarding school in Paris that houses the 12 little girls. She is shown to have a bit of a mischievous streak which often leads her into trouble. She is roughly 6 years old and has red hair. Madeline (voiced by Tracey Lee Smythe (1993-1994), Andrea Libman (1995)) - Madeline is the smallest girl in Miss Clavel's boarding school. In the end, though, she always comes out all right. Madeline, although the smallest girl in Miss Clavel's boarding school in Paris, nevertheless manages to get herself into one predicament after another, causing her friends and teachers no end of worry. The show won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Animated Program. Christopher Gaze succeeded Christopher Plummer as narrator. (although overseas screenings had "Hats Off to Madeline" as the opening theme). The theme song was changed to "Our Madeline" In 2000, DIC produced 26 episodes for the Disney Channel. until the series was run on the Disney Channel beginning in 1997.
ABC cancelled the series after seven weeks, meaning six episodes did not air in the U.S. The episodes featured a new theme song, "Hats Off to Madeline", music by Andy Street with lyrics by Judy Rothman. In 1995, an additional 14 episodes were produced by DIC for ABC, under the title The New Adventures of Madeline. The series was rerun on the Disney Channel and Toon Disney in the U.S.
Christopher Plummer reprised his role as narrator from the previous specials and "I'm Madeline" was used as the series' theme song. Madeline is a television series produced in 1993 by DIC Entertainment, which aired on the Family Channel. Twenty episodes were produced for the first series.