Anne Gutman is a French author and creator of children’s books, born in Paris in 1970. She originally worked as a layout artist before meeting illustrator Georg Hallensleben in the 1990s, who encouraged her to begin writing stories. Their creative partnership led to a long-standing collaboration in which Gutman provides the text and the distinctive voices of the characters, while Hallensleben creates the illustrations. They are married and live in Paris with their three children.

Gutman is best known for originating several successful book series created with Hallensleben. The Gaspard et Lisa series, featuring two anthropomorphic animal characters, has been translated into fourteen languages and sold over two million copies worldwide. The series became a significant phenomenon in Japan, where the characters have a dedicated area within the Fuji-Q Highland amusement park. Another major work is the Penelope series, which centers on a young koala. Other collaborative series include Mon Chaton.

Gutman’s role as an original creator extends to animated adaptations of her book series. The Penelope series was adapted into an anime titled Pénélope tête en l’air, also known as Ukkari Pénélope, which was produced by Nippon Animation and consisted of 52 episodes. This adaptation was acquired for international distribution and is the anime referenced in the example of Pénélope tête en l’air and Pénélope’s Christmas Party. Similarly, the Gaspard et Lisa series was adapted into an animated series that has been broadcast in over 80 countries.

Her artistic identity is defined by her long-term collaboration with Georg Hallensleben, with her contribution focusing on storytelling and giving character to the narratives through text. Her works are noted for their gentle humor and have achieved significant commercial success and international recognition, particularly in Japan, establishing her as a prominent figure in the world of children’s publishing and cross-media franchises.