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The latest season of French hit “Bright Minds” marks a major milestone for France TV Distribution’s light crime series, with part of the filming taking place in Tokyo for the first time due to its huge popularity in the country.
The unprecedented co-production between JLA Productions and NHK Enterprises of Japan was made possible thanks to France TV Distribution, which played a key role as a business facilitator and matchmaker in bringing together the two companies.
The collaboration opens new perspectives for the series and strengthens its international reach, according to the Paris-based world sales company.
“Bright Minds” (known in France as “Astrid et Raphaëlle”), about a neurodivergent police records archivist with an extraordinary memory and perspicacity who assists an impulsive police inspector solve complex crimes, has established itself as the most-watched series in France. In 2025, the show accumulated 24 million video views on france.tv, making it the most-watched scripted series on the platform (excluding daytime).
Season 7 promises to take Astrid (Sara Mortensen) and Raphaëlle (Lola Dewaere) through a slew of new adventures and personal challenges, from survivalism and ancient Egypt to Hindu communities, houseboat murders and investigations between Paris and Tokyo.
Astrid and Raphaëlle have their work cut out for them as their daily lives are suddenly turned upside down: the police records department is threatened with closure, abruptly depriving Astrid of her bearings as she faces the loss of her one and only refuge. Raphaëlle, meanwhile, is recovering after a long rehabilitation and must confront the loss of her mobility, which prevents her from conducting investigations with her former energy.
To face these new challenges, Astrid and Raphaëlle are forced to completely reinvent their relationship, potentially threatening their precious friendship.
Astrid and Raphaëlle are at the heart of the series’ success, which extends far beyond French borders: “Bright Minds” has sold in more than 130 countries and its popularity continues to grow. The series has also inspired a British remake, the Channel 4 hit “Patience,” as well as the new Spanish show “Ágata and Lola.”
The original show’s international profile has now been further bolstered by its shoot in Japan, where the series has become such a huge hit that setting part of Season 7 in Tokyo was a natural next step.
“For several years, we had dreamed of filming episodes of ‘Bright Minds’ in Tokyo,” said Jean-Sébastien Bouilloux, producer at JLA Productions. “Thanks to France Télévisions, France TV Distribution and NHK Enterprises Inc., that dream became a reality for Season 7.”
In 2025, France TV Distribution organized a major promotional tour in Tokyo for the team, including press conferences and fan meetings, illustrating the exceptional enthusiasm ‘Bright Minds’ generates in Japan. Season 1 of the series premiered in Japan in 2021 on the cable and satellite outlet Mystery Channel (then AXN Mystery), and subsequently aired on public broadcaster NHK starting in 2022. All six seasons to date have aired on both broadcasters, with catch-up streaming also attracted high viewing figures and outperforming many other programs, according to France TV Distribution.
With each new season, the series has expanded its audience base across both broadcast and streaming platforms, and this popularity has also translated into steady DVD sales. When the cast visited Japan in March 2025, Mystery Channel hosted a special event attended by 270 lucky fans chosen from applicants nationwide, giving them the opportunity to meet and interact with the cast.
Premiering in February 2026 on Mystery Channel, Season 6 achieved the highest ratings ever recorded for the series on J:COM, Japan’s largest cable TV operator.
Season 7 and the two episodes filmed in Japan mark “a real turning point in the life of the series,” Bouilloux added, expressing confidence that they would “both surprise and delight audiences in both countries.”
“This is the first time ‘Bright Minds’ has gone abroad,” Bouilloux noted. “It is also the first recurring French series to do so, and I am very proud that it happened in Japan, a country with which the series has had many connections since its creation.”
“The shoot was a wonderful adventure, especially in the collaboration between the French and Japanese crews, and above all an incredible source of creativity and fruitful exchanges. The JLA and France TV Distribution teams worked hand in hand throughout the entire production process to bring this new season to life.”
The co-production also proved a positive experience for producers at NHK.
“From the very beginning, I was struck by the team’s sincere desire to embrace Japanese culture with authenticity and respect, said Koji Sakabe of NHK Enterprises. “That spirit made this collaboration truly meaningful.”
Julia Schulte, head of international sales at France TV Distribution, added: “We are truly grateful to our partners at JLA and NHK Enterprises Inc., as well as to our colleagues at France Télévisions and all the incredible talents involved.
“Their open-mindedness, creativity, and enthusiasm made this new Franco-Japanese adventure possible. We are delighted to have set up the first co-production between our companies, and we hope it will be the first of many more to come.”
Created by Alexandre de Seguins and Laurent Burtin, “Bright Minds” is directed by Jérôme Alméras and Amandine Bonnin. The series is produced by JLA Productions for France Télévisions.
In addition to Mortensen and Dewaere, the cast includes Benoît Michel, Sophia Yamna, Jean-Louis Garçon, Husky Kihal, Jean-Benoît Souilh, Kengo Saïto and Charlotte Gaccio.
