A file photo shows the poster of cartoon series "Panda and Little Mole". [Photo: CNTV.cn]

Co-produced by China and the Czech Republic, the cartoon series "Panda and Little Mole" is due to debut today on China Central Television, or CCTV.

The 52-episode series will be aired weekly on CCTV's children's channel.

The series is an adaptation of Czech animated pantomime "Little Mole" created 60 years ago.

The original show was a hit throughout Eastern Europe and has been seen as an animation classic in China since it was first aired here in the 1980s.

The producer of the new show added another character panda, hoping the Chinese national treasure can make the show equally popular.

The producer also spoke of other new elements introduced in the new show. Most of the episodes take place in China, and unlike the original show, the new characters will have dialogue.

Creator of the "Little Mole" Zdenek Miler died in 2011.