 In 1974, the story was turned into a Japanese animation.A dramatized audio book, "Jim Knopf und Lukas der Lokomotivführer" (Fontana/Deutsche Grammophon) was narrated and directed by Ende himself.In 1998, a 52-episode cartoon series titled "Jim Button" was produced by Yoram Gross-Village Roadshow, Saban Entertainment and CinéGroupe.