Originally titled "La Bergère et le Ramoneur" ( "The shepherdess and the chimney sweep"), Grimault and Prévert began the film in 1948 (following their first collaboration, "Le Petit soldat", "The little soldier", also a Hans Christian Andersen adaptation), and it was highly anticipated, but in 1950 the film was taken out of their control, and subsequently the expense of the film caused the failure of the studio ("Les Gémeaux"). Grimault's partner André Sarrut (the producer) then released the film unfinished in 1952, against Grimault and Prévert's wishes, which caused a rift between partners, and they went their separate ways. In 1967, Grimault regained possession of the film, and spent the next decade trying to finance a new version under his supervision. By 1977 he had arranged financing, and thus the film was completed over the two-year period of 1977–79. In 1980 the finished film was finally released under a new title, "Le Roi et l'Oiseau" – to make clear the distinction from the earlier version – and shortly after the death of Prévert, to whom the film is dedicated.