MIP JUNIOR & MIPCOM

EDITION

FRENCH ANIMATION

www.tvkids.ws SPECIAL REPORT OCTOBER 2009

By Mansha Daswani

France’s animation industry remains one of the most pro-lific in the world, thanks in large part to the continuedsupport for local kids’ programming by the free-to-airbroadcasters.A recent report from the audiovisual pro-motion association APA revealed that the public broad-

caster France Télévisions aired 845 hours of localanimation in 2008,while the commercial networksTF1 and M6 aired 334 hours and 127 hours,

respectively.The 24-hour DTT children’s serviceGulli, meanwhile, chalked up 2,943 hours of Frenchanimation (including co-productions).And that’s justin the terrestrial arena—on the pay-TV front, Canal Jand Tiji are among the kids’ channels regularly com-missioning from French producers.In fact, the consensus among many in the French ani-

mation sector is that the level of local commissionsremains healthy.“We are [currently] producing six shows,”says Christophe di Sabatino, a co-executive chairman ofthe MoonScoop Group,one of France’s biggest animationproduction outfits.“We haven’t seen a decrease.”

“We are in production with about 60 half hours,”notes Pierre Sissman, the chairman and CEO of CyberGroup Studios.“We think that by this time next year,we’ll be at about 90 half hours.This time last year wewere at 20 half hours.”

A SMART MIXCyber Group Studios has been growing by double dig-its for the past four years, explains Sissman,who adds thata key strategy has been making sure that the company isconversant in a range of styles. Cyber Group’s biggesthit is Ozie Boo!, which was recently ranked as the most-exported French animated series over the last five years,and its newer preschool portfolio includes Guess What?,launching on Tiji this fall, and Tales of Tatonka, which isslated for a 2010 delivery. For older kids, meanwhile,Cyber Group is co-producing with Timoon Animation

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Top

Mediatoon’s Contraptus.

A look at the latestdevelopmentsin the French

animation sector.

Rising to the

and Korea’s SAMG the 52x13-minute HD seriesFish’N’Chips, and, Sissman says, there is plenty ofnew content in development.

The venture is also expanding into 3-D ani-mated feature films targeting kids and families.“Our vision is to try to provide high-qualityentertainment for children, but to really focuson stories and on technology,” Sissman notes.“We’re delivering an image that makes ourshows very appealing.”

The well-established animation studioAlphanim—perhaps best known for its motion-capture series Galactik Football—is taking a simi-larly broad approach to its business strategy. Lastyear, the company became a division of the vet-eran film producer Gaumont, in large part toexpand its feature-film capabilities. On the slatefor this year is Eleanor’s Secret, set for a December releasein France, to be followed up by Santapprentice in 2010.

“Since the creation of the company,we have always puta lot of effort into development,” says Clément Calvet,the managing director and producer of Gaumont-Alphanim.“In trying to find new talent and new for-mats, none of our shows look quite the same.We areproud to present projects for all demographics, all for-mats, all types of design.We want to be global.We wantto reach kids with all types of entertainment.”

With about 20 series in some stage of developmentor production,Alphanim will be showcasing a numberof new projects at MIPCOM.The slate includes a thirdseason of Galactik Football, in time for the World Cup,accompanied by an MMORPG [Massively MultiplayerOnline Role Playing Game];the Canadian co-productionThe Mysteries of Alfred Hedgehog,with the first episode for buyers toscreen; and Mouss & Boubidi, aseries of 2-D non-verbal comedyinterstitials.The company also hasnew seasons of Gawayn and Matt’sMonsters to offer buyers. Whilepointing to Gaumont-Alphanim’sstrong production pipeline, Calvetadds that the company is lookingto expand its catalogue with third-party fare.

PUMPING UP THE VOLUMEThat’s a path that MoonScoop hastaken, adding to the output from itsdivision in Los Angeles (formerlyknown as Mike Young Produc-tions), as well as its facilities in Parisand Wales. At MIPCOM, Moon-Scoop will be talking to clientsabout its new M6 commission Tara

Duncan, co-produced with India’s DQ Entertainment,the second season of Dive Ollie Dive!, and the acquiredproperty Gasp from SLR Productions.

Mediatoon Distribution similarly benefits from abroad catalogue, which features output from its sistercompanies Dargaud Media, Ellipsanime, Dupuis andStorimages, as well as other producers. Home to alibrary of classics like Tintin and Cedric, Mediatoon isalso touting the updated The Garfield Show, and islaunching two new brands in Cannes. Chumballs is a26x13-minute action/adventure show for France 5,while Contraptus, based on a comic book, is a 3-D78x7-minute production for Canal J and Gulli.

“Thanks to the originality of each catalogue from eachproducer (Dargaud, Dupuis, Ellipsanime, Storimages),Mediatoon is able to bring to the market a very wide

Funny bunnies:Strengthening its

preschool portfolio,Cyber Group Studios

heads to MIPCOMwith Guess What?

5TV KIDS

Listen up: Ankama’s Wakfu is a

multiplatform property that

includes a series forM6 as well as an

online gamingcommunity.

choice and array of shows,”says Jérôme Alby, the direc-tor of sales at MediatoonDistribution.“There are allkinds of shows—preschooland programs for older kids;all formats, from shorts toons tolong, feature animated movies; and obviouslya lot of 2-D shows, and more and more 3-Dand CGI shows.”

When asked about the trends in the Frenchkids’ market today, a number of producers anddistributors point to the increase in the volume ofshort-form shows commissioned.

“French broadcasters are developing more short series,but the market continues to innovate,” says ValérieVleeschhouwer, the managing director of AB Interna-tional Distribution, which is bringing Ariol and B.F.F.:Best Friends Forever to MIP Junior.

“As far as France Télévisions is concerned, there is nodownturn [in volume],” adds Eric Vernière, the VP ofinternational sales and presales at France TélévisionsDistribution (FTD), which has placed Potlach the Farmand Missy Mila Twisted Tales, among other shows, withbroadcasters worldwide. “But it’s a different invest-ment—a few years ago they were doing only half-hourseries, now they have reduced the number of flagshipprograms a little bit and they are commissioning a lot ofshort-format series.” One of these, Podcats, is amongFTD’s lead kids’ titles at MIPCOM.

A relatively new player in theTV-content arena, the digitalmedia specialist Ankama is

bringing to the interna-tional market the multi-

platform series DofusPets, consisting of 104 90-

second episodes. “Nowadays, kids arespending more and more time on theInternet,” says Jérôme Chatelain, theinternational sales manager at Ankama.“We have to create concepts where TV

and online meet and create interactionsfor deepening the viewers’ experience.”

Ankama is also rolling out the M6 commission Wakfu.“The TV series is at the center of, and is based on,a cross-media concept, including an online game, comic booksand licensed product,” Chatelain says.“I think Frenchbroadcasters are asking for more quality and originality fortheir future shows and Ankama’s concepts are perfectly inline with their requirements.”

SPINNING A NEW WEBProcidis is also lining up a range of new-media elementsfor the latest series in its Once Upon a Time franchise.Once Upon a Time…Planet Earth, combining 3-D ani-mation and real-life images, aims to educate childrenabout protecting the environment.The 26x26-minuteshow will be accompanied by interactive DVDs, a web-site, mobile games and more.

Procidis’s six previous Once Upon a Time series haveeach been broadcast in more than 120 territories.Cyber Group’s Ozie Boo! has rolled out in morethan 160. Numerous other shows that originated inFrance can attest to a similar track record. Theinternational market has certainly proven to bereceptive to French animation. Indeed, the genredominates audiovisual exports from the country,according to figures from CNC—the state-run

organization Centre national du cinéma et de l’im-age animée—and TV France International. But main-taining that growth won’t be easy. “The animationmarket is experiencing some maturity issues,” saysCyber Group’s Sissman.“There is an issue of survivalfor many studios around the world. People will haveto reinvent models, not only in terms of how they dobusiness and how they co-produce, but also in termsof content.”

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Universal love:Once Upon aTime...Planet Earth,from Procidis, teaches kids aboutprotecting the environment.

Wild one:Gaumont-

Alphanim is highlighting

The Mysteries ofAlfred Hedgehog.

TV KIDS