Banijay Group is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay Group is present in 16 territories.
Banijay Group is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay Group is present in 16 territories.

Tag Archive: Annick Bizet

  1. Banijay Kids & Family Partners with tonies®

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    Banijay Kids & Family, a global leader in children’s entertainment, behind hit shows such as Totally Spies! and Mr Bean: The Animated Series, today announces the launch of its first tonies® figurine in French, inspired by the animated series, Mumfie.

    The new figurine welcomes listeners to Dream Island, the home of Mumfie. Babou the Whale invites them to relax before listening to a story of Mumfie and his friends. Each story makes for a 2-part bedtime ritual, where relaxation and fiction intertwine.

    Annick Bizet, New Business & Strategic Alliances Director says: “The Toniebox has established itself as a must-have item for young children all around the world. As home to some of the biggest brands in the kids market, Banijay Kids & Family has a wealth of IP that aligns with tonies®’ vision, and we look forward to growing this partnership.”

    Preschool comedy series Mumfie, is a co-production between Zodiak Kids and Family France and Italian animation studio Animoka, alongside France Télévisions and Rai. Based on Britt Allcroft’s Magic Adventures of Mumfie, the series features the optimistic young elephant, alongside his best friends, Pinkey the flying pig and Jelly Bean the colour-changing jellyfish. Meeting an eclectic array of animal friends along the way, the trio embark on a series of adventures. In a world where nothing is quite as it seems, no challenge is too tough for the loveable Mumfie and his friends to overcome.

    The Toniebox is a real sound theatre that takes little ones, from 3-years-old, on great audio adventures as soon as they put a figurine called “Tonie” on it. Fantastic stories, timeless tales, exciting adventures, sleep support or educational games… there is something for everyone! Much more than a story box, it is a comforting partner who accompanies children at all stages of their development, according to their needs.

    Banijay Kids & Family’s collective of first-class producers and talent is behind some of the biggest kids brands in the world. As brand builders and experts at amplifying IP, it delivers creative and impactful 360 brand strategies for its shows.

  2. Banijay Kids & Family Unveils New Audiobooks

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    Banijay Kids & Family, the global leader in children’s entertainment, behind hit shows such as Totally Spies! and Mr Bean: The Animated Series, today announces the launch of its first audiobooks following a strategic partnership with the leading digital publishing company, Bookwire GmbH.

    Hit spy-fi animation, Totally Spies!, paranormal detective series, Martin Mystery and pre-school comedy series, Mumfie, are available in French from today via all major listening platforms including Audible, Apple Books, Google, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music.

    Annick Bizet, New Business & Strategic Alliances Director says: “With Banijay Kids & Family’s diverse portfolio, there are endless and exciting opportunities to explore for our brands beyond the screen. Bookwire is a great partner, with extensive expertise, and it is wonderful to see our first range of audiobooks hit the market.”

    Mariana Feged, General Manager at Bookwire states: “Bookwire opened an office in Paris in July 2021. Bookwire offers French publishers and audiovisual producers personalized assistance to launch themselves into the rapidly growing French audiobook market, filled with new opportunities. In addition to our distribution solution, Bookwire’s services include our WAY (“We Audiobook You”) production solution. We are delighted that these series have benefited from it.”

    Banijay Kids & Family and Bookwire worked closely with two studios on these projects: Lyon-based studio Blynd worked on the adaptations of Totally Spies! and Martin Mystery, while Kidsono created the Mumfie audio series.

    Totally Spies! is produced by Banijay Kids & Family label Zodiak Kids & Family France. Originally running from 2001 for six seasons, a new series has been confirmed and will launch from next year around the world with co-producers Gulli (France), and Discovery Kids LatAm. It will also air across EMEA and the U.S. with Warner Bros. Discovery.

    Mumfie is a preschool comedy series, based on Britt Allcroft’s Magic Adventures of Mumfie (creator of Thomas & Friends and the film Thomas & The Magic Railroad). It is produced by Zodiak Kids & Family France and Animoka, alongside France Télévisions and Rai (Italy).

    Martin Mystery, the worldwide smash hit, is based on the bestselling comic book by Alfredo Castelli. A dripping goo-fest of supernatural slime, thrills and comedy, the series as is distributed by Zodiak Kids & Family Distribution (part of Banijay Kids & Family).

  3. Bayard Seizes Totally Spies!

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    Banijay Kids and Family today announces a partnership with Bayard, one of the oldest press and publishing companies in France, to develop a range of magazines and children’s books based on the 2D animated franchise Totally Spies!.

    Bayard Jeunesse will publish a quarterly Totally Spies! magazine, whilst Bayard Éditions will develop a range of fiction works, including children’s novels of the series, and original stories inspired by the hit-show’s universe. Available in France, the products will tie-in with the new season of the show which returns to the country with broadcaster Gulli in 2024, following its original six-season run from 2001.

    Annick Bizet, New Business and Strategic Alliances Director at Banijay Kids & Family says: “Momentum is really starting to build for Totally Spies! ahead of next year’s launch, as we begin to roll out our extensive licensing programme for the brand. The show is generating huge interest across a broad range of commercial categories, and alongside its large existing global audience, we cannot wait to introduce this iconic franchise to a new generation of fans.”

    Nathalie Becht, Bayard Jeunesse Director (press, publishing, digital, animation) says: “We are delighted that Banijay Kids and Family has trusted Bayard Jeunesse to bring the adventures of Totally Spies! to thousands of young readers of books and magazines. This wonderful franchise shares our core values of accessibility and inclusiveness, but also the combination of humour and action that makes our list so successful.”

    The new 26 x 22-minute season will be produced by Benoît Di Sabatino and directed by Stephane Berry, who directed five previous seasons of the show. Gary Milne and Ludovic Taron serve as Executive Producers. Head Writers are Jess Kedward and Kirsty Peart.

    Warner Bros. Discovery has acquired the upcoming series across EMEA and the US, and French broadcaster Gulli, and Discovery Kids LatAm, have previously been announced as co-producers of the Zodiak Kids & Family France (part of Banijay Kids & Family) show. The upcoming series follows Sam, Clover and Alex, as they move to a new city and take on a fresh crop of villains.

  4. Totally Spies! Leaps into Action for All-New Video Game

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    Banijay Kids and Family today announces a deal with game developer and publisher, Microids, for an exciting new title based on Zodiak Kids & Family France’s popular animated series Totally Spies!, slated for release in 2024 on consoles and PC.

    The Totally Spies! video game will offer players the opportunity to step into the shoes of the three legendary secret agents, Sam, Clover and Alex. Together they must try and save the world from a new enemy, with a host of thrilling missions, offering innovative game mechanics.

    Annick Bizet, New Business and Strategic Alliances Director at Banijay Kids & Family says:“We are seeing great momentum building for the Totally Spies! brand ahead of the much-anticipated return of the series next year. Microids’ expertise and passion for the world of video games, make it the perfect partner to recreate the universe for an authentic and captivating game for our fans.”

    Stéphane Longeard, CEO of Microids added: “Microids is committed to faithfully and innovatively adapting well-known IP and it is a real honour for us to work on the Totally Spies! license. Thanks to the skills of our studios and in-house teams, we will do everything we can to offer the community a game that meets its expectations.”

    The 2D animated franchise, Totally Spies!, returns to screens in 2024, following its original six-season run between 2001 and 2013. French broadcaster Gulli, and Discovery Kids LatAm, have previously been announced as co-producers of the Zodiak Kids & Family France (part of Banijay Kids & Family) show. The upcoming series follows Sam, Clover and Alex, as they move to a new city and take on a fresh crop of villains.

    The name of the game and other details will be revealed soon.

  5. Totally Spies! Springs into Action for Webtoon Series

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    Banijay Kids and Family, part of content powerhouse Banijay, today announces a partnership with Belgian publisher Editions Dupuis, part of Média-Participations, to transform the hit spy-fi animation, Totally Spies!, into a unique webtoon for digital platform ONO.

    An increasingly popular genre of comics, developed for digital smartphone reading, the vertical strips will bring the characters of Totally Spies! to a new medium. The webtoon will be available as a weekly serialisation in French, and available for foreign rights.

    2D-animated franchise Totally Spies!, produced by Zodiak Kids & Family France, is set to return to screens in 2024 with a brand-new series, following its original six-season run between 2001 and 2013. The upcoming series follows the three legendary secret agents, Sam, Clover and Alex, as they move to a new city and take on a fresh crop of villains.

    Annick Bizet, New Business & Strategic Alliances Director, Banijay Kids & Family says: “Totally Spies! is a globally-loved show with a strong existing fanbase, and given the excitement for the new series, demand from fans for brand extensions is high. Webtoons offer a new and modern reading format for young audiences, and this project will ensure we continue catering to our audiences and the changing ways in which they consume their entertainment.”

    Stéphane Ferrand, Senior Publishing Director, Editions Dupuis adds: “Strong, leading female characters, action and adventure, humour, fashion, gadgets…Totally Spies! is one of those rare transgenerational licences whose ingredients conceal an ever-relevant modernity. The webtoon is now a favoured medium for reading content among young people around the world and the marriage between this and such a strong IP was inevitable.”

    Delphine Dumont, Chief Commercial Officer, Banijay Kids & Family says: “We are so pleased to announce this very exciting deal which marks the start of our relaunch strategy of this iconic brand, prior to the new series reveal on M6/GULLI (France) and Discovery Kids LatAm in 2024. Lots more to come for our favourite spies!”

    Dupuis is a 100-year-old Belgian publisher behind a number of successful series for children and adults such as Spirou, Lucky Luke, Kid Paddle or Largo Winch, which have become household names amongst European comics readers. The company strives to reinvent itself, driving its expansion into other fields such as animation and digital platforms like ONO.