Tag Archive: Zodiak Kids and Family France

  1. 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.

  2. Tencent Video Pounce on All-New CGI Animation, Shasha & Milo

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    Banijay Kids and Family today announces Zodiak Kids and Family France, and South Korean studio, Pingo Entertainment, are co-producing a new high-quality CGI action-comedy animation series, Shasha & Milo (26×22’) with broadcast partners Tencent Video (China).

    The series features 12-year-old twins Shasha and Milo, as they juggle school and home lives with a secret new role as the Crescent Island Guardians. Imbued with the power to transform between human, cat and a formidable hybrid form, Shasha and Milo are tasked with protecting Crescent Island from the dark forces that lurk beneath it… whilst navigating the daily complexities of preteen life.

    Production on Shasha & Milo has begun. Benoît di Sabatino, Gary Milne and Hee Seok Shin serve as Executive Producers, with Seul Gee Yoo as Co-Director and Creative Producer and Hyeong Min Kim as Co-Director.

     Benoît Di Sabatino, CEO, Banijay Kids and Family says: “The teams at Zodiak Kids and Family France, and Pingo Entertainment, are creating a visually striking, high-end series that is already generating huge broadcaster interest. With a unique concept, exciting storylines and strong characters with global appeal, we strongly believe Shasha & Milo will quickly establish itself as a standout brand in the kids entertainment space.”

    Pingo Entertainment’s CEO Hee Seok Shin says: “As the directing and production is being done in South Korea, Pingo Entertainment is committed to delivering an entertaining show to all of our viewers worldwide.”​

    Selina She, Director of Kids’ IP Development and Programming Centre at Tencent Video says: “We are delighted to work with the talented partners and introduce the dazzling adventure of Shasha & Milo to our audience. Its unique and irresistible mix of gripping storylines, spirited characters, intriguing plots, and relatable pre-teen life is going to have a strong appeal to our young viewers.”

    Zodiak Kids and Family Distribution own international distribution rights to the series.