Gaumont Animation

Gaumont Animation

Logo used since 2013
Formerly	Alphanim (1997–2008, 2011–2013) Gaumont Alphanim (2008–2011)
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Animation
Founded	February 1997; 27 years ago (1997-02)[1]
Founder	Christian Davin[2]
Headquarters	Vincennes , France
Key people	Terry Kalagian (president)[3]
Products	Television series Feature films
Parent	Gaumont Film Company (2008–present)
Divisions	Gaumont Animation USA
Website	gaumont.com/en/animation

Gaumont Animation (formerly known as Alphanim and Gaumont Alphanim)^[2][4] is a French animation studio owned by the Gaumont Film Company founded in February 1997 by Christian Davin.^[1] The company's animated catalog comprises over 800 half-hours, broadcast in over 130 countries.^[5]

Its productions include Mona the Vampire, Robotboy, Galactik Football, Calimero, Noddy, Toyland Detective (after the rights were acquired from DreamWorks Animation in 2013),^[2] Trulli Tales, Belle and Sebastian,^[6] Furiki Wheels, F is for Family, and Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles. Film projects in development include Plunder and a musical adaptation of Paul McCartney's novel High in the Clouds.

History

Christian Davin founded Alphanim in February 1997 after stepping down as president of France Animation; he was joined by Clément Calvet to start the studio. Its first production, Animal Crackers, a co-production with CINAR based on the comic strip by Roger Bollen, debuted later that year in September.

In 2003, Alphanim and StudioCanal jointly established Alphanim Video to distribute Alphanim's catalogue on home media.^[7]

In November 2007, the Gaumont Film Company launched its acquisition of Alphanim; the transaction closed in January 2008 for €25 million, marking Gaumont's return to television and animation production for the first time in eight years; it is an entry into English-language productions, after Gaumont Television was sold in 1999 and Gaumont Multimedia's assets were acquired in 2000 by Xilam.^{[8][9][10][11]}

In March 2013, the studio was rebranded as Gaumont Animation; announced its partnership with DreamWorks Animation for Noddy, Toyland Detective.^[12]

In March 2016, Nicolas Atlan joined the studio as president and named Terry Kalagian as VP of creative for animation.^[13]

In June 2023, Terry Kalagian was promoted to president of the studio.^[3] The same month, Gaumont signed a first-look deal with Studio 100, a Belgian company which will co-produce series with and distribute Gaumont Animation's catalogue worldwide.^[14]

Productions

Series

Title	Creator(s) / Developer(s)	Year(s)	Co-production(s)	Network	Notes
1990s
Animal Crackers	Joseph Mallozzi	1997–2000	CINAR Gimages Valor 4	Canada Teletoon France La Cinquième	Based on the Animal Crackers comic strips by Roger Bollen
Ripley's Believe It or Not!: The Animated Series	—	1999		France France 3 Canada Family Channel	Based on the Ripley's Believe It or Not! franchise created by Robert Ripley
Redwall	Brian Jacques Steve Roberts		Nelvana Limited Molitor Productions Sofica Valor 4 Gimages 2 United Productions	Canada Teletoon France France 2 France 3 Germany KI.KA	Based on the Redwall books by Brian Jacques. S1 only
Mona the Vampire	Adam Kempton Ian Lewis Pierre Colin Thibert	1999–2006	CINAR Farnham Film Company Animation Services (S3)	Canada YTV France France 3 Canal J Tiji (S3–4)	Based on the Mona the Vampire books by Sonia Holleyman and Hyawin Oram
2000s
The Baskervilles	Alastair Swinnerton Nick Martinelli	2000	CINAR Carlton Television Blue Nose Productions	Canada Teletoon France France 2 United Kingdom ITV (CITV)
X-DuckX	Jan Van Rijsselberge	2001–2002	Telepool Soficanim Young Distribution Point Production Tooncan Productions Inc. (E41–78)	Canada Teletoon France France 3 Fox Kids Jetix
Spaced Out	Claude Lerist Léon Nöel	2002	Tooncan Productions Inc. Animation Enterprises Sofica Gimages 2	Canada Vrak.TV France Canal+ France 3 Europe Cartoon Network United States Toon Disney
Ralf the Record Rat	Jan Van Rijsselberge	2003	Ocean Sound Studios Ltd Agogo Media	Canada YTV Vrak.TV France Canal J	Based on the Ralf the Record Rat comic strip by Jan Van Rijsselberge[15]
Cosmic Cowboys	Eddy Marx		Tooncan Productions VI Inc. Europool Rai Fiction Agogo Media Gruppo Alcuni LuxAnimation Sofica France Télévision Images 2	Canada Vrak.TV France France 3 Italy RAI Germany WDR	[16]
Pet Pals	Sergio Manfio Francesco Manfio		Rai Fiction Gruppo Alcuni Agogo Media	Rai 2	Season 1[17]
Potatoes and Dragons	Jan Van Rijsselberge	2004	CINAR DQ Entertainment LuxAnimation Europool	Canada Teletoon France Canal J France 3
Creepschool	Torbjörn Jansson Happy Life Stina Mansfield Per Carlsson Han Östlundh		CINAR Happy Life EM.TV & Merchandising AG Agogo Media LuxAnimation	Canada Teletoon Télétoon France France 3 Germany ZDF Portugal RTP2
Franklin	—		Nelvana Limited Big Bang Digital Studios LuxAnimation	Canada Treehouse TV France TF1	Based on the Franklin the Turtle books by Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark; S6 only
Delta State			Nelvana Limited Deltanim Productions Inc. DQ Entertainment LuxAnimation Cofinova 13	Canada Teletoon France France 2 Canal+	Based on The Delta State comic book by Douglas Gayeton and Matt Rockman; first teen-oriented production
Woofy	Alexandre Révérend		Tooncan Productions XXV Inc. Fantasia Cofinova 1	France 5
Zombie Hotel	Jan Van Rijsselberge	2005	Telegael Magma LuxAnimation Hosem	France France 3 Ireland TG4 (Cúla 4)
Cooking? Child's Play!	—		CCA LuxAnimation SEK Animation Studio The Farm II	Tiji	Based on the La cuisine est un jeu d'enfants books by Michel Oliver
Robotboy	Jan Van Rijsselberge	2005–2008	LuxAnimation (S1) Cofinova 1 (S1)	France France 3 United Kingdom Cartoon Network
Galactik Football	Augias Imaginaction	2006–2011	Audi'Art Welkin (S1) Hosem (S1) LuxAnimation (S1) Supersonic (S1) Carloon (S2) Europool (S2–3) Telegael (S3) DQ Entertainment (S3)	Europe Jetix (S1–2) Disney XD (S3) France France 2 (S1–2) Gulli (S3)	Produced as Alphanim in S1–2 and as Gaumont-Alphanim in S3
SantApprentice	Jan Van Rijsselberge	2006	Europool Startrack Ltd. Hosem Village Productions	France France 5 Tiji Germany Super RTL
Zap Junior High	—	2007	Cofinova 3 Jiang Toon Animation	M6 Canal J	Based on the Zap Junior High comic book by Tehem and Gildo
Hairy Scary	Jan Van Rijsselberge		Europool Shanghai Cartoon Communication Group Village Productions	France France 3 Germany Super RTL
Matt's Monsters		2008	Rai Fiction Lanterna Magica Europool Jiang Toon Animation Sonicville Cofinova 4 SND	France M6 Italy Rai 2 Rai Gulp Germany KiKa Spain Antena 3 Disney Channel Clan
Toto Trouble	—	2009	Europool Jiang Toon Animation SND Village Productions	M6	Based on the Toto Trouble comic book by Thierry Coppée
Gawayn[18]	Jan Van Rijsselberge Peter Saisselin	2009–2013	Jiang Toon Animation Mondo TV (S1) Muse Entertainment (S2) Eurovision Animation (S2) Ben & Saatchi (S2)	France 3 (S1) Canal+ Family (S2) Gulli (S2)	Produced as Gaumont Alphanim in S1 and as Alphanim in S2
Mouss & Boubidi	Baptiste Lucas Frédéric Martin	2009	Oasis Animation Europool	France 3
2010s
The Mysteries of Alfred Hedgehog	Mary Mackay-Smith Merilyn Read	2010	Muse Entertainment Prickly Productions Europool Jiang Toon Animation	Canada TVO TFO Knowledge Network Radio-Canada Télévision France France 3 United States Qubo Channel
The Small Giant	Jan Van Rijsselberge		Cofinova 5 Europool Jiang Toon Animation Village Productions	China CCTV France France 5 Gulli
Pok & Mok	Isabelle Lenoble Érik Zilliox	2011	Vivement Lundi! Europool A Plus Image 2 Feitong Animation	Canal+
The Green Squad	—		Europool Cofinova 6 Shanghai Supercolor Technology	France 5	Based on the Les Sauvenature comic book by Jean-Marie Defossez and Fabien Mense
Dude, That's My Ghost!	Jan Van Rijsselberge	2013	Snipple Animation Cofanim Backup Films	Canada BBC Kids France Orange Cinema Series United Kingdom Disney XD
Lanfeust Quest	—	2013–2014	Gaumont Television DQ Entertainment Cofinova 23 Devanim Backup Media Dapaco Productions	M6 Canal J	Based on the Lanfeust Quest comic book by Christophe Arleston, Didier Tarquin, and Ludo Lullabi
Calimero		2013–2016	Gaumont Television Studio Campedelli Kodansha Rai Fiction Telepool Global Digital Creations Holdings Ltd.	Canada Télé-Québec France TF1 Italy RAI Japan TV Tokyo Switzerland RTS	Based on the Calimero characters created by Nino Pagot, Toni Pagot, and Ignazio Colnaghi
Welcome to Bric-a-Broc	Amandine Gallerand Matthieu Chevalier	2015	Vivement Lundi! Cofinova 10 Cofinova 11	Belgium Ketnet France Canal+ Family Piwi+
F is for Family	Bill Burr Michael Price	2015–2021	Wild West Television Loner Productions King of France Productions Gaumont International Television	Netflix	First adult-oriented production
Noddy, Toyland Detective	Heath Kenny Myles McLeod	2016–2020	DreamWorks Animation Television	France France 5 Piwi+ United Kingdom Channel 5 United States Universal Kids	Based on the Noddy characters created by Enid Blyton
Atomic Puppet	Mark Drop Jerry Leibowitz Travis Williams John Derevlany Brad Birch	2016–2017	Mercury Filmworks Technicolor	Canada Teletoon France France 4 Worldwide Disney XD
Trulli Tales	Fiorella Congedo Maria Elena Congedo	2017–2019	Fandango TV Congedo CulturArte Groupe PVP Rai Fiction	Canada Ici Radio-Canada Télé Knowledge Kids Italy Rai Yoyo Disney Junior France Disney Junior
Furiki Wheels	Frédéric Martin	2017	Je Suis Bien Content	France France 4 United Kingdom Disney XD
Belle and Sebastian	Jean-Phillipe Robin		Groupe PVP	Canada Ici Radio-Canada Télé Knowledge Network France M6 Piwi+	Based on the Belle et Sébastien novel by Cécile Aubry
2020s
Stillwater	Rob Hoegee	2020–2023	Scholastic Entertainment	Apple TV+	Based on the Zen books by Jon J. Muth
Nice, not nice	Franck Salomé Fernando Worcel Nicolas Sedel Sandrine Acquistapace	2021	2 Minutes	Disney Channel Disney Junior Gulli Nickelodeon Junior Okoo Piwi+ TF1	[19]
Do, Re & Mi	Michael Scharf Jackie Tohn	2021–2022	Michael Made Me Amazon Studios	Amazon Prime Video
Bionic Max	Thomas Digard Emmanuel Klotz	2021–present	—	Gulli Canal J
Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles[20]	Doug Langdale Candie Kelty Langdale	2022	Netflix Animation Atomic Monster Dark Horse Entertainment	Netflix	Based on the Usagi Yojimbo comic book by Stan Sakai
Upcoming
Tiny Head	TBA	2026	Cloudco Entertainment	France Télévisions RAI TV5 Monde	[21]
Rocket Park	Amy Stephenson Shane Langan	TBA	Scholastic Entertainment	TBA	Based on the You Are books by Margaret O'Hair and Sofia Cardoso[22]
Ash	TBA		Bigchild Entertainment Studio 100 Media		[23]
Agent 9			—		Based on the Agent 9 graphic novel by James Burke[24]
Fortune Falls			Scholastic Entertainment		Based on the Fortune Falls book by Jenny Goebel[24]
Snapdragon			—		Based on the Snapdragon graphic novel by Kat Leyh[24]

Films

Title	Release date	Co-production with	Note
2000s
Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure	September 6, 2006	Les Studios DSO Nelvana Limited StudioCanal Europool LuxAnimation	Based on the Franklin the Turtle books by Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark
Eleanor's Secret	December 16, 2009	La Fabrique Lanterna Magica
2010s
Santa's Apprentice	November 24, 2010	Flying Bark Productions Avrill Stark Entertainment Cartoon Saloon	Based on the SantApprentice series by Jan Van Rijsselberge.
The Magic Snowflake	November 20, 2013	Snipple Animation Dapaco Productions Telepool Cofimage 23 Devanim-Backup Media
Upcoming
High in the Clouds	2026	MPL Communications	Based on the High in the Clouds book by Paul McCartney[25]
Plunder	TBA	L'Atelier Animation

References

1. "Profile". Alphanim. Archived from the original on June 15, 2006.
2. Dale, Martin (14 May 2014). "Intl. Film Award: Gaumont Animation Hones Inhouse Series, Feature Films". Variety.
3. Bharanidharan, Sadhana (June 6, 2023). "Terry Kalagian heads up Gaumont global animation division". Kidscreen. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
4. Webdale, Jonathan (January 18, 2011). "New production chief for Gaumont-Alphanim". C21 Media.
5. "About Us". Gaumont Animation. Archived from the original on June 12, 2015.
6. Mayorga, Emilio (2 September 2015). "Biarritz Rendez-Vous: Gaumont Animation to Develop 'Belle and Sebastian' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
7. Esposito, Maria (1 July 2003). "Alphanim and StudioCanal launch DVD label". C21 Media.
8. Blaney, Martin (January 25, 2000). "Igel, Xilam join forces for Gaumont library". Screen Daily. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
9. Tartaglione-Vialatte, Nancy (19 November 2007). "Gaumont eyes acquisition of animation house Alphanim". Screen Daily.
10. Baisley, Sarah (January 4, 2008). "Gaumont Acquires Alphanim". Animation World Network.
11. Tartaglione-Vialatte, Nancy (January 11, 2008). "Gaumont completes acquisition of animation house". Screen Daily.
12. Wolfe, Jennifer (March 13, 2013). "Alphanim Rebrands as Gaumont Animation". Animation World Network.
13. Francks, Nico (24 March 2016). "Gaumont hires for US animation push". C21 Media.
14. Hernandez, Andrea (June 13, 2023). "Gaumont Animation inks a first-look deal with Studio 100". Kidscreen.
15. Waller, Ed (July 5, 2001). "Alphanim looks set for a busy summer". C21 Media.
16. Fraser, Fiona (October 3, 2002). "German pick up for Alphanim's Cosmic toon". C21 Media.
17. "Pet Pals Seasons 1-2-3-4". Gruppo Alcuni.
18. "Gawayn profile". Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
19. "Nice, not nice". 2 Minutes.
20. Peters, Megan (February 8, 2018). "'Usagi Yojimbo' Optioned For Animated TV Series". ComicBook.com. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
21. Angelucci, Cristina (12 June 2024). "Gaumont's Highlights at MIFA". The European Animation Journal.
22. "Scholastic and Gaumont team up for Rocket Park". Kidscreen. 2022-12-14.
23. Milligan, Mercedes (June 8, 2023). "Gaumont Animation & Studio 100 Media Forge First-Look Partnership". Animation Magazine.
24. Milligan, Mercedes (June 10, 2024). "Gaumont Animation Ups Sebastian Rossi to CD, Announces New Animation Projects". Animation Magazine. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
25. Donnelly, Matt (2023-10-26). "Paul McCartney's Gaumont-Backed Animated Film 'High in the Clouds' Sets Director, Writer and More (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2023-10-26.

External links

• Official website
• Gaumont-Alphanim at Internet Movie Database
• Gaumont Animation at Internet Movie Database