Zack Snyder has been a busy boy since his guardianship of the DC movie universe came to an end following principal photography on "Justice League." Though he eventually returned to finish his version of that film, the multi-hyphenate filmmaker has since settled in firmly at Netflix and is focusing on original stories rather than pre-existing franchises. Among these projects is "Twilight of the Gods," a 2D animated action series based on Norse mythology.
The project marks another return to Snyder's filmmaking roots. He made his feature directorial debut in 2004 with the very well-received remake of George Romero's "Dawn of the Dead," and his first project for Netflix was the Las Vegas-set undead action horror "Army of the Dead." Snyder's second feature-length film debuted back in 2006 and secured his status as a rising talent to watch: the epic historical war movie "300," inspired by the legendary Battle of Thermopylae. "Twilight of the Gods...
The project marks another return to Snyder's filmmaking roots. He made his feature directorial debut in 2004 with the very well-received remake of George Romero's "Dawn of the Dead," and his first project for Netflix was the Las Vegas-set undead action horror "Army of the Dead." Snyder's second feature-length film debuted back in 2006 and secured his status as a rising talent to watch: the epic historical war movie "300," inspired by the legendary Battle of Thermopylae. "Twilight of the Gods...
- 5/7/2023
- by Hannah Shaw-Williams
- Slash Film
Xilam Animation will serve as animation studio on Zack Snyder’s upcoming Netflix series “Twilight of the Gods.”
The series was originally announced in 2019. Little is known about the plot other than it will ancient Norse mythology. The voice cast includes: Sylvia Hoeks, Stuart Martin, Pilou Asbaek, John Noble, Paterson Joseph, Rahul Kohli, Jamie Clayton, Kristopher Hivju, Peter Stormare, Jamie Chung, Lauren Cohan, and Corey Stroll. The series does not yet have a premiere date.
Xilam’s animation services on the animated series will include lay-out, colour Bg, animation and compositing. The studio’s past credits include the Oscar-nominated feature “I Lost My Body” as well as shows like “Oggy and the Cockroaches,” “Zig & Sharko,” and “Chip ‘n’ Dale: Park Life.”
“We’re so proud to be working with the team at Stone Quarry, including iconic creator and director Zack Snyder,” said Marc du Pontavice, founder and CEO at Xilam Animation.
The series was originally announced in 2019. Little is known about the plot other than it will ancient Norse mythology. The voice cast includes: Sylvia Hoeks, Stuart Martin, Pilou Asbaek, John Noble, Paterson Joseph, Rahul Kohli, Jamie Clayton, Kristopher Hivju, Peter Stormare, Jamie Chung, Lauren Cohan, and Corey Stroll. The series does not yet have a premiere date.
Xilam’s animation services on the animated series will include lay-out, colour Bg, animation and compositing. The studio’s past credits include the Oscar-nominated feature “I Lost My Body” as well as shows like “Oggy and the Cockroaches,” “Zig & Sharko,” and “Chip ‘n’ Dale: Park Life.”
“We’re so proud to be working with the team at Stone Quarry, including iconic creator and director Zack Snyder,” said Marc du Pontavice, founder and CEO at Xilam Animation.
- 5/3/2023
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
French animation group Xilam continues to book sales of hit toon series while enticing buyers with new offshoots of flagship properties.
Xilam’s most popular shows remain “Oggy and the Cockroaches,” about a lazy cat who is constantly pestered by three roaches, and “Zig & Sharko,” which follow the adversarial relationship between a ravenous brown hyena and a good-natured great white shark.
The company’s highlights at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous TV market in Biarritz include two new “Oggy” shows.
“’Oggy’ has been on the market for almost 25 years,” explains Morgann Favennec, Xilam’s executive vice president of distribution. “It’s been broadcast everywhere. It’s still huge in India, for instance, which is why we will be launching a new Oggy called ‘Oggy and the Cockroaches: Next Generation,’ introducing a new character, which is an Indian elephant.”
Xilam has also focused largely on another “Oggy” title over the past year,...
Xilam’s most popular shows remain “Oggy and the Cockroaches,” about a lazy cat who is constantly pestered by three roaches, and “Zig & Sharko,” which follow the adversarial relationship between a ravenous brown hyena and a good-natured great white shark.
The company’s highlights at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous TV market in Biarritz include two new “Oggy” shows.
“’Oggy’ has been on the market for almost 25 years,” explains Morgann Favennec, Xilam’s executive vice president of distribution. “It’s been broadcast everywhere. It’s still huge in India, for instance, which is why we will be launching a new Oggy called ‘Oggy and the Cockroaches: Next Generation,’ introducing a new character, which is an Indian elephant.”
Xilam has also focused largely on another “Oggy” title over the past year,...
- 9/7/2022
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
Following only the U.S. and Japan France has become the world’s third-biggest animated content supplier, producing an average of 300 hours of programming each year and banking 137.7 million in global sales in 2020. And though that sales figure marked a 13 increase from that of the previous year, it is hardly an outlier for an industry that has always been structured around international attention.
“Historically, domestic broadcasters have played a minority role in financing French animation,” sayss Raphaelle Mathieu, senior VP of sales and acquisitions at Cyber Group Studios. “So naturally producers need to look for money abroad. That forces us to develop programs that are not entirely oriented towards France.”
An industry leader, the Paris-based Cyber Group Studios won the 2021 Export Award from the TV division of Unifrance (formerly TV France Intl.) for “Gigantosaurus,” a preschool series that sold to more than 140 worldwide territories, including — as Mathieu is proud to...
“Historically, domestic broadcasters have played a minority role in financing French animation,” sayss Raphaelle Mathieu, senior VP of sales and acquisitions at Cyber Group Studios. “So naturally producers need to look for money abroad. That forces us to develop programs that are not entirely oriented towards France.”
An industry leader, the Paris-based Cyber Group Studios won the 2021 Export Award from the TV division of Unifrance (formerly TV France Intl.) for “Gigantosaurus,” a preschool series that sold to more than 140 worldwide territories, including — as Mathieu is proud to...
- 4/1/2022
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
While the pandemic has had a minimal impact on animation compared with other genres, with studios devising global, virtual pipelines long before the Covid-19 crisis, the European toon landscape has faced many changes over the last couple of years.
Animation production companies and distributors have had to deal with consolidation, the proliferation of subscription VOD and AVOD platforms and legislation that has affected their YouTube businesses.
The irony, for Lionel Marty, managing director of Paris-based “Kid-e-Cats” distributor Apc Kids, is that there hasn’t really been any major event forum at which to discuss the impact that these changes have had.
“We’re experiencing the biggest and fastest changes in decades in terms of consumption modes, content demand, business models at a time where we are the least able to spend time with the other players in the industry and have meaningful exchanges,” he says.
Marty for one will be...
Animation production companies and distributors have had to deal with consolidation, the proliferation of subscription VOD and AVOD platforms and legislation that has affected their YouTube businesses.
The irony, for Lionel Marty, managing director of Paris-based “Kid-e-Cats” distributor Apc Kids, is that there hasn’t really been any major event forum at which to discuss the impact that these changes have had.
“We’re experiencing the biggest and fastest changes in decades in terms of consumption modes, content demand, business models at a time where we are the least able to spend time with the other players in the industry and have meaningful exchanges,” he says.
Marty for one will be...
- 10/9/2021
- by Ann-Marie Corvin
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has boarded “Trico,” a CGI-3D slapstick comedy series produced by Xilam, the well-established production banner behind the international hits “Oggy and the Cockroaches” and “Zig & Sharko.”
“Trico” will be branded as a Netflix Original and will launch globally on the service in early 2022. Created by Xilam’s Hugo Gittard, the non-verbal comedy series “Trico” follows a former globetrotter who becomes bored of the mountain pasture life and embarks on adventures with his fellow sheep to shake things up.
Xilam will retain second window global linear television distribution and merchandising rights to “Trico.”
“We’re thrilled to be undertaking this new collaboration with Netflix and feel honoured by the trust they have placed in Xilam’s talents,” said Marc du Pontavice, CEO of Xilam Animation and Executive Producer.
“Hugo has created a fantastic series which is brimming with endearing characters and original comedy – we’re sure Trico’s...
“Trico” will be branded as a Netflix Original and will launch globally on the service in early 2022. Created by Xilam’s Hugo Gittard, the non-verbal comedy series “Trico” follows a former globetrotter who becomes bored of the mountain pasture life and embarks on adventures with his fellow sheep to shake things up.
Xilam will retain second window global linear television distribution and merchandising rights to “Trico.”
“We’re thrilled to be undertaking this new collaboration with Netflix and feel honoured by the trust they have placed in Xilam’s talents,” said Marc du Pontavice, CEO of Xilam Animation and Executive Producer.
“Hugo has created a fantastic series which is brimming with endearing characters and original comedy – we’re sure Trico’s...
- 9/22/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Paris-based Hue Dada!, a startup CGI animation studio, has put into development “Blackboard Monsters” (“MonstrOtableau”), an edutainment comedy that looks set to roll off the technological innovation at the heart of the new company.
Forging a fun universe for 3-5s, “Blackboard Monsters” is written by Hue Dada! editorial director Sophie Decroisette whose lengthy screenplay credits take in multi-prized productions such as “The Babaloos,” “Code Lyoko,” “Cédric,” “Lou!,” “Sherlock Yack,” “Maya the Bee” Season 2 and “Heidi.”
The director of “Code Lyoko,” “Lou!,” “Sherlock Yack,” “Heidi,” “Maya the Bee” Season 2, Jérôme Mouscadet, Hue Dada! art director and director, will supervise various other directors on “Blackboard Monsters.”
The series turns on Crapieuvre and Souribou, two funny heroes who “take the blackboard by storm” – according to Hue Dada! – bringing learning, songs, nursery rhymes and participatory games to a pre-school audience.
“Blackboard Monsters” joins a burgeoning slate of originals and work for hire at the production and services outfit.
Forging a fun universe for 3-5s, “Blackboard Monsters” is written by Hue Dada! editorial director Sophie Decroisette whose lengthy screenplay credits take in multi-prized productions such as “The Babaloos,” “Code Lyoko,” “Cédric,” “Lou!,” “Sherlock Yack,” “Maya the Bee” Season 2 and “Heidi.”
The director of “Code Lyoko,” “Lou!,” “Sherlock Yack,” “Heidi,” “Maya the Bee” Season 2, Jérôme Mouscadet, Hue Dada! art director and director, will supervise various other directors on “Blackboard Monsters.”
The series turns on Crapieuvre and Souribou, two funny heroes who “take the blackboard by storm” – according to Hue Dada! – bringing learning, songs, nursery rhymes and participatory games to a pre-school audience.
“Blackboard Monsters” joins a burgeoning slate of originals and work for hire at the production and services outfit.
- 6/11/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Bordeaux, France — French directors Zabou Breitman and Éléa Gobbé-Mévellec, Belgian distributor Lumière and French production outfit Xilam won Tributes Awards at this year’s Cartoon Movie, Europe’s biggest animated feature co-production and sales forum which closed today in the French port city of Bordeaux.
Breitman and Gobbé-Mévellec’s “The Swallows Of Kabul,” which world premiered at the Cannes Festival’s Un Certain Regard last year, is produced by Les Armateurs in co-production with Melusine Prods. and Close Up Films. The 2D watercolor-style animation adapts the bestselling book from Yasmina Khadra offering a touching “fresco” of life under Taliban rule in the Afghan capital through the intertwined stories of two couples. It marks the fifth feature of actress-director Breitman and the her first animated title and for animator Gobbé-Mévellec her debut feature. “Kabul” is sold by Paris’ Celluloid Dreams.
Nominees for the Direction Tribute Award also included Spain’s Sergio Pablos...
Breitman and Gobbé-Mévellec’s “The Swallows Of Kabul,” which world premiered at the Cannes Festival’s Un Certain Regard last year, is produced by Les Armateurs in co-production with Melusine Prods. and Close Up Films. The 2D watercolor-style animation adapts the bestselling book from Yasmina Khadra offering a touching “fresco” of life under Taliban rule in the Afghan capital through the intertwined stories of two couples. It marks the fifth feature of actress-director Breitman and the her first animated title and for animator Gobbé-Mévellec her debut feature. “Kabul” is sold by Paris’ Celluloid Dreams.
Nominees for the Direction Tribute Award also included Spain’s Sergio Pablos...
- 3/5/2020
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
Caterina Gonnelli, the director of acquisitions and coproductions for Disney Channels Emea, is joining Xilam Animation, the French animation studio behind Netflix series Oggy Oggy.
Gonnelli will become Xilam’s executive vice president of content on January 13 after more than eight years at Disney, where she worked across Disney Channel, Disney Xd and Disney Junior, and was based in Paris.
Xilam CEO Marc du Pontavice said: “Caterina has built a very strong profile over the years from development to production, from acquisition to programming, at one of the world’s most prominent kids’ studios. Such invaluable expertise will boost Xilam’s response to a very fast-growing market towards premium kids’ content.”
Gonnelli added: “I’m thrilled to be joining Marc and the team at this exciting time of growth as the company gears up for major new series launches, including Oggy Oggy for Netflix, and to continue shaping the company’s vision and content offering.
Gonnelli will become Xilam’s executive vice president of content on January 13 after more than eight years at Disney, where she worked across Disney Channel, Disney Xd and Disney Junior, and was based in Paris.
Xilam CEO Marc du Pontavice said: “Caterina has built a very strong profile over the years from development to production, from acquisition to programming, at one of the world’s most prominent kids’ studios. Such invaluable expertise will boost Xilam’s response to a very fast-growing market towards premium kids’ content.”
Gonnelli added: “I’m thrilled to be joining Marc and the team at this exciting time of growth as the company gears up for major new series launches, including Oggy Oggy for Netflix, and to continue shaping the company’s vision and content offering.
- 1/8/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix has ordered its first original animated series from France — a CGI remake of 21-year-old kids cartoon Oggy And The Cockroaches.
Paris-based animation house Xilam Animation will produce the series for Netflix, transforming a brand it first launched in 1998. Netflix said the original cartoon, created by Jean-Yves Raimbaud, has reached 800M households worldwide.
Titled Oggy Oggy, the new series follows cat Oggy who is freed from the tyranny of the cockroaches and lives in a world of other cats, where he engages with neighbors and sets off on adventures.
Dominique Bazay, director of kids and family international originals at Netflix, said: “Xilam is one of France’s most prolific producers, having developed a distinct expertise in non-dialog animated comedy for kids. We’re certain Oggy’s kindness and sweet charm will warm the hearts of preschoolers everywhere.”
Xilam CEO Marc du Pontavice added: “Xilam intends to establish the Oggy universe...
Paris-based animation house Xilam Animation will produce the series for Netflix, transforming a brand it first launched in 1998. Netflix said the original cartoon, created by Jean-Yves Raimbaud, has reached 800M households worldwide.
Titled Oggy Oggy, the new series follows cat Oggy who is freed from the tyranny of the cockroaches and lives in a world of other cats, where he engages with neighbors and sets off on adventures.
Dominique Bazay, director of kids and family international originals at Netflix, said: “Xilam is one of France’s most prolific producers, having developed a distinct expertise in non-dialog animated comedy for kids. We’re certain Oggy’s kindness and sweet charm will warm the hearts of preschoolers everywhere.”
Xilam CEO Marc du Pontavice added: “Xilam intends to establish the Oggy universe...
- 10/24/2019
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix has ordered an original CGI-animated preschool series, “Oggy Oggy,” based on the hit franchise “Oggy and the Cockroaches,” from French production company Xilam Animation.
The series “Oggy and the Cockroaches” has reached 800 million households around the world over the last 20 years and already ranks as one of the most popular kids series on Netflix.
In the new spinoff show, Oggy is freed from the tyranny of the cockroaches and lives in a fantasy world inhabited by a vibrant community of cats. Oggy Oggy is a very special little cat, full of curiosity and enthusiasm, who likes to engage with his neighbors and set off on adventures.
Marc du Pontavice, the CEO of Xilam Animation, said the new collaboration with Netflix was “a testimony of their commitment to offering children around the world access to high-quality programs.”
“With this new development of our successful series ‘Oggy and the Cockroaches,...
The series “Oggy and the Cockroaches” has reached 800 million households around the world over the last 20 years and already ranks as one of the most popular kids series on Netflix.
In the new spinoff show, Oggy is freed from the tyranny of the cockroaches and lives in a fantasy world inhabited by a vibrant community of cats. Oggy Oggy is a very special little cat, full of curiosity and enthusiasm, who likes to engage with his neighbors and set off on adventures.
Marc du Pontavice, the CEO of Xilam Animation, said the new collaboration with Netflix was “a testimony of their commitment to offering children around the world access to high-quality programs.”
“With this new development of our successful series ‘Oggy and the Cockroaches,...
- 10/24/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
French programs have brought in €276 million ($304.7 million) from international sales and foreign investment through co-productions in 2018. It marks the third highest performance of the last 25 years, according to a study unveiled by the French National Film Board, or Cnc, and TV France International.
Sales of French programs alone accounted for $190 million (compared with €205 million last year), driven by animation and fiction shows. The report, unveiled during the Rendez-Vous With French Cinema hosted by TV France International in Biarritz, also said that the rise of international streaming services has bolstered the sales of French TV programs, in particular animation and crime series such as “Baron noir,” which was acquired by Amazon U.K., HBO Go Scandinavia and Spain and Ivi in Russia.
Dominique Boutonnat, the new president of the Cnc, said the export of French TV programs has been thriving in spite of the competitive marketplace. “It is key to continue...
Sales of French programs alone accounted for $190 million (compared with €205 million last year), driven by animation and fiction shows. The report, unveiled during the Rendez-Vous With French Cinema hosted by TV France International in Biarritz, also said that the rise of international streaming services has bolstered the sales of French TV programs, in particular animation and crime series such as “Baron noir,” which was acquired by Amazon U.K., HBO Go Scandinavia and Spain and Ivi in Russia.
Dominique Boutonnat, the new president of the Cnc, said the export of French TV programs has been thriving in spite of the competitive marketplace. “It is key to continue...
- 9/10/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Marc Du Pontavice, whose Paris-based company, Xilam, won Cannes Critics’ Week top prize with the animated feature “I Lost My Body,” is set to expand the scope of his listed outfit with new projects directed at adults and teens.
Among these projects is a series adaptation of “Monkey Bizness,” the popular French comics created by Pozla and El Diablo, the pair behind “Les Lascars.” Xilam has acquired the right to the comics collection and is collaborating with the authors on a half-hour comedy series for young adults. The series is set in a future world dominated by monkeys. It follows the adventures of two clumsy, incompetent underachievers working for the local mafia.
“‘Monkey Bizness’ will be an offbeat and irreverent comedy series appealing primarily to young adults,” said Du Pontavice, who was honored Tuesday at the Annecy Film Festival. The producer said he would likely get a streaming service on board for “Monkey Bizness.
Among these projects is a series adaptation of “Monkey Bizness,” the popular French comics created by Pozla and El Diablo, the pair behind “Les Lascars.” Xilam has acquired the right to the comics collection and is collaborating with the authors on a half-hour comedy series for young adults. The series is set in a future world dominated by monkeys. It follows the adventures of two clumsy, incompetent underachievers working for the local mafia.
“‘Monkey Bizness’ will be an offbeat and irreverent comedy series appealing primarily to young adults,” said Du Pontavice, who was honored Tuesday at the Annecy Film Festival. The producer said he would likely get a streaming service on board for “Monkey Bizness.
- 6/12/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Watch ‘Dark’ Season 2 Teaser
Season 2 of Netflix’s globally popular German genre series “Dark” will drop worldwide on the platform on June 21. The company has released first-look images and a teaser to accompany the news. In the trailer, we get a peak of Jonas who is trying desperately to get back to 2020 after finding himself stuck in the future. Meanwhile his friends are trying to uncover details behind a series of more unexplained events that have hit their hometown of Winden – and a dark figure seemingly at the center of it all. The season will follow the four families as they work to change the destiny of their community….
Telefonica Launches $9 A Month Movistar +
Telefonica has done a Netflix. Launching Movistar + Original Series in Sept. 2017, parent Telefonica’s mantra was that its drive into original content was aimed at powering up quadplay fibre optic and cell phone clients. That still remains true.
Season 2 of Netflix’s globally popular German genre series “Dark” will drop worldwide on the platform on June 21. The company has released first-look images and a teaser to accompany the news. In the trailer, we get a peak of Jonas who is trying desperately to get back to 2020 after finding himself stuck in the future. Meanwhile his friends are trying to uncover details behind a series of more unexplained events that have hit their hometown of Winden – and a dark figure seemingly at the center of it all. The season will follow the four families as they work to change the destiny of their community….
Telefonica Launches $9 A Month Movistar +
Telefonica has done a Netflix. Launching Movistar + Original Series in Sept. 2017, parent Telefonica’s mantra was that its drive into original content was aimed at powering up quadplay fibre optic and cell phone clients. That still remains true.
- 4/26/2019
- by Jamie Lang and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Charades, the French sales company behind Mamoru Hosoda’s Oscar-nominated “Mirai,” has acquired “Grab,” an animated feature directed by Jeremy Clapin and produced by Xilam, one of France’s leading animation companies.
“Grab” is co-written by Clapin (“Skhizein”) and Guillaume Laurant, the high-profile screenwriter of “Amélie” and “A Very Long Engagement.”
Xilam Production was created by Marc du Pontavice and is listed on the Paris stock market. Its credits include “Space Goofs,” “Oggy and the Cockroaches” and Joann Sfar’s “Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life.” Du Pontavice also produces live-action films through his banner One World Films, including “Close Enemies,” with Matthias Schoenaerts and Reda Kateb, which competed at the Venice Film Festival.
“Grab” will be delivered in the fall. Set in Paris, it follows Naoufel, a young man who is in love with Gabrielle. In another part of town, a severed hand escapes from a dissection lab, determined to find its body again.
“Grab” is co-written by Clapin (“Skhizein”) and Guillaume Laurant, the high-profile screenwriter of “Amélie” and “A Very Long Engagement.”
Xilam Production was created by Marc du Pontavice and is listed on the Paris stock market. Its credits include “Space Goofs,” “Oggy and the Cockroaches” and Joann Sfar’s “Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life.” Du Pontavice also produces live-action films through his banner One World Films, including “Close Enemies,” with Matthias Schoenaerts and Reda Kateb, which competed at the Venice Film Festival.
“Grab” will be delivered in the fall. Set in Paris, it follows Naoufel, a young man who is in love with Gabrielle. In another part of town, a severed hand escapes from a dissection lab, determined to find its body again.
- 2/8/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
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