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Ellipsanime Productions (formerly known as Le Studio Ellipse and Ellipse Programme) is a French animation studio that produces television programs and its part of entertainment production group Ellipse Animation, the animation production subsidiary of media conglomerate & publishing company Média Participations. It was founded in 1987. In February 2000 it merged with Expand SA; Expand sold the company to Dargaud in 2003, and it became Ellipsanime in 2004. In 2014, Ellipsanime bought the assets of Moonscoop SA.[1]

Key Information

Ellipse has worked with many other animation companies, with the most reputable being Nelvana and Nickelodeon. Ellipse was best known in North America for co-producing seasons 2-4 of Nickelodeon's Doug; it did not return to the series after The Walt Disney Company bought the Doug intellectual property and Jumbo Pictures.

On the occasion of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2022, the Média-Participations group announced the creation of an umbrella brand Ellipse Animation which brings together its production labels in France Ellipsanime Productions, Dargaud Media and Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel.[2]

History

[edit]

In 1987, the company was founded by Philippe Gildas and Robert Réa under the name Ellipse Programme with Canal+ as their first owner. Three years later in 1990, Ellipse Programme entered the animation production genre by launching their own animation division.

In 1997, Ellipse Programme had merged together their animation production subsidiaries which were Alya Animation, Elma Animation and production facility Studio Ellipse into its main animation production division Ellipse Animation.

In February 2000, Canal+ announced that they've merged their subsidiary Ellipse Programme with French television production outfit Expand Images into one group under the Expand name with Ellipse Programme becoming Expand Group's own division alongside Canal+ holding a 35% stake in the Expand Group.[3][4]

In January 2003, Ellipsanime had announced that they were shutting down their executive production facility Ellipse Studio and had absorbed most of their studio's production activity including their storyboarding and 3-D rendering work under the main animation production company. A month later in February of that same year, Ellipsanime's then parent company Canal+ Group and its film production and distribution company StudioCanal under their subsidiary StudioExpand announced that they were planning to sell their animation studio Ellipsanime along with 19 other production companies that made up StudioExpand with Ellipsanime cutting down their annual series output.[5]

On July 22, 2003, it was announced that French media entertainment conglomerate Média-Participations alongside their French publishing house Dargaud had brought Ellipsanime from its previous parent company Canal+ through their division StudioExpand, the acquisition gave both Dargaud and its parent Média-Participations and another animation production studio with Dargaud assuming all ownership of Ellipsanime's production activities alongside its animated programming portfolio which joined Dargaud's own largest animation and production division Dargaud Marina with its distribution division Dargaud Distribution (now Mediatoon Distribution) taking over Ellipsanime's production library along with their future projects.[6][7]

In January 2011, Ellipsanime was planning to produce a new adaptation of the French/Belgian comic book series Cubitis with Média-Participations another animation production studio Storimages according to Ellipsanime's former website with the titular character being placed onto the background of another show The Garfield Show with him doing the video but the two companies since then had no plans to produce the new adaptation of Cubitis.[8]

In January 2014, Ellipsanime announced that under the Paris bankruptcy court they've acquired the assets of French animation and production group MoonScoop which went into bankruptcy administration back in July 2013 with Ellipsanime retaining two of MoonScoop's then-remaining employees and taken over MoonScoop's production library with Dargaud's international distribution division Mediatoon Distribution taking over MoonScoop's programming catalouge except their American division which was splitten.[9]

In October 2017, Ellipsanime Production and its parent Média-Participations announced that they had partnered with independent game publishing and digital entertainment company Ankama to establish a joint venture 2D animation production studio based in Roubaix, Hauts-de-France named MadLab Animations to handle the two animation studios' own production services alongside Paris and Angoulême-based animation production studio Ellipse Studio for the former.[10]

In December 2019, following the departure of Média-Participations' previous CEO & president of its animation production companies and their Paris and Angoulême-based animation production studio Ellipse Studio Maïa Tubiana back in September of that same year, Ellipsanime Productions's parent company Média-Participations announced that they've hired Caroline Duvochel as their new CEO of Média-Participations' animation production activities namely Ellipsanime Productions (along with their Roubaix-based joint venture animation studio MadLab Animations), Dargaud Media and French/Belgian audiovisuel production company Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel along with its Paris and Angoulême-based in-house animation production studio Ellipse Studio. Former Tele Images Productions & Zodiak Kids director of animation productions and former Watch Next Media studio director Jules Garcia became Paris and Angoulême-based animation production studio Ellipse Studio's newly created position of directors[11]

In May 2021, Ellipsanime Productions's parent company Média-Participations announced that they've hired former Cyber Group Studios executive Caroline Audebert as their deputy head of Média-Participations' new division Média-Participations Development and Innovation which was being headed by Julien Papelier with Caroline Audebert overseeing Média-Participations' own animation production subsidiaries including Ellipsanime Productions (including their Roubaix-based joint venture animation studio MadLab Animations), Dargaud Media and French/Belgian audiovisuel production company Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel alongside their in-house Paris and Angoulême-based animation production studio Ellipse Studio.[12]

In June 2022 during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Ellipsanime Productions alongside their parent company Dargaud and its owner Media Participations announced that they were bringing their French animation production labels (which were Ellipsanime Productions (including their Roubaix-based joint venture animation studio MadLab Animations), Dargaud Media and French/Belgian audiovisuel production company Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel) alongside their in-house Paris and Angoulême-based animation production studio Ellipse Studio under one umbrella group named Ellipse Animation, returning to the Ellipse Animation name after 24 years with Ellipsanime Productions being placed under Ellipse Animation as their production label.[13]

In January 2024, Ellipsanime Productions's parent company Ellipse Animation announced that they have acquired a majority stake in Milan-based Italian production company Studio Campedelli, expanding Ellipse Animation's production activities for the first time and their first expansion into the Italian animation production services with Studio Campedelli being placed under Ellipse Animation as their own subsidiary with Studio Campedelli CEOs Anne-Sophie Vanhollebeke and Valeria Brambilla continued leading the Italian animation studio under Ellipse giving them an Italian animation production company outside of France.[14] A week later in that same month, Ellipse Animation announced that they've expanded their operations into webtoons by launching a production division dedicated to animated series based on digital comics and will sit under Ellipse Animation's own animation production studio Ellipse Studio Angoulême.[15]

Filmography

[edit]

TV series

[edit]
Title Years Network Notes
My Pet Monster 1987 ABC
Global Television Network (Canada)		 co-production with Nelvana, Golden Books and Hi-Tops Video
Zorro 1990–1993 The Family Channel co-production with New World Television, Zorro Productions and Goodman/Rosen Productions
Doug 1991–1994 Nickelodeon co-production with Games Animation and Jumbo Pictures
continued and owned by Disney Television Animation whilst Mediatoon Distribution and Paramount Global Content Distribution own the rights to seasons 1–4
Rupert 1991–1997 France 3
YTV (Canada)
ITV (United Kingdom)		 seasons 1–3 only
co-production with Nelvana, Television South (season 1) and Scottish Television (seasons 2–5)
The Adventures of Tintin 1991–1992 France 3
Global Television Network (Canada)		 co-production with Nelvana
Quarxs 1993 Canal+ & France 3 co-production with Z.A Production
Orson and Olivia 1994 Canal+
Rai Uno (Italy)
Tom & Pippo[16] 1994–1997 France 3 under Ellipse License and Elma Animation
with Les Cartooneurs Associés, Canal+ D.A and TAL Productions
The Neverending Story 1995 Canal+
HBO (United States)
Family Channel (Canada)		 co-production with Nelvana and CineVox
Mot 1996 France 3 & Canal+ co-production with UFA
Blazing Dragons 1996–1998 Canal+/France 3/M6
Teletoon (Canada)
CITV (United Kingdom)		 co-production with Nelvana and Carlton Television
Blake and Mortimer 1997 Canal+ co-production with Dargaud Films and Cactus Animation
Nanook's Great Hunt 1997–1998 TF1
Teletoon		 co-production with Medver International and Mediatoon
Fennec 1997–1998 France 3 co-production with Cactus Animation and Motion International
Bob Morane[17] 1998 Canal+
Super Écran (Canada)		 co-production with Cactus Animation
Trouble with Sophie 1998–1999 France 3 & Canal J under Ellipse Story and Alya Animation
co-production with Medialab
Fracasse 1999–2000 France 2 co-production with D'Ocon Films
Pirate Family 1999–2004 France 3
Radio-Canada (Canada)
Kong: The Animated Series 2000–2001 M6 co-production with BKN International
Nick & Perry M6
Kika (Germany)		 co-production with EM.TV & Merchandising AG and Victory Media Group
Owned by Studio 100
Babar[18] 2001 France 3
TVOntario (Canada)		 co-production with Nelvana and Kodansha
The Funny Little Bugs[19] 2001 France 3
Xcalibur 2001–2002 Canal+ & France 2
YTV (Canada)		 co-production with TVA International (episodes 1–25) and Tooncan Productions (episodes 26–40)
Agrilppine 2001 Canal+
Arte France
Corto Maltese 2003–2004 Canal+/France 2
Rai 3 (Italy)		 co-production with Rai Fiction and Pomalux
The Frog Show 2003–2005 M6 co-production with D'Ocon Films and Agogo
Miss BG[20][21] 2005–2006 France 5
Tiji
TVOntario (Canada)		 co-production with Breakthrough Films & Television and Def2shoot
Yakari 2005–2017 France 3
WDR (seasons 3–5)		 Joined the series for season 3 until season 5
co-production with Storimages, Belvision, Les Cartooneurs Associés (season 4), Dargaud Media (season 5), ARD (seasons 3–5) and 2 Minutes
Potlach 2006 France 3
Rai 3 (Italy)		 co-production with Rai Fiction
The Magic Roundabout[22][23][24] 2007–2009 M6 & Playhouse Disney France
Nick Jr. (United Kingdom)		 co-production with Films Action and Play Production
Inami[25] 2007–2008 TF1 co-production with Seahorse Animation
Bird Squad[26] 2008–2009 Rai 2 (Italy) co-production with Toposodo, Araneo and Rai Fiction
Taratabong[27][28] 2009 Rai 3 co-production with Toposodo and Rai Fiction
Chumballs[29] France 5 co-production with Les Films de la Perrine
Contraptus[30] 2009–2010 Canal J & Gulli co-production with Le Lombard
The Jungle Book[31] 2010–2020 TF1/Piwi+
Nickelodeon India (India)
ZDF (Germany)		 inherited from MoonScoop
co-production with Les Cartooneurs Associés, DQ Entertainment and ZDF Enterprises
Chicken Town[32][33] 2011 Canal+ Family & OCS co-production with 1st Day Studios and Araneo
Based on the short of the same name by Klasky Csupo
Kinky and Cosy 2014 OCS co-production with Belvision
Boule et Bill 2016–2018 France 3/Piwi+
RTBF (Belgium)		 co-production with Dargaud Media and Belvision
The Fox/Badger Family 2018–2022 France 5 co-production with Dargaud Media and Philm CGI
Kid Lucky[34] 2020 M6
Rai Gulp (Italy)		 co-production with Dargaud Media, Belvision and Rai Ragazzi
The Smurfs[35] 2021–present TF1
La Trois & Ketnet (Belgium)
Kika (Germany)
Nickelodeon (International)		 continued from Dargaud Media and Les Cartooneurs Associés from season 3 onwards
co-production with Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel and Peyo Productions
Living with Dad[36] 2022–present M6, Canal J & Gulli
La Trois (Belgium)		 co-production with Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel and Belvision
Based on the comic book series Dad by Nob
Belfort & Lupin[37] 2025–present France 4
Auvio Kids TV & Ketnet (Belgium)
Radio-Canada (Canada)
SWR (Germany)[38]		 co-production with Dargaud Media and Belvision

Films

[edit]
Title Release date Distributor Notes
Babar: The Movie July 28, 1989 Fourm Distribution
Astral Films (Canada)		 co-production with Nelvana and The Clifford Ross Company
Becassine and the Viking Treasure December 12, 2001 Gebaka Films co-production with Home Made Movies and Image Film

Films, TV shows, and specials

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Ellipsanime

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Ellipsanime Productions is a French animation studio specializing in the creation of animated television series and specials, primarily for children and family audiences, with a focus on adapting popular , books, and characters into animated formats. Originally founded in 1987 as Ellipse Programme by producers Philippe Gildas and Robert Réa in partnership with Groupe Canal+, the studio quickly established itself as a key player in the European industry through high-profile co-productions. In 2000, it merged with Expand SA, and following its acquisition by comic book publisher Dargaud in 2003, it was renamed Ellipsanime in 2004 as part of the larger Média-Participations group. Ellipsanime Productions operates as a key production label under Ellipse Animation, formed in 2014 within the group. In January 2024, the parent company acquired a stake in Italian studio Studio Campedelli. Ellipsanime has solidified its reputation for transforming beloved literary properties into animated works, including series like , , , and . With studios in and , the company maintains a vast catalog of over 60 years of combined animation experience within the group, continuing to develop family-oriented programs such as , Trotro & Zaza, and initiatives like the Akissi special (2022).

History

Founding and early years

Ellipse Programme was founded in 1987 by television producers Philippe Gildas and Robert Réa as a of the French pay-TV channel Canal+, serving as its dedicated production arm for animated and family-oriented television content. The company quickly established its headquarters in , where it began building a creative team to handle international co-productions, emphasizing high-quality for global broadcasters. From its inception, Ellipse Programme focused on collaborative projects with overseas partners to leverage expertise and distribution networks, including Canadian studio Nelvana and U.S. networks like Nickelodeon. Its debut production, My Pet Monster (1987), was a 13-episode animated series co-produced with Nelvana, Golden Books, and Hi-Tops Video, adapting the popular plush toy character into lighthearted adventures about a boy and his magical monster companion; it aired on ABC and introduced Ellipse's approach to merchandise-driven animation with simple, engaging storytelling. Subsequent early works included the live-action adventure series Zorro (1990–1993), co-produced with New World Television and The Family Channel, which followed the masked hero's exploits in Spanish California and marked Ellipse's initial foray into hybrid international TV formats despite its animation roots. Another key project, Doug (1992–1994), was an animated coming-of-age series co-produced with Jumbo Pictures for Nickelodeon starting from season 2, centering on a young boy's imaginative journal entries and everyday challenges; it ran for four seasons with 52 episodes in its original Nickelodeon run, exemplifying Ellipse's role in crafting relatable character-driven narratives through efficient co-production pipelines involving storyboarding in France and final animation touches abroad. The company's first major breakthrough came with (1991–1992), a 39-episode animated adaptation of 's beloved comic albums, co-produced with under the supervision of the Hergé Foundation. Directed by Stéphane Bernasconi, the series faithfully recreated the reporter's globe-trotting mysteries with detailed 2D animation, blending French writing and European aesthetics with Canadian technical support; it premiered on networks including , M6 in Europe, and in the United States, where it was praised for bringing "a degree of humor and intelligence and sophistication" to American audiences, distinguishing it from typical U.S. cartoons of the era. This success solidified Ellipse Programme's reputation in the as a bridge between European artistry and international markets, setting the stage for expanded output while maintaining a lean operational model centered on strategic partnerships.

Mergers, expansions, and rebranding

In February 2000, Ellipse Programme, the division of Canal+, merged with the television production and distribution company Expand SA, creating a larger entity focused on audiovisual content under Universal's Studio Canal umbrella. This merger integrated Ellipse's expertise with Expand's broader programming capabilities, enhancing scale and distribution reach in the early . In July 2003, Vivendi Universal sold Ellipse Animation, then a division of Studio Expand, to the French comic book publisher Dargaud, part of the Média-Participations group, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition aligned Ellipse's operations with Dargaud's extensive comic intellectual properties, facilitating synergies in content . Following the sale, the studio rebranded to Ellipsanime in , a name combining "Ellipse" with "" (French for ) to underscore its specialized focus on animated productions rather than general programming. Under Dargaud's ownership, Ellipsanime expanded into adapting comic books and illustrated stories for animation, leveraging partnerships within the Média-Participations ecosystem. A representative example is the 2001 co-production of the Babar television series with Nelvana and Kodansha, which drew from the classic comic-inspired elephant character and aired on France 3, demonstrating early integration of literary adaptations into animated formats. This shift broadened Ellipsanime's portfolio beyond original content, emphasizing comic-to-screen transitions that capitalized on Dargaud's publishing strengths. In January 2014, Ellipsanime acquired the assets of the bankrupt French animation company MoonScoop SA through a Paris commercial court process, purchasing them for approximately €600,000. The deal included MoonScoop's extensive library of over 1,000 hours of children's programming, such as Code Lyoko and Mummy, Nanny, Sonny, and Girly, along with intellectual properties and ongoing projects. Staff integration was limited, with only two of MoonScoop's remaining 27 employees retained—one in a legal role and one in sales and administration—to support the asset transition and library management. These developments contributed to Ellipsanime's growth as part of the broader Média-Participations operations. This scaling enabled deeper involvement in European co-productions, including collaborations across , , and beyond, to produce series and films with shared funding and creative input from multiple regional partners.

Recent developments and acquisitions

In June 2022, during the , the Média-Participations group announced the creation of Ellipse Animation as an , integrating Ellipsanime Productions as a alongside Dargaud Media and Dupuis Edition & Audiovisual to streamline production within the conglomerate's structure. This move positioned Ellipse Animation at the core of Média-Participations' strategy, leveraging over 4,000 intellectual properties to produce 4-6 series and one annually by 2024. Ellipsanime played a pivotal role in reviving classic franchises under this new framework, notably contributing to the CGI-animated series, which premiered in 2021 and has aired continuously, blending original comic lore with modern storytelling to sustain the brand across television and digital platforms. In January 2024, Ellipse Animation acquired a majority stake in Milan-based Studio Campedelli, an Italian production company founded in 2008 specializing in children's animation, thereby boosting its European footprint and facilitating collaborative projects that enhance cross-border production efficiency. This acquisition aligned with the group's expansion goals amid a competitive global market. That same month, Ellipse Animation expanded into digital content by launching production at its studio, targeting adaptations of and original animations for streaming and mobile platforms to capitalize on growing demand for vertical-format . In June 2024, this initiative advanced further with the establishment of the Webtoon Academy, a 13-week training program in partnership with EMCA to develop talent in webtoon creation. To address industry shifts toward streaming and on-demand content, Ellipse Animation initiated production on new original series such as Belfort & Lupin, which debuted in February 2025 as a co-production with Belvision and Dargaud Media, featuring adventures of an aristocratic dog and a mischievous in the historic setting. This project, supported by a partnership with the Château de Versailles, exemplifies revival strategies through historical and comedic narratives tailored for family audiences. In October 2025, Ellipse Animation and Belvision partnered with for international distribution of the new CG-animated series The Marsupilamis outside the and , continuing their focus on classic comic adaptations for global audiences.

Productions

Animated television series

Ellipsanime has produced a diverse array of animated television series since the early 1990s, frequently through co-productions with international partners such as and IMPS, spanning adaptations of beloved and original content for young audiences. These series emphasize episodic formats that deliver self-contained adventures, fostering repeat viewings among children aged 6 to 12, with animation styles ranging from traditional 2D hand-drawn techniques to modern 3D CGI hybrids. The studio's output reflects a focus on family-friendly narratives rooted in European , distributed across European broadcasters like and globally via platforms including and . Key examples include Rupert (1991–1997), a 65-episode co-production with that adapted the iconic British bear character using 2D animation for whimsical, magical escapades broadcast on networks like YTV in and ITV in the UK. Later, Yakari (2005–present) has delivered over 156 episodes in 2D style across multiple seasons, including Season 5 in 2025, co-produced with Storimages and Belvision, following a young boy's animal friendships and airing on with international reach on . In the 2010s, (2016–2018) featured 104 CGI episodes across two seasons co-developed under the Dupuis label, centering on a boy and his mischievous dog in lighthearted domestic tales targeted at preschool to early school-age viewers, premiering on and Piwi+. A prominent revival effort is (2021–present), a 3D/CGI hybrid series co-produced with IMPS and Productions, expanding the classic franchise with 52 episodes per season of village-based antics distributed on in , Nickelodeon internationally, and Paramount+, including Season 4 as of 2025. Ellipsanime's most recent series, Belfort & Lupin (2025–present), utilizes episodic storytelling to explore the unlikely friendship between a royal spaniel and a wild amid Versailles' grandeur, produced in 3D with Belvision and Dargaud Media for broadcast on and potential streaming expansion. This body of work underscores the studio's role in sustaining intergenerational appeal through accessible, adventure-driven TV animation.

Feature films and specials

Ellipsanime's entry into feature films began with co-productions that adapted beloved children's literature into theatrical releases, emphasizing adventurous narratives for young audiences. The studio's early cinematic efforts focused on traditional cel animation, showcasing expansive worlds and moral-driven stories that aligned with its television work but allowed for longer-form storytelling. One of the studio's inaugural feature films, Babar: The Movie (1989), was co-produced with Nelvana and tells the story of young elephant king Babar defending his homeland from invading rhinos led by Rataxes. Directed by Alan Bunce and Nick Spargo, the film utilized hand-drawn animation to depict Babar's journey from orphan to leader, culminating in a victory parade in Celesteville. Released theatrically in the United States by New Line Cinema on July 28, 1989, it achieved a domestic box office gross of approximately $1.3 million. In the early 2000s, Ellipsanime contributed to et le Trésor viking (2001), an animated adaptation of the classic French comic strip by Caumery and Joseph Pinchon, co-produced with Home Made Movies. Directed by Philippe Vidal, the 85-minute film follows the naive Breton as she travels from to the in search of a Viking treasure to save her employers' finances, blending humor, , and cultural references in a family-oriented adventure. Premiering theatrically in on December 12, 2001, via Distribution, it utilized . Shifting toward specials in recent years, Ellipsanime produced the 26-minute 2D animated TV special Akissi: A Funny Little Brother (2022), adapted from Marguerite Abouet and Mathieu Sapin's comic series and commissioned by and Africa. The story centers on the mischievous Ivorian girl Akissi and her pet monkey Edison as they navigate urban escapades in , highlighting themes of sibling longing and everyday African life for children aged 5 and up. Aimed at broadcast distribution rather than theaters, it premiered on on June 15, 2022, and later on Africa, reflecting Ellipsanime's strategy for targeted international TV reach in emerging markets.

Adaptations and original content

Ellipsanime has specialized in adapting renowned European comics into , emphasizing fidelity to the original narratives while incorporating modifications to suit episodic television formats and visual storytelling. Notable examples include the 1991–1992 series , co-produced with , which closely follows Hergé's albums by preserving key plotlines, character dynamics, and art style influences, though it condenses multi-album arcs into standalone episodes for broadcast accessibility. Similarly, the series (2005–present), based on the works of Job and Derib, adapts the young boy's wilderness adventures with high loyalty to the comic's themes of and friendship, including direct visual homages to the source illustrations, while expanding on environmental messages through added subplots, with over 156 episodes across multiple seasons including Season 5 in 2025. The 2016–2018 adaptation of (known internationally as Billy and Buddy), drawn from Jean Roba's humorous family tales, retains the comic's lighthearted tone and dog-boy relationship but streamlines gags for animation pacing and introduces minor contemporary updates to appeal to younger audiences. In developing original content, Ellipsanime has collaborated on fully original concepts alongside hybrid projects that build on literary foundations with new storylines. The studio co-produced seasons 2–4 of the original series Doug (1991–1994) with Nickelodeon and Jumbo Pictures, creating fresh episodes centered on the titular boy's imaginative suburban life and journal entries, which established a benchmark for character-driven tween animation without direct comic sources. Likewise, Time Jam: Valerian & Laureline (2007–2008), inspired by Pierre Christin's and Jean-Claude Mézières' sci-fi comics but featuring predominantly original episodes, explores time-travel missions with innovative anime-influenced visuals co-produced with EuropaCorp and Satelight, blending homage to the source's galactic lore with standalone adventures. Ellipsanime's comic-to-animation typically begins with acquisition from publishers such as Dargaud, now integrated under the parent Média-Participations group, facilitating seamless access to like those in Yakari and Boule et Bill. This process involves close collaboration with original authors or to review storyboards and scripts, ensuring cultural and thematic accuracy while adapting panel sequences into fluid motion; for instance, Dargaud Media co-produces many projects to oversee narrative integrity. Recent innovations in originals include Belfort & Lupin (2025–present), a mystery series for tweens set in the , developed in partnership with Belvision and , which introduces original detective duo characters in a historical-fantasy framework, complete with comic books published by Dupuis. The success of these adaptations is evidenced by longevity and reach, such as 's over 156 episodes across multiple seasons, which have aired internationally and inspired feature films like Yakari: A Spectacular Journey (2020), demonstrating sustained audience engagement with comic-derived content.

Organization and impact

Corporate structure and ownership

Ellipsanime Productions operates as a key production label within Ellipse Animation, a of the French family-owned Média-Participations, which acquired and restructured the entity in 2022 to consolidate its animation activities under a unified . Média-Participations, founded in 1986, oversees more than 80 companies across , , and sectors, with Ellipse Animation managing one of Europe's largest catalogues of animated content. In terms of subsidiaries and expansions, Ellipse Animation, encompassing Ellipsanime, acquired a majority stake in Milan-based Studio Campedelli in January 2024, establishing an Italian arm focused on co-productions and enhancing European production capabilities. Additionally, in early 2024, Ellipse Animation launched a production division at its Ellipse Studio in , , to develop original digital for potential adaptation into and films. The operational structure centers on as the headquarters for Ellipsanime Productions SA, a société anonyme with a registered address at 57 Rue Gaston Tessier, 75019 , and additional studios in , . International presence includes the office through Studio Campedelli, with key partnerships in via Belvision for co-productions such as The Marsupilamis and historical collaborations in with for distribution and development. Financially, Ellipsanime Productions reported revenue of approximately €2.46 million in 2024, reflecting its role within the broader Ellipse framework, while the parent Média-Participations group achieved a total turnover of €700 million across its operations. The animation activities emphasize a hybrid approach combining 2D and 3D techniques for television series and films.

Leadership and key personnel

Ellipsanime was founded in 1987 by Philippe Gildas and Robert Réa as Ellipse Programme, with Gildas contributing as the initial and Réa leading , forging essential early partnerships with Canal+ for production and distribution support. Since December 2019, Caroline Duvochel has served as CEO of Ellipsanime Productions and the French production entities under Média-Participations, overseeing audiovisual strategy and innovation across the group's labels including Dargaud Media and Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel. Duvochel also holds the position of Managing Director at Ellipse Animation, guiding the studio's creative and operational direction as a key subsidiary of the Média-Participations conglomerate. Key personnel include Morgann Favennec, Vice President of International Financing at Ellipse Animation and Deputy General Manager at Mediatoon Distribution, who manages global funding and distribution partnerships. In creative roles, animation directors and producers such as those leading projects like the series have shaped the studio's output, while recent post-acquisition hires, including Arnaud Réguillet as Head of the Angoulême Studio in early 2023, have bolstered production capacity ahead of expansions like the 2024 majority stake acquisition in Italian firm Studio Campedelli. Under Média-Participations since 2003, Ellipsanime's board integrates with the group's , featuring centralized creative oversight through the division led by Duvochel, which coordinates committees for content development and innovation across subsidiaries. Leadership transitions, notably the 2014 acquisition of MoonScoop's remaining assets by Ellipsanime, enabled the integration of valuable intellectual properties and stabilized studio operations by diversifying its portfolio during a period of industry consolidation.

Industry influence and collaborations

Ellipsanime has played a pivotal role in pioneering adaptations in the European industry, drawing on over 60 years of collective experience within the Média-Participations group, which traces its origins to the 1959 founding of Dupuis Audiovisuel. As part of Europe's largest independent publishing and entertainment conglomerate, the studio has contributed to building the continent's most extensive catalogue, emphasizing high-quality adaptations of iconic properties like and . Key collaborations have amplified Ellipsanime's reach, including long-term partnerships with on projects such as the 1989 feature film Babar: The Movie and subsequent series, as well as co-productions for Rupert. The studio also worked closely with , co-producing seasons 2 through 4 of the Doug (1991–1994), which helped introduce European animation techniques to North American audiences. More recently, Ellipsanime has partnered with IMPS (now ) on the revival of , starting with its 2021 season, blending original storytelling with 3D CGI production. The studio's contributions have earned notable recognition, including multiple nods at the , where it has presented projects during key events like the 2022 . Additionally, its distribution arm, Mediatoon, received the Unifrance Audiovisual Export Award in 2020 for The Fox-Badger Family 2, underscoring Ellipsanime's status as a top European animation producer. Ellipsanime's global impact is evident in its exports, with series distributed to over 100 countries through Mediatoon International, establishing it as a bridge for European content worldwide. A notable example highlighting this reach is the Akissi TV special, a 2D of Marguerite Abouet and Mathieu Sapin's comic, which targeted young audiences via partnerships with and , promoting in . Looking ahead, Ellipsanime emphasizes sustainable practices and diverse , as seen in projects like Akissi that prioritize inclusive narratives and targeted regional expansion in .

References

  1. https://www.awn.com/news/ellipse-animation-sold-comic-book-firm
  2. https://www.discogs.com/label/1851406-Ellipsanime
  3. https://www.avid.wiki/EllipsAnime
  4. https://www.ellipseanimation.com/about/
  5. https://www.ellipseanimation.com/
  6. https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/french-animation-part-18-tv-series/
  7. https://www.ellipseanimation.com/production/the-adventures-of-tintin/
  8. https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/24/news/tintin-searches-for-a-us-audience.html
  9. https://variety.com/2002/biz/news/ambiel-exits-studio-canal-arm-1117866543/
  10. https://variety.com/2002/biz/news/lenormand-expand-ing-1117866990/
  11. https://www.screendaily.com/vivendi-offloads-french-animation-business/4014278.article
  12. https://www.europecomics.com/publisher/ellipsanime-productions/
  13. https://www.scribd.com/document/541495011/Mediatoon-Catalogue-En
  14. https://www.awn.com/news/ellipsanime-buys-france-s-moonscoop
  15. https://www.c21media.net/news/ellipsanime-acquires-moonscoop/
  16. https://www.animationmagazine.net/2014/01/ellipsanime-wins-remaining-moonscoop-assets/
  17. https://www.ellipseanimation.com/ellipse-animation-at-the-heart-of-media-participations-strategy/
  18. https://www.ellipseanimation.com/production/the-smurfs/
  19. https://www.animationmagazine.net/2024/01/ellipse-animation-acquires-italian-toon-house-studio-campedelli/
  20. https://www.ellipseanimation.com/ellipse-animation-expands-its-activities-to-the-production-of-webtoons/
  21. https://www.ellipseanimation.com/ellipse-studio-ono-and-kenaz-launch-the-angouleme-webtoon-academy/
  22. https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/02/ellipse-animation-partners-with-chateau-de-versailles-for-belfort-lupin/
  23. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/nickelodeon-acquires-marsupilamis-outside-us-china-255210.html
  24. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0155445/
  25. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h_XALMC6Do
  26. https://www.netflix.com/title/70234488
  27. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0856155/
  28. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1j9iQn78u8
  29. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6634766/
  30. https://www.ellipseanimation.com/fr/a-propos/
  31. https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/the-smurfs/
  32. https://www.nickalive.net/2025/03/nickelodeon-to-premiere-new-smurfs.html
  33. https://www.ellipseanimation.com/production/versailles-unleashed/
  34. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096869/companycredits/
  35. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096869/
  36. https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Babar-The-Movie-%281989%29
  37. http://www.planete-jeunesse.com/fiche-727-becassine-le-tresor-viking.html
  38. https://cineuropa.org/en/film/1861/
  39. https://www.unifrance.org/film/23181/becassine-le-tresor-viking
  40. https://worldscreen.com/tvkids/ellipsanime-preps-akissi-for-france-televisions-warnermedia/
  41. https://www.animationmagazine.net/2021/07/ellipsanime-kicks-off-production-on-akissi-special-for-france-tv-warnermedia-africa/
  42. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21602420/
  43. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0856155/episodes
  44. https://www.media-participations.com/en/
  45. https://kidscreen.com/2024/01/19/ellipse-animation-jumps-into-webtoons/
  46. https://www.pappers.fr/entreprise/ellipsanime-productions-390239515
  47. https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/09/nickelodeon-picks-up-the-marsupilamis-animated-series-for-worldwide-territories/
  48. https://www.media-participations.com/en/numbers
  49. https://www.animationmagazine.net/2019/12/groupe-media-participations-bolsters-french-production-team/
  50. https://senalnews.com/en/content/ellipse-animation-strengthens-angouleme-studio-and-hires-arnaud-reguillet
  51. https://www.ellipseanimation.com/studio-campedelli-joins-ellipse-animation/
  52. https://variety.com/1999/tv/news/ellipsanime-tooning-up-euro-expansion-prod-n-1117493286/
  53. https://www.animationmagazine.net/page/603/?attachment_id=kfsukpkifpbphgq&doing_wp_cron=1459014520.6383390426635742187500
  54. https://kidscreen.com/2021/07/16/warnermedia-france-tv-greenlight-african-special/
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