Ellipsanime
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Animation |
| Predecessor | Le Studio Ellipse, Ellipse Programme |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Philippe Gildas, Robert Réa |
| Fate | Merged with Expand SA in 2000; purchased by Dargaud in 2003; rebranded to Ellipsanime in 2004; consolidated under Ellipse Animation brand in 2022 |
| Successor | Ellipse Animation (brand consolidation) |
| Headquarters | Paris and Angoulême , France |
Area served | International |
Key people | Caroline Duvochel (CEO, Média-Participations’ animation operations), Jules Garcia (head of Ellipse Studio), Caroline Audebert (deputy director of Development and Innovation) |
| Products | Television series, feature-length animated films |
| Owner | Média Participations (via Dargaud) |
| Parent | Ellipse Animation (Média Participations) |
Ellipsanime Productions—previously known as Le Studio Ellipse and Ellipse Programme—is a French animation company specializing in television series and feature-length films. It functions as a division of Ellipse Animation, an entertainment group owned by the media giant Média Participations. Established in 1987, the firm merged with Expand SA in 2000, was purchased by Dargaud in 2003, and rebranded to Ellipsanime in 2004. In 2014, it expanded by acquiring Moonscoop SA’s assets.
Ellipse has partnered with prominent industry players such as Nelvana and Nickelodeon, notably co-producing the second through fourth seasons of Nickelodeon's Doug. The studio discontinued its involvement following The Walt Disney Company's acquisition of the Doug intellectual property.
In June 2022, during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Média-Participations consolidated its French animation entities—including Ellipsanime Productions, Dargaud Media, and Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel—under a unified brand named Ellipse Animation.
History
Created in 1987 by Philippe Gildas and Robert Réa under Canal+, Ellipse Programme initiated its animation department in 1990. By 1997, it merged subsidiaries Alya Animation, Elma Animation, and Studio Ellipse into a single entity known as Ellipse Animation.
In February 2000, Canal+ combined Ellipse Programme with Expand Images to establish Expand Group, retaining a 35% ownership stake. Early in 2003, Ellipsanime dissolved its executive production branch, Ellipse Studio, integrating all production efforts into its primary animation division. That same year, Canal+ announced intentions to sell Ellipsanime alongside other StudioExpand holdings.
On July 22, 2003, Média-Participations’ subsidiary Dargaud acquired Ellipsanime from Canal+, incorporating its production catalog into Dargaud Media and assigning distribution responsibilities to Mediatoon Distribution.
January 2011 saw announcements for an adaptation of the comic series Cubitis, though these plans were eventually shelved.
Following MoonScoop’s bankruptcy in July 2013, Ellipsanime purchased its assets in January 2014, retaining essential staff and absorbing its production library; international distribution was managed by Mediatoon Distribution except for MoonScoop’s American division.
In October 2017, Ellipsanime collaborated with Ankama to establish MadLab Animations—a joint venture 2D animation studio located in Roubaix—aimed at enhancing production services alongside Ellipse Studio’s Paris and Angoulême locations.
After leadership transitions in late 2019, Caroline Duvochel was named CEO overseeing Média-Participations’ animation operations—including Ellipsanime Productions, MadLab Animations, Dargaud Media, Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel, and Ellipse Studio—with Jules Garcia appointed head of Ellipse Studio.
In May 2021, Caroline Audebert joined as deputy director of Média-Participations’ Development and Innovation division responsible for these animation subsidiaries.
At the Annecy festival in June 2022, Média-Participations consolidated its French animation labels under the revived name Ellipse Animation after a 24-year hiatus, with Ellipsanime continuing as a principal production entity.
In January 2024, Ellipse Animation broadened its international presence by acquiring a majority share in Milan-based Studio Campedelli—its first Italian production branch—while preserving existing management. Shortly thereafter, it launched a new unit within Ellipse Studio Angoulême dedicated to animated series inspired by digital comics (webtoons).
TV series
| Title | Years | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| My Pet Monster | 1987 | ABC Global Television Network (Canada) |
produced in collaboration with Nelvana, Golden Books, and Hi-Tops Video |
| Zorro | 1990–1993 | The Family Channel | joint production alongside New World Television, Zorro Productions, and Goodman/Rosen Productions |
| Doug | 1991–1994 | Nickelodeon | a co-production with Games Animation and Jumbo Pictures later continued and owned by Disney Television Animation; rights for seasons 1–4 held by Mediatoon Distribution and Paramount Global Content Distribution |
| Rupert | 1991–1997 | France 3 YTV (Canada) ITV (UK) |
involved only in seasons 1–3 produced jointly 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-produced with Nelvana |
| Quarxs | 1993 | Canal+ & France 3 | created in partnership with Z.A Production |
| Orson and Olivia | 1994 | Canal+ Rai Uno (Italy) |
|
| Leo & Popi | 1994–1997 | France 3 | produced under Ellipse License and Elma Animation collaborated with Les Cartooneurs Associés, Canal+ D.A, and TAL Productions |
| The Neverending Story | 1995 | Canal+ HBO (US) Family Channel (Canada) |
co-produced alongside Nelvana and CineVox |
| Mot | 1996 | France 3 & Canal+ | joint production with UFA |
| Blazing Dragons | 1996–1998 | Canal+/France 3/M6 Teletoon (Canada) CITV (UK) |
collaboration with Nelvana and Carlton Television |
| Blake and Mortimer | 1997 | Canal+ | produced together with Dargaud Films and Cactus Animation |
| Nanook's Great Hunt | 1997–1998 | TF1 Teletoon |
co-produced with Medver International and Mediatoon |
| Fennec | 1997–1998 | France 3 | produced jointly with Cactus Animation and Motion International |
| Bob Morane | 1998 | Canal+ Super Écran (Canada) |
co-production with Cactus Animation |
| Trouble with Sophie | 1998–1999 | France 3 & Canal J | produced under Ellipse Story and Alya Animation in association with Medialab |
| Fracasse | 1999–2000 | France 2 | joint production alongside D'Ocon Films |
| Pirate Family | 1999–2004 | France 3 Radio-Canada (Canada) |
|
| Kong: The Animated Series | 2000–2001 | M6 | co-produced with BKN International |
| Nick & Perry | M6 Kika (Germany) |
collaboration with EM.TV & Merchandising AG and Victory Media Group currently owned by Studio 100 | |
| Babar | 2001 | France 3 TVOntario (Canada) |
partnership production with Nelvana and Kodansha |
| The Funny Little Bugs | 2001 | France 3 | |
| Xcalibur | 2001–2002 | Canal+ & France 2 YTV (Canada) |
co-produced by TVA International for episodes 1–25, then by (episodes 26–40) |
| Agrilppine | 2001 | Canal+ Arte France |
|
| Corto Maltese | 2003–2004 | Canal+/France 2 Rai 3 (Italy) |
produced in collaboration with Rai Fiction and Pomalux |
| The Frog Show | 2003–2005 | M6 | co-produced alongside D'Ocon Films and Agogo |
| Miss BG | 2005–2006 | France 5, Tiji, TVOntario (Canada) | joint production with Breakthrough Entertainment and Def2shoot |
| Yakari | 2005–2017 | France 3 WDR (seasons 3–5) |
joined from season three; co-production partners include Storimages, Belvision, Les Cartooneurs Associés, Dargaud Media, ARD, and 2 Minutes |
| Potlach | 2006 | France 3 Rai 3 (Italy) |
collaboration with Rai Fiction |
| The Magic Roundabout | 2007–2009 | M6 & Playhouse Disney France Nick Jr. UK |
co-produced with Films Action and Play Production |
| Inami | 2007–2008 | TF1 | joint production alongside Seahorse Animation |
| Bird Squad | 2008–2009 | Rai 2 (Italy) | produced together with Toposodo, Araneo, Rai Fiction |
| Taratabong | 2009 | Rai 3 | co-production involving Toposodo and Rai Fiction |
| Chumballs | France 5 | collaboration with Les Films de la Perrine | |
| Contraptus | 2009–2010 | Canal J & Gulli | co-produced alongside Le Lombard |
| The Jungle Book | 2010–2020 | TF1/Piwi+ Nickelodeon India ZDF Germany |
inherited from MoonScoop; produced in partnership with Les Cartooneurs Associés, DQ Entertainment, ZDF Enterprises |
| Chicken Town | 2011 | Canal+ Family & OCS | co-production with 1st Day Studios and Araneo; inspired by Klasky Csupo short film |
| Kinky and Cosy | 2014 | OCS | collaborative production with Belvision Studios |
| Boule et Bill | 2016–2018 | France 3/Piwi+ RTBF Belgium |
joint production involving Dargaud Media and Belvision Studios |
| The Fox/Badger Family | 2018–2022 | France 5 | produced together with Dargaud Media and Philm CGI |
| Kid Lucky | 2020 | M6 Rai Gulp Italy |
co-productions include Dargaud Media, Belvision Studios, Rai Ragazzi |
| The Smurfs | 2021–present | TF1 La Trois & Ketnet Belgium Kika Germany Nickelodeon International |
continuation starting from season three; partners include Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel, Peyo Productions |
| Living with Dad | 2022–present | M6, Canal J & Gulli La Trois Belgium |
co-productions include Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel, Belvision Studios; adapted from comic by Nob |
| Belfort & Lupin | 2025–present | France 4 Auvio Kids TV & Ketnet Belgium Radio-Canada Canada SWR Germany |
co-productions involve Dargaud Media, Belvision Studios |
Films
| Title | Release date | Distributor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Babar: The Movie" | July 28, 1989 | Produced in partnership with Nelvana and The Clifford Ross Company | |
| "Becassine and the Viking Treasure" | December 12, 2001 | Joint production with Home Made Movies and Image Film |
Films, TV shows, and specials
- Akissi
- Aliens Love Underpants
- Alta Donna
- Dream Land
- Sullivan, also known as Clorophylle
- The Marsupilamis
- The Garfield Show
- Trotro and Zaza
- Yummy Toonies, alternatively titled Petit Creux
- Wonder Wai