Ellipse Animation
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Animation |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Philippe Gildas, Robert Réa |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Caroline Duvochel (CEO), Caroline Audebert (Deputy Head of Development and Innovation), Jules Garcia (Director at Ellipse Studio) |
| Products | Animated films and television series |
| Parent | Média-Participations |
Ellipse Animation is a French-based entertainment conglomerate and animation production company operating as a subsidiary of the media giant Média-Participations. It serves as the umbrella organization for all of Média-Participations' animation ventures, encompassing three main production divisions (Dargaud Media, Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel, and Ellipsanime Productions) in addition to its proprietary studios located in Paris and Angoulême, known as Ellipse Studio. Together, Ellipse Animation has been responsible for the creation of more than 1,982 animated films and television series.
History
Ellipse Animation began as the animation branch of Ellipse Programme until 2003, when Canal+ divested it to Média-Participations. This acquisition was made through Média-Participations’ comic publishing entity Dargaud via Dargaud Media. The company was subsequently renamed Ellipsanime in 2004.
Dargaud’s entry into animation dates back to 1967 with the formation of Dargaud Films, which produced Asterix the Gaul and went on to develop numerous films based on Asterix, Lucky Luke, and Tintin. In 1972, Dargaud collaborated with United Artists on Le Viager, followed by a partnership in 1974 with creators René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo.
Ellipse Programme was established in 1987 by Philippe Gildas and Robert Réa under Groupe Canal+. In 1990, Ellipsanime was created as a new entity that consolidated Alya Animation, Elma Animation, and Studio Ellipse by 1997.
In 1990, Claude Berther founded Marina Productions, which was later acquired by Média-Participations in 1997. This acquisition bolstered Dargaud’s animation portfolio under the Dargaud Films banner.
Studio Ellipse ceased operations in early 2003, with its productions absorbed into Ellipsanime. During this period, Canal+ aimed to divest from Ellipsanime due to declining production levels.
In June 2004, Média-Participations expanded its footprint by purchasing Belgian/French company Dupuis Audiovisuel along with its parent Dupuis for €300 million. This deal incorporated Dupuis’ animation studio Belvision into the group. Additionally, Dupuis Distribution was merged into Dargaud Marina’s distribution division.
On January 31, 2007, Média-Participations inaugurated Mediatoon to manage its publishing and animation sectors; concurrently, Dargaud Distribution transitioned into Mediatoon Distribution to serve as its international distribution branch.
In January 2014, Ellipsanime acquired assets from the bankrupt French company MoonScoop, securing key personnel and integrating MoonScoop’s content library under Mediatoon Distribution.
Six months later, Ellipse Studio expanded its operations by launching a new facility in Angoulême called Ellipse Studio Angoulême. This move centralized Média-Participations’ animation production activities under the leadership of Maïa Tubiana.
By October 2017, Média-Participations had formed a partnership with digital entertainment firm Ankama to establish MadLab Animations in Roubaix. This new studio complemented existing facilities in Paris and Angoulême.
Following Maïa Tubiana’s departure in September 2019, Caroline Duvochel assumed the role of CEO overseeing Média-Participations’ animation divisions including Dargaud Media, Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel, Ellipsanime Productions, and Ellipse Studio.
In May 2021, Caroline Audebert—formerly of Cyber Group Studios—joined as deputy head of Média-Participations Development and Innovation. She took charge of supervising all animation subsidiaries such as MadLab Animations. At the same time, Jules Garcia was appointed director at Ellipse Studio.
Ellipse Animation underwent rebranding in June 2022 during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. This restructuring unified Dargaud Media, Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel, Ellipsanime Productions (including MadLab Animations), and Ellipse Studio into a single entity. The Paris and Angoulême studios were consolidated to form a newly established studio division.
In January 2024, Ellipse Animation made its first international expansion by acquiring a majority stake in Milan-based Italian producer Studio Campedelli. The existing CEOs Anne-Sophie Vanhollebeke and Valeria Brambilla remained at the helm. Shortly thereafter, the company launched a production unit focused on webtoons at Ellipse Studio Angoulême aimed at adapting digital comics into animated series.
Production companies
Ellipse Animation serves as the parent organization overseeing three distinct production entities:
- Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel; launched in 1959 by Charles Dupuis as the animation branch of the Belgian publisher Dupuis.
- Dargaud Media; created in 1967 by the French publishing house Dargaud. By the late 1990s, it had absorbed French animation studios Marina Productions and Millésime Productions.
- Ellipsanime Productions; established in 1987 by journalist Philippe Gildas and Robert Réa, originally owned by Canal+ before its acquisition by Dargaud in 2003. In 2014, it obtained the production assets and programming catalog of MoonScoop.
- MadLab Animations – A collaborative venture based in Roubaix between Ellipsanime and game publisher Ankama Animations, known for producing series like Kid Lucky.
Television
| Title | Years | Network | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Smurfs | 1961–1967 | RTB | Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel | |
| Musti | 1968 | BRT | ||
| The Smurfs | 1981–1989 | France 2/La Cinq RTBF/RTL-TVI NBC (US) |
co-produced with Hanna-Barbera Productions, SEPP International (seasons 1–7), Lafig S.A. (seasons 8–9) | |
| Snorks | 1984–1989 | TF1/La Cinq NBC/Syndication (US) |
co-produced alongside Hanna-Barbera Productions and SEPP International | |
| My Pet Monster | 1987 | ABC Global Television Network (Canada) |
Ellipsanime Productions | co-produced with Nelvana, Golden Books, Hi-Tops Video |
| Bouli | 1989–1990 | France 2 | Les Cartooneurs Associés | |
| Zorro | 1990–1993 | The Family Channel | Ellipsanime Productions | Live-action co-production with New World Television, Zorro Productions, Goodman/Rosen Productions |
| Doug | 1991–1994 | Nickelodeon | co-produced with Games Animation and Jumbo Pictures; seasons 1–4 rights held by Mediatoon Distribution and Paramount Global Content Distribution; later acquired by Disney Television Animation | |
| Rupert | 1991–1997 | France 3 YTV ITV (UK) |
seasons 1–3 only co-production with Nelvana, Television South (season 1), Scottish Television (seasons 2–5) | |
| Lucky Luke | 1991–1992 | France 3 | Dargaud Media | co-produced with IDDH |
| The Adventures of Tintin | 1991–1992 | France 3 Global Television Network (Canada) |
Ellipsanime Productions | co-produced with Nelvana |
| Journey to the Heart of the World / Baby Follies | 1993–1994 | Canal+ | Dargaud Media / Les Cartooneurs Associés | Co-productions involving Belvision, Saban International Paris, Shanghai Animation Film Studio, C2A |
| Leo & Popi | 1994–1997 | France 3 | Ellipsanime Productions / Les Cartooneurs Associés | Co-productions with Canal+ D.A and TAL Productions |
| The Neverending Story | 1995 | Canal+ HBO (US) Family Channel (Canada) |
Ellipsanime Productions | Co-productions involving Nelvana, CineVox |
| Bamboo Bears | 1995 | Canal J NPO 1 (Netherlands) Kids Station (Japan) ZDF (Germany) TVE2 (Spain) |
Dargaud Media | Co-productions with ZDF Enterprises, Telescreen, Mitsui; currently owned by Studio 100 |
| Mr. Men and Little Miss | 1995–1997 | France 3 ITV (UK) |
Dargaud Media | Co-productions with Flicks Films, Mr. Films; based on Roger Hargreaves' books |
| Blazing Dragons | 1996–1998 | Canal+/France 3/M6 Teletoon (Canada) CITV (UK) |
Ellipsanime Productions | Co-productions with Nelvana, Carlton Television |
| Billy the Cat | 1996–2001 | France 3 S4C (Wales) ZDF (Germany) |
Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel | Co-productions with EVA Entertainment, Les Films du Triangle, La Fabrique, Network of Animation, Sofidoc, Colonge Cartoon, WIC Entertainment |
| Flash Gordon | 1996–1997 | Canal+/France 3 Syndication (US) Channel 4 (UK) YTV (Canada) |
Co-productions with Lacewood Productions, Carrere Television, Mediatoon, Hearst Entertainment; adapted from Alex Raymond's comic strip | |
| Vor-Tech: Undercover Conversion Squad | 1996 | Syndication (US) | Co-productions with Universal Cartoon Studios, Mediatoon, Lacewood Productions | |
| Blake and Mortimer | 1997 | Canal+ | Ellipsanime Production / Dargaud Media | Co-production with Cactus Animation |
| Little Hippo | 1997–1998 | France 3 ZDF (Germany) |
Dargaud Media | Co-productions with EVA Entertainment, Britt Allcroft Limited, Nerounes |
| The Mr. Men Show | 1997–1999 | Syndication (US) | Dargaud Media | American adaptation of Roger Hargreaves' series; co-productions with Breakthrough Film & Television, Telegenic Programs, Lacey Entertainment |
| Papyrus | 1998–2000 | TF1 La Deux (Belgium) YTV (Canada) |
Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel | Co-produced alongside Medever |
| Bob Morane | 1998 | Canal+ Super Écran (Canada) |
Ellipsanime Productions | Co-production with Cactus Animation |
| Trouble with Sophie | 1998–1999 | France 3 & Canal J | Co-production with Medialab | |
| Pirate Family | 1999–2004 | France 3 Radio-Canada |
||
| Kong: The Animated Series / Nick & Perry | 2000–2001 | M6 / Kika (Germany) | Co-productions involving BKN International; EM.TV & Merchandising AG; Victory Media Group; currently owned by Studio 100 | |
| Largo Winch | 2001–2002 | M6 ProSieben (Germany) Global Television Network (Canada) RTL-TVI (Belgium) |
Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel | Live-action co-productions with Paramount International Television, Tandem Communications, TVA International, Betafilm |
| Xcalibur | 2001–2002 | Canal+ & France 2 YTV (Canada) |
Ellipsanime Productions | Co-productions involving TVA International and Tooncan Productions |
| The New Adventures of Lucky Luke | 2001–2003 | France 3 Super RTL (Germany) Tele Quebec (Canada) |
Dargaud Media | Co-productions with Xilam Animation, Tooncan Productions, Lucky Comics |
| Agrilppine | 2001 | Canal+ Arte France |
Ellipsanime Productions | |
| Lost World of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle | 2002 | Télétoon | Dargaud Media | Co-productions involving Neuroplanet and Vivatoon |
| Kitou, the Six-Eyed Monster | 2002–2003 | TF1 Vrak TV (Canada) |
Dargaud Media | Co-productions with Belvision Studios and Tooncan Productions |
| Cédric | 2002–2007 | France 3 Canal J seasons 1-2 RTBF |
Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel | Co-productions including Neptuno Films season 1 and Araneo season 2 |
| Jacques Cousteau's Ocean Tales | 2003 | France 3 YTV & Tele-Quebec (Canada) |
Dargaud Media | Co-production alongside Vivatoon |
| Martin Morning | 2003–2018 | France 3 | Les Cartooneurs Associés | Co-production with Fantasia Animation |
| Kid Paddle | (2003–2006) | M6 & Canal J Teletoon Canada RTBF |
(Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel) | Produced in partnership with Spectra Animation |
Film
| Title | Release date | Distributor | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asterix the Gaul | December 20, 1967 December 23, 1967 (Belgium) |
Athos Films | Dargaud Media | Produced in partnership with Belvision |
| Asterix and Cleopatra | December 19, 1968 December 21, 1968 (Belgium) |
Pathé | Joint production alongside Belvision and Edifilm | |
| Daisy Town | December 20, 1971 | Les Artistes Associés | Adapted from the comic series Lucky Luke Produced in collaboration with Belvision | |
| Tintin and the Lake of Sharks | December 13, 1972 | Produced together with Belvision | ||
| The Smurfs and the Magic Flute | December 24, 1975 | Mercury Films | Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel | Created as a co-production with Belvision, Lafig S.A, and IMPS |
| Babar: The Movie | July 28, 1989 | Fourm Distribution Astral Films (Canada) |
Ellipsanime Productions | Developed jointly with Nelvana and The Clifford Ross Company |
| Becassine and the Viking Treasure | December 12, 2001 | Gebaka Films | Produced in association with Home Made Movies and Image Film | |
| Go West! A Lucky Luke Adventure | December 5, 2007 | Pathé Distribution | Dargaud Media | Collaborative production involving Xilam Animation, France 3 Cinema, and Lucky Comics |
| Zombillenium | October 18, 2017 | Gebaka Films | Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel | Made in partnership with Belvision, Maybe Movies, and 2 Minutes |
| Tricky Old Dogs | August 22, 2018 | Gaumont | Dargaud Media | A live-action feature co-produced by Radar Films, France 3 Cinema, Cinécap, Dargaud, Entourage Pictures, and Egérie Productions |
| Yakari, A Spectacular Journey | August 12, 2020 | BAC Films Leonine Distribution (Germany) |
Dargaud Media Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel |
Jointly produced with Belvision, Le Lombard, BAC Film Production, Leonine Production, WunderWerk, Gao Shang Pictures, WDR, and France 3 Cinema |
Specials
| Title | Release date | Commissioner | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akissi: A Funny Little Brother | June 14, 2022 | France 4 | Ellipsanime Productions Les Cartooneurs Associés |
Produced collaboratively with GHWA Productions |