SIP Animation
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Animation |
| Predecessor | Saban International Paris |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | Jacqueline Tordjman, Haim Saban (as Saban International Paris) |
| Defunct | October 25, 2023 |
| Fate | Liquidation; assets transferred to BVS Entertainment |
| Successor | BVS Entertainment |
| Headquarters | Paris (later moved to Marne la Vallée cedex 4) , France |
Area served | Europe, Canada, international markets |
Key people | Jacqueline Tordjman (CEO and co-founder), André Lacour (president during liquidation), Phillipe Coen (president from 2019) |
| Products | Animated television series and films |
| Owner | The Walt Disney Company (through BVS Entertainment) |
| Parent | BVS Entertainment |
SIP Animation—known as Saban International Paris prior to 2002—was a French animation studio operating as a subsidiary of BVS Entertainment (previously Saban Entertainment). By the year 2009, the studio had delivered more than 390 hours of animated programming.
Origins
In 1977, Haim Saban and Jacqueline Tordjman launched Saban Records and Music SARL to distribute Saban's musical works. Subsequently, in 1980, Saban founded Saban Productions, incorporating this music division into the broader company structure.
The animation branch was established in 1989 under the name Saban International Paris, producing series for its parent company. Around 1990, the parent company underwent a rebranding to become Saban Enterprises.
By November 1991, Saban International Paris had transformed into an independent firm with ownership split between International Film Productions based in Luxembourg (49.7%), CEO Jacqueline Tordjman (0.5%), and Saban Entertainment (49.8%). By 1994, Tordjman's share slightly increased to 0.7%, while Saban's portion decreased marginally to 49.6%.
In January 1996, France 3 collaborated with Saban International Paris and Canadian studio CinéGroupe to co-produce Princess Sissi. The following month saw the transfer of International Film Productions' shares to Pueblo Films AG in Switzerland. By the late 1990s, Saban International Paris focused largely on creating original content for Fox Kids Europe, continuing this relationship after it evolved into Jetix Europe.
Growth and Development
In March 1996, Saban Entertainment purchased Créativité et Développement (C&D), a French animation company founded by Jean Chalopin, co-founder of DIC Entertainment. This acquisition merged C&D into Saban International Paris and included ownership of C&D’s headquarters located in La Garenne-Colombes. C&D was later dissolved in 1998.
Acquiring C&D granted rights to produce an animated adaptation of Diabolik, complementing existing projects such as adaptations of Belgian comics Achille Talon and Iznogoud—the latter having been pre-sold to France 2—as well as literary adaptations including Oliver Twist and two works by Michael Ende: Jim Button and Night of the Wishes. In August 1996, Saban partnered with German broadcaster ARD on a $50 million co-production and licensing deal spanning three years for the Michael Ende adaptations.
By February 2000, the adaptation of Night of the Wishes was retitled Wunschpunsch, produced jointly with Canadian studio CinéGroupe and pre-sold to Radio-Canada and TF1. In September that year, Fox Kids Europe announced co-productions with Saban for Jason and the Heroes of Mount Olympus and Gadget & the Gadgetinis. In December, DIC Entertainment joined as co-producer for Gadget & the Gadgetinis, with international distribution outside the U.S. managed by Saban International; the show premiered in 2002.
In April 2002, Saban International Paris secured pre-sales for a new series initially named Tofu Family (later known as The Tofus) to ITV’s CITV segment in the United Kingdom. Additionally, the studio was involved in three Canadian co-productions—Tinsellania (for TF1 and Family with Studio B), Sparkiz (for France 2), and ROBO (for M6)—though none reached completion.
Rebranding
In July 2001, The Walt Disney Company acquired Fox Family Worldwide from News Corporation and Saban Entertainment for $5.3 billion, which included Saban's assets and a 49.6% holding in Saban International Paris. The transaction was finalized in October 2001, with Saban Entertainment subsequently rebranded as BVS Entertainment. After Haim Saban's exit, Disney inherited the 49.6% minority stake in the studio, which remained under BVS management.
Following Saban's departure, the studio underwent a rebranding on October 1, 2002, adopting the name SIP Animation and launching a new website and domain. SIP announced plans to produce a television adaptation of the Italian comic series W.I.T.C.H., published by Disney. Existing projects such as Jason and the Heroes of Mount Olympus and Gadget & the Gadgetinis continued production for Fox Kids Europe. Distribution responsibilities transitioned from Saban International N.V. (renamed BVS International N.V.) to Disney’s Buena Vista International Television.
By March 2003, SIP had commenced production on The Tofus and was co-producing the second season of CinéGroupe's What's with Andy?, collaborating with Fox Kids France and Super RTL. The studio also developed a pilot episode for W.I.T.C.H. and was working on two new series for Fox Kids Europe: a 2D show under consideration by TF1 and a hybrid 2D/3D action cartoon.
At this time, home video rights for SIP’s catalogue were managed by Active Licensing Europe, later known as Jetix Consumer Products. In September 2004, SIP and Jetix Europe announced their joint 2D/3D production titled The Insiders, which was later renamed A.T.O.M. - Alpha Teens on Machines. This series debuted globally on Jetix channels in late 2005, with Hasbro securing the toy licensing rights.
In October 2005, the forthcoming 2D series was named Combo Niños, with an anticipated delivery date in early 2006. The show was co-produced by Jetix Europe and TF1 while SIP sought additional broadcast partners.
SIP issued a call for short film proposals in December 2006. Production on Combo Niños began by May 2007, aiming for an August 2008 launch. Throughout 2007, SIP announced multiple projects including Astaquana (scheduled to start June 2008), George and Me (picked up in December), based on a comic from Soleil Productions, and the film Princess Bari, a French-Korean co-production completed but never released.
In April 2008, SIP refreshed its website and domain. That year, it produced three TV pilots: Wesh Wesh Express, Ko-Bushi, and The Jokers. Production of George and Me was planned to start in early 2009. Additionally, SIP completed an eight-minute short film titled Inukshuk for Interfilm in December 2008; it premiered in May 2009.
Dormancy, closure and legacy
Following The Walt Disney Company's full acquisition of Jetix Europe in December 2008—its primary programming provider—SIP Animation entered a dormant phase.
By April 2009, SIP was placed into liquidation, with André Lacour appointed as president. Key personnel departed during this period, including CEO and co-founder Jacqueline Tordjman who went on to establish Zagtoon alongside Jeremy Zag. Bruno Bianchi also exited to found Ginkgo Animation, taking the rights to George and Me. The company relocated to Rue de la Galmy 77776 Marne la Vallée cedex 4. Disney acquired Tordjman’s remaining 0.7% stake, increasing its ownership to a controlling 50.3% share in SIP.
In 2012, Bruno Danzel d'Aumont from Disney France assumed leadership of SIP. That year also saw Disney purchase the remaining 49.7% shares held by Pueblo Films AG, achieving full ownership under BVS Entertainment for the first time since 1991. Subsequently, operations were consolidated at Disney France’s Paris headquarters located at 25 Quai Panhard Levassor.
In 2019, BVS appointed Phillipe Coen, CEO of Disney France, as president of SIP.
Disney officially dissolved SIP through BVS in late 2023, with closure finalized on October 25. All assets were transferred to BVS Entertainment according to French civil law; none were absorbed into The Walt Disney Company France.
Between 1991 and 2012, SIP functioned as a multi-shareholder company distinct from BVS Entertainment, although BVS International N.V. held ownership of the "SIP Animation" brand and trademarks from 2002 until full acquisition in 2012.
Pilots
- Astaquana (2007)
- Wesh Wesh Express (2008)
- Ko-Bushi (2008)
- The Jokers (2008)
Short film
- Inukshuk (2009)
Later ownership
Following SIP's liquidation in October 2023, Disney acquired the remaining SIP assets through BVS Entertainment. Since March 2012, The Walt Disney Company France has acted as the official representative for these former SIP properties. The short film Inukshuk is currently distributed by interfilm.
Bruno Bianchi, who was a veteran animator at SIP, established Ginkgo Animation after SIP ceased operations and led the company until his passing in December 2011. Ginkgo initially took on the George and Me project but discontinued it by 2011 due to changes in the French animation industry's focus.
The Malaysian studio Inspidea, which had previously subcontracted work on Combo Niños and Wesh Wesh Express, co-produced the pilot for Ko-Bushi and later collaborated with Zagtoon on a full series titled Kobushi. Zagtoon, co-founded by Jacqueline Tordjman—one of SIP's original founders—employs several former SIP professionals, including composers Alain Garcia and Noam Kaniel.