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TV KIDS
LOOKING With its technological prowess and broad development slate,
© Cyber Group Studios. «Based on Mark Twain’s book THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER»
reative innovation has always been at the heart of the Cyber Group Studios ethos. Over the last decade, the French independent has grown from having one 52-part interstitial preschool series to boasting an extensive slate covering multiple kids’ demos and numerous visual styles. “We basically started in three rooms, in three offices— there were six of us,” says Pierre Sissmann, chairman and CEO. “Today we have a full-fledged company in our own high-tech building, over 25 full-time employees in the various corporate and studio departments and more than 200 people at any given time working on our different productions and development projects.” Today, the Cyber Group catalogue spans 1,000 half-hours, 60 percent of which are the company’s own productions or co-productions. “We always have at least two preschool or bridge shows in production and at least three others in development,” Sissmann says. “And we do the same for kids’ shows. We started producing series such as The Pirates Next Door, Mirette Investigates, Zorro the Chronicles and
Mini Ninjas, where we are the executive producer for TF1 Productions, whom we partnered with as a co-producer. We also announced a major co-production with the multi-award-winning studio Brown Bag Films for Gilbert and Allie, one of our next big CGI shows.” Sissmann says that the company currently has 15 shows in production or development, covering all types of animation and age groups. “We are very fortunate to have Dominique Poussier and Theresa Plummer-Andrews, the former heads of youth entertainment at TF1 and BBC, respectively, as our permanent advisors on new series development.” Using technology to deliver better and better animation has been the goal since the company’s formation. “People come to us because we have shows that appeal to kids across all continents,” says Olivier Lelardoux, Cyber Group’s studio head. “We are very fortunate to have received 14 to 15 awards, including the Pulcinella for best studio of the year in 2014, three technology awards from the French government and
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