Moonscoop, the worldwide kids and family entertainment company, is refocusing its US office.
Press Release from Moonscoop
LA/Paris, 11 May 2010 – Moonscoop, the worldwide kids and family entertainment company, is refocusing its US office.
The company will seek to grow its animation work-for-hire business alongside its successful production, distribution and consumer products activities. Moonscoop is currently producing the much-anticipated Zevo-3 for US brand Skechers and has several exciting new major soon-to-be-announced work-for-hire projects in production. Emmy® Award-winning multi-platform kids’ entertainment service Kabillion also remains a top priority for the business.
The move to reorganize its business follows the relocation last September of Executive Chairman Nicolas Atlan to LA from the Paris office, to head up US operations.
Atlan will continue to work with US-based Co-CEO Mike Young on growing the business with an emphasis on forging new partnerships, particularly for animation work-for-hire, while President Liz Young will continue to head up all production in the US studio. Atlan will also head operations for Kabillion.
In addition, Principal and Co-CEO Bill Schultz is stepping down from day-to day studio management, but will continue to executive produce three of the company’s current projects, including the hit Cartoon Network series Hero:108, Rob Dyrdek’s Wild Grinders and The DaVincibles. Schultz will be non-exclusive to Moonscoop, but will have a ‘first look’ with the company on new projects where there is an opportunity for the company.
Moonscoop’s licensing and merchandising business also remains a key area for the US office, and Cynthia Money, President Worldwide Consumer Projects and Marketing, will continue to focus on growing the global presence of Moonscoop’s brands in 2010, working with toy partners that include Playmates (Hero 108), Bandai (Chloe's Closet), Giochi Preciozi (Geronimo Stilton) and others.
Nicolas Atlan, Executive Chairman said: “With offices in both the US and Europe, we are maximizing the potential of our business, exporting ideas, expertise and partnerships across the Atlantic, in both directions. We have a very talented and experienced US team and believe there is a timely opportunity to expand our work-for-hire activities working with high-profile partners, as we have with Skechers on Zevo-3. I’m looking forward to working with Mike and Liz to boost this area of our business. Bill’s contribution in building the company as a partner, friend and Co-CEO has been invaluable and significant, and although we are all sorry to lose him as a part of management, we are very happy to have his continued contributions on these key brands, which he helped to create. We wish him all the best in his new endeavors.”
Schultz added “This new non-exclusive relationship will give me the freedom to create completely new and different opportunities on my own – but also continue to support this great company in an important way, by focusing my efforts on these wonderful properties in conjunction with our great partners.”
About MoonscoopMoonscoop is a leading worldwide production, distribution, brand management and entertainment company, focused on producing original projects and building brands with international appeal and longevity.
Its rights library combines many of the most successful programs and best-loved animated creations in the global television market and includes over 3,000 half-hours of programming airing in more than 160 territories worldwide. Key brands include "Code Lyoko," "Fantastic Four," "Titeuf" (Tootuff), "Pet Alien," “Dive Olly Dive!” and "Casper" which are licensed in markets around the world. Moonscoop’s production slate currently includes new series “Geronimo Stilton”, “Hero:108”, “Twisted Whiskers” and “Chloe’s Closet”.
Moonscoop was established with the merger of France Animation and Antefilms Production and the subsequent stake of a majority share in US-based Mike Young Productions and Taffy Entertainment, which all now fall under the Moonscoop label. Moonscoop employs over 350 people worldwide.
About KabillionKabillion is the multi-platform, kids’ entertainment program service launched in January 2007 and available both as a free video on-demand (VOD) channel and a free online broadband site (www.Kabillion.com). Initially launched on Comcast Cable’s Select On Demand across the US, the VOD platform is now also available to digital cable subscribers nationwide on Charter, Bresnan and Blue Ridge cable systems, with more to be added soon. Part of The MoonScoop Group, a leading worldwide production, distribution, brand management and entertainment company, Kabillion offers high-quality animated and live-action kids’ series entertainment on both platforms. Kabillion is owned in part by Moonscoop, East Coast-based REMIX Entertainment Ventures and Belgium based Studio 100.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
