Banijay Kids & Family (formerly known as Zodiak Kids, Zodiak Kids Studios and ZodiakKids & Family) is a French television production company owned by Banijay Entertainment based in Neuilly-sur-Seine. The company was originally founded in February 2011 by Zodiak Media bringing together its children's production companies under one roof. Benoît Di Sabatino currently serves as CEO.
History
Marathon Media logo (2006–2012)
In September 2005, Marathon Media announced that they made a merger deal with the French division of the British-based European private firm Bridgepoint Capital who owns French TV production group Tele Images, to create the biggest major production and distribution group based in France with Tele Images's subsidiaries GTV Productions and Adventure Line Productions producer of Fort Boyard being part of the new group along with Vincent Chalvon-Demersay and David Michel continuing to hold their stakes in Marathon's animation division.[1][2] The following year in January 2006, Marathon Media had completed their merger with Groupe Tele Images into forming the biggest major production and distribution group based in France with the combined entity was subsequently named Marathon Group.
In July 2007, it was announced that Italian-based holding company De Agostini they had acquired the TV production and distribution company Marathon Group from Bridgepoint Capital, thus turning De Agostini from a multimedia company into a major European content production company.[3][4]
In February 2008, Marathon Group announced that they acquired a majority stake in French independent production company of entertainment programs and documentaries KM Production merging KM's operations with Marathon's own operations, thrust reuniting KM Production with Marathon Group's subsidiary Adventure Line Productions (which were part of Canal+ owned StudioExpand until 2004) with the founder of KM Production Renaud Le Van Kim continued to operate the company.[5]
In May 2008, Marathon Group's owner De Agostini announced that they've made a deal to acquire Swedish-based Scandinavian production and distribution company Zodiak Television AB with De Agostini's own television divisions Marathon Group and Magnolia being merged with Zodiak Television AB into one global production and distribution company turning Zodiak from a European production empire to a single entertainment powerhouse.[6][7] The acquisition was completed in November the same year, with Zodiak Television AB rebranded into Zodiak Entertainment with Marathon Media and Tele Images becoming subsidiaries of the rebranded company.[8]
In February 2011, Zodiak Media Group announced the establishment of a children's television division named Zodiak Kids with Marathon Media being placed into the new division.[9]
In late-November 2014, Zodiak Kids and their subsidiary Tele Images Productions had announced that the latter's founder and president & the CEO of Zodiak Media's other production subsidiary Marathon Images Philippe Alessandri was stepping down as their president after founded Tele Images 16 years with Benoît Runel had been tapped by Zodiak Kids as they named him the new MD of Zodiak Kids France and will run Tele Images Productions and Zodiak Kids' other subsidiary Marathon Media.[10][11]
In February 2016, Zodiak Kids' parent company Zodiak Media merged with the Banijay Group,[12] and Marathon was folded within the process. The Zodiak Kids name was retained until 2022 when the company adopted the Banijay name.
In September 2018, Zodiak Kids announced that they've hired named former MoonScoop Group co-founder and co-chairman Benoît Di Sabatino as their new CEO of the company, succeeding Jean-Philippe Randisi who was stepping down his position.[13]
Zodiak Kids logo (2020–2021)
In April 2021, Banijay announced that they've acquired Paris-based French independent animation studio Monello Productions which was founded in 2013 by former Tele Images SVP Giorgio Welter from ITV Studios-owned Tetra Media Group, which was placed the acquired animation studio under Zodiak Kids and would continue to be independent along with their founder continuing to serve as the company's president.[14]
In November 2021, Banijay announced that they've bringing their three children's production companies Zodiak Kids & Family, Tiger Aspect Kids & Family and Monello Productions into one group by launching a new division named Banijay Kids and Family with the three children's companies became part of the new division as their labels.[15][16]
In September 2022, Banijay Kids & Family announced that they've acquired two children's production companies which was the London-based British live action production studio Kindle Entertainment and the Italian animation production studio Movinenti Production in which the latter was brought from its previous parent company ForFun Media.[17]
In January 2024, Zodiak Kids & Family Distribution was renamed as Banijay Kids & Family Distribution.[18]
In September 2024, Banijay Entertainment acquired a majority stake in French animation studio Procidis, placing it under the Banijay Kids & Family unit, with Benoît Di Sabatino becoming president and Hélène Barillé remaining as managing director.[19]
Divisions
Banijay Kids & Family Distribution
Banijay Kids & Family Distribution (formerly Zodiak Kids & Family Distribution) is the distribution arm of Banijay Kids & Family, led by Delphine Dumont as chief commercial officer.
Kindle Entertainment is a British television production company founded in 2007 by Anne Brogan and Melanie Strokes and is led by Strokes as managing director and Emma Stuart as creative director.
Monello Productions is a French animation studio founded in September 2013 by Giorgio Welter and Cécile Sady, who lead the company as president and CCO respectively.[20]
In late-February 2017, Monello Productions and their former parent company Tetra Media Studio were acquired by British production and distribution company ITV Studios, which took a majority stake in Monello's former parent company Tetra Media Studio.[21]
In September 2017, four years before Banijay acquired the studio, Monello Productions had partnered with Paris-based French animation production company Watch Next Media to launch a joint venture distribution subsidiary based in Boulogne named Kids First Distribution giving Monello Productions their own in-house distribution subsidiary alongside Watch Next Media with former Tele Images producer and Watch Next Media founder Philippe Alessandri heading the joint venture distribution subsidiary while Marie Lassal had been tapped to handle the joint venture distribution subsidiary as their head of sales.[22]
Movimenti Production is an Italian animation studio founded in 2004 by Giorgio Scorza, Davide Rosio and Roberto Cipriani, with Scorza and Rosio leading the company as co-CEOs and Creative Directors.[23]
In 2019, three years before Banijay acquired the studio, Movimenti Production established ForFun Media, which acted as its parent company, in partnership with Studio Bozzetto, which includes 2D animation studio DogHead Animation, also founded by Giorgio Scorza and Davide Rosio, and 3D animation studio MoBo Productions, co-founded by Scorza and Rosio; in the same year Movimenti also launched the production company Easy Peasy Entertainment as a joint venture with French publishing company Auzou Publishing.[24]
Procidis is a French animation studio founded in 1962 by Albert Barillé and led by Banijay Kids & Family CEO Benoît Di Sabatino as president and Hélène Barillé as managing director.
Tiger Aspect Kids & Family is a British television production company founded in 2002 as the animation division of Tiger Aspect.[25] It is currently led by Tom Beattie as Managing Director.[26]
Zodiak Kids & Family France (formerly Marathon Productions, Marathon Animation, Marathon Media and Zodiak Kids Studio France) is a French animation studio founded in 1990 by Pascal Breton and Olivier Bremond. Vincent Chalvon-Demersay joined the team in 1999 to develop Marathon's animation programming, along with David Michel.[27] It is currently led by Benoît Di Sabatino as CEO.[28]
Zodiak Kids & Family Productions UK (formerly The Foundation and Zodiak Kids Studio UK) is a British television production company founded in 1994. It is led by Gwen Hughes as CEO.[29]
In August 2006, The Foundation was acquired by RDF Media Group.[30]
