Established in 2002, Canadian entertainment company Breakthrough Ent. will mark five years of developing and producing animated programming with a special celebration at next week’s MIPCOM in Cannes. Known for such popular kids shows as Atomic Betty, Captain Flamingo and Miss BG, the entity has recently expanded its slate to include adult animation and multiplatform programming.
‘We are extremely pleased with the progress Breakthrough Animation has made in just five short years,’ says Gillis Kevin Gillis, executive producer and managing partner. ‘Our initial vision was to develop a company where creative individuals could come together to make fresh, memorable animated programming that would have annuity value.’
Award-winning Breakthrough Animation was formed in 2003 when Breakthrough Films & Television co-founders Ira Levy and Peter Williamson joined forces with Gillis. The company’s first collaboration, Atomic Betty from Atomic Cartoons, was picked up by Cartoon Network in the U.S. and has been sold in more than 130 territories worldwide. The unit is producing Captain Flamingo for Jetix Europe and YTV, and Miss BG for TVO, France 5, Nickelodeon Australia and Cartoon Network U.K. It has started production on Jimmy Two Shoes for Jetix Europe and Teletoon Canada, and is developing My Big Big Friend as a co-production with 2D Lab in Brazil.
Last year, Breakthrough Animation created multi-platform vignettes for its three most popular series. As a result, Atomic Betty and Captain Flamingo have been sold in more than 100 countries, and Miss BG’s 104 11-minute episodes and 44 minutes of multiplatform content have just been licensed to qubo in the U.S.
According to Gillis, Breakthrough Animation’s goal for the future is to remain an industry innovator by having a wide-open door policy for creators. The company recently delved into the world of adult animation with the irreverent series Producing Emily (Canwest Global), Foolz in the Hood and The Orphanage (CBC).
Breakthrough Animation will be located at booth # 00.01 at MIPCOM, and will host a gala event on Sunday, October 7 at the Palm Square Hotel to commemorate its achievements over the past five years.
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