A dozen companies from ten countries have been nominated for the Cartoon Forum Tributes 2023, which recognize the leading names in European animation over the previous year across three categories: Broadcaster, Investor/Distributor and Producer of the Year. These awards will be voted by around 1,000 professionals attending Cartoon Forum, the European co-production forum for animated TV series that will be held in Toulouse, France from September 18-21.
Organizers of the event point out that the diversity of this year’s Cartoon Forum Tributes nominees, regarding both their profiles and the countries from which they hail, reflect the forward momentum of the animation industry across the continent.
This edition of Cartoon Forum will present 77 TV series from 16 European countries, totaling a €398 million budget and 479 hours of content. Besides the pitching sessions, this year the event will be host to Animated UK Meets Europe, an initiative to encourage co-productions between European and U.K. producers.
Learn more about the event at cartoon-media.eu/forum.
The nominees are:
Broadcaster of the Year
Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT offers a wide range of content both through its free-to-air channels and its FVOD platform. Specifically aimed at preschoolers and school children, weekly programming block Vaiku sekmadieniai broadcasts animated and live-action series. LRT also supports the up-and-coming domestic animation production by co-producing series such as BFF and Babookums.
Owned by AMC Networks International, Budapest-based Minimax is a pay television channel broadcasting in five languages throughout 11 Central and Eastern Europe countries. Launched in 1999, this 24/7 channel offers mostly non-violent programs for preschoolers and children.
Portuguese public broadcaster RTP offers content aimed at preschoolers and children under Zig Zag, a programming space broadcast daily through RTP’s free-to-air channels and streaming platform Zig Zag Play. Largely focused on European content, RTP also plays an active role as co-producer in series developed by Portuguese animation studios such as Mr. Passenger, Crias and duArte, a Piece of Art.
RTL Group’s Super RTL is the leading content provider for kids in Germany. Aimed at 3-5 preschoolers and 6-10 kids, Super RTL’s umbrella brands — Toggo and Toggolino — feature their content via linear TV channels, streaming service, digital radio and a variety of online platforms.
Investor/Distributor of the Year
Co-production and distribution company APC Studios’ APC Kids features a growing portfolio of high-profile children’s and family properties, including animated series Kid-E-Cats, DinoCity, Galactic Agency and Fox and Hare, among others. APC Kids also houses its own production company, Zephyr Animation.
Barcelona-based DeAPlaneta Entertainment – Kids & Family acquires, produces and distributes internationally recognized brands, including Miraculous Ladybug, Milo and Gormiti. The company’s catalog features everything from films, series and licensed products to live shows, sports competitions and, more recently, NFT development.
With a catalog ranging from preschool to adult animation, Dublin-based Monster Entertainment distributes its titles in more than 180 countries. Tiny Toot, Fia’s Fairies and Ollie are some of the newest series in their line-up. The company is also involved in content production.
London-based distributor Serious Kids holds a high-quality IP portfolio featuring animated and live-action series for preschoolers, children and family audiences. Established in 2011, this company distributes acclaimed series such as Gigglebug, Messy Goes to Okido, Tulipop, Best & Bester, Flix and Girls of Olympus.
Producer of the Year
Based in France and Canada, Blue Spirit Productions develops and produces original projects and adaptations for television and theatrical release. With a slate featuring over 80 hours of programming, the company has been involved as a producer in remarkable series as Arthur and the Children of the Round Table, as well as in award-winning films as My Life as a Zucchini. At Cartoon Forum 2023, they will be presenting Gisele and Her Little Monsters.
Founded in 2013, Gigglebug Entertainment is an animation studio based in Helsinki that creates, develops and produces children’s content. The preschool series Gigglebug and the animated comedy Best & Bester are two of its most acclaimed titles. As for this year’s Forum, they will be pitching the in-development series A Super Epic Tadpole Journey to the Surface of Croak Creek.
Paris-based animation producer and distributor GO-N Productions was established in 2004. Globally renowned both for its own productions and for its co-productions with renowned partners worldwide, the company is dedicated to the creation of high-quality animation for kids. Simon Super Rabbit, Zip Zip and Jasmin’s World are some of the series by this company, that this year will be presenting Annette, Apprentice Witch at Cartoon Forum.
Launched in Belgium in 2008, Thuristar is a production company and creative studio that develops, finances and produces animated content. Mush-Mush and the Mushables — currently airing in 150+ countries — was their first global success. At Cartoon Forum 2023 they will be presenting the series Luce in the Lovely Land in co- production with France’s La Cabane.
