Annecy Festival: the street to animated films for adults
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival opened its doors on Monday 13 June. And in two days, Wednesday June 15, during his formal presentation, Marc du Pontavice, founding CEO of Xilam, will certainly have something to seduce. A solid company: Xilam, an expert in the production of wordless animated series, posted record performances in 2021. Its sales exploded to 35.6 million euros (+63%) for equally promising profits (6.8 million, up 144%).
Full box
In the coming months, its catalog will be enriched with around twenty projects, such as Knittingnew Serie burlesque (burlesque comedy), the adventures of an ultra-zany sheep, soon on Netflix, which has secured world exclusivity.
This year, in Annecy, Xilam is above all initiating a strategic shift: the next release of animated series for adults. Several announcements will be made on June 15. A movement could also follow Mediawan, another tricolor tenor, who will detail this week the new roadmap for his kids & family division (youth and family), the creation of which was announced on June 13.
Something to please the streamers who came in droves this year to Annecy. For its return to an entirely face-to-face edition, the festival, said its director Mickael Marin, was full, with 13,000 accredited visitors from around a hundred countries (+5% compared to 2019).
An “adult boom toon”
Platforms love adult animation. John Evershed, consultant and patented producer across the Atlantic, even speaks of “adult toon boom”. “Spin-off of video games, remake of old series… In one year, the number of projects has gone from 50 to 103, he details in a study, which has become a reference in the profession. The animated comedy has dethroned the action sitcoms, especially in the hearts of young adults.”
Marc du Pontavice confirms: “Eighteen months ago, no customer is talking about it, today, they only have this word in their mouths. Production costs lower than fiction, no stars to manage, fewer cultural barriers, more long-term catalog value… For the generation fed with simpsons or at South Park, the animation… it’s cool! From a billion dollars today, investments will double, or even more in the coming years.”
In fact, Netflix plans to produce around forty animated series just in the next few months. During the Disney-Fox merger at the end of 2017, there is no doubt that the Simpsons were a beautiful asset in the basket of the bride.
Oscar nomination
Xilam did not wait for the funding obligations of local content streamers to hook them. UN to restart of Tic and Tac for Disney+, a variation ofOggy and the Cockroaches for Netflix… Another French player in youth content comments: “Xilam is a likely European for Americans, who do not wonder if he will honor his deadlines.”
In 2021, the company achieved 75% of its turnover with platforms… compared to 17% in 2017. In terms of adult entertainment, I lost my body2019 feature film presented at Cannes, Caesarized and nominated for the Oscars, was the best business card: “That’s when we were asked for something other than the kids and family segment”, trace the CEO.
Future customers, above all, with deeper pockets than traditional channels: “Budgets range from 300,000 to 350,000 euros, on average, half an hour for kids programs financed by traditional channels, up to 600,000 for platforms, and up to a million when they order adult programs.”
Diversification(s) provided
By 2024, Xilam wants to make a third of its sales (80 million announced in 2026) in adults. But there is no question of depending on the segment alone, nor above all on the desire of the platforms alone. In 2020, the company acquired Cube Creative, a specialist in computer-generated image and 3D animation, which it used in particular for Knitting. She says she can mobilize around thirty million for other purchases.
Another axis: at the end of 2021, Xilam joined forces with the toy giant Simba, licensing paper (Hello Kitty, Lion King). The first stuffed animals and cars Oggy will be under the Christmas tree. For its flagship series – as its planetary bet Knitting –, Xilam was careful not to sell derivative rights to the Americans.