France’s Madgic has acquired a majority stake in APC Kids, signalling a strategic shift for both companies in the competitive children’s entertainment sector. According to CEO Lionel Marty, this acquisition will enable APC Kids to align itself more closely with a company focused on children’s content, which is a necessity.
APC Studios, the former parent company of APC Kids, opted for this sale to streamline operations and concentrate more on scripted productions. APC Kids boasts an impressive catalogue of animated and live-action series, including TeamTO’s “Jade Armor,” “Angelo Rules,” and the popular series “High Hoops” from CanCan Productions. The company also operates its production facility, Zephyr Animation.
Marty will maintain his minority stake in APC Kids and continue to serve as CEO for both Zephyr and APC Kids, which is set to rebrand under a new name next month. Jean-Michael Spiner, the founder of Madgic in 2022, brings years of experience, having established 2 Minutes, an indie studio known for productions like the 2D-animated series “Rosie” and “Memories of Nanette.”
This transition stems from a desire to collaborate with a partner who better understands the nuances of children’s content development, financing, and distribution. Marty emphasised that the disconnect between the kids’ market and the broader entertainment industry has necessitated this change. “It’s essential for us to have a strategic partner aligned with our vision,” he stated, highlighting the opportunity for increased integration of 2D and CG animation expertise with Madgic.
APC Kids has already initiated discussions with Madgic regarding international co-productions and is seeking to finalise financing for an upcoming stop-motion animated series, “Mogu & Perol.” This series, developed in collaboration with France Télévisions and Japan’s Dwarf Studios, aims for production greenlighting by the end of the year. Additionally, CanCan Productions is working on a second “High Hoops” season, which has seen successful premieres across various platforms, including CBBC and ABC Australia.
