Paris-based Superprod Group has acquired leading Luxembourg-based animation companies Studio 352 and Mélusine Productions, as it continues to become one of Europe’s leading animation production groups.
The two acquired companies are based in Contern, in Southern Luxembourg, and were founded by Belgian producer Stéphan Roelants in the late 1990s. Mélusine Productions develops, finances and manages the projects, while Studio 352, with its team team of top-level artists and technicians, executes the work.
Over the past few years, the companies have worked on several award-winning 2D and CG-animated features. Most recently, they produced the animation for Neil Boyle and Kirk Kendry’s adaptation of Michael Morpugo’s Kensuke’s Kingdom, which won several British Animation Awards in February. Other notable credits include Ari Folman’s The Congress (2013), Cartoon Saloon’s Oscar-nominated Song of the Sea (2014), and Wolfwalkers (2020), Patrick Imbert’s The Summit of the Gods (2021) and Julien Chheng and Jean-Christophe Roger’s Ernest and Celestine: A Trip To Gibberitia.
In addition, the companies have several new productions in the works in partnership with European studios Paris-based Folivari, Ireland’s Cartoon Saloon and Superprod Animation. Melusine’s next project is Slocum, which will be directed by Jean-Francois Laguionie.
Stephan Roelants has had a long working relationship with Superprod Group’s co-founding leaders Clément Calvet and Jérémie Fajner. Roelants will continue his role as producer on current projects at Mélusine while Fabien Renelli will be in charge of general management at the studio.
“Having created, developed and ensured the existence of Studio 352 and Mélusine Productions for 27 years, I’m delighted to be able to hand over the reins to the younger generation,” said Roelants. “A relationship of trust with Clément and Jérémie, built up over many years, gives us the prospect of a solid and pleasant collaboration that will, I’m sure, give both entities new letters of nobility.”
Calvet and Fajner stated, “We’ve known Stéphan and the talented teams at Studio 352 for many years, notably through our co-production of the film Song Of the Sea, which took us together to the Oscars, Césars and European Film Awards.We would also like to pay tribute to Stéphan’s talent and determination, and the reputation of the companies he has developed and placed at the pinnacle of the industry.”
With world-class animation studios in Paris, Angoulême and Milan, as well as offices in Los Angeles and New York, the Superprod Group is a technological leader working with top tier talent and partners to produce award-winning content for the U.S. and global markets. In addition to Superprod Animation and Superprod Drama, subsidiaries include Superprod Films (which houses the development and production of animated and live-action films), Superrights, a global distribution arm focused on kids and family content, and 440 HZ, a music rights management platform.
The studio has several feature films and animated series as well as a live-action TV series in production for platforms such as Passion Paris, Netflix, (HBO) Max, Warner Bros Animation, Universal Pictures, Nickelodeon, Canal Plus, France Télévisions, TF1 M6, SND, BBC, RAI et ARD. Recent production highlights include animation TV series Batwheels, Spirit Rangers and Paddington.
For more info, visit superprod.net
Sources: Superprod, Deadline.com
