# Longstanding Franchises, Distinctive New IPs Help French Animation Industry Weather Market Slowdown

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/longstanding-franchises-distinctive-new-ips-help-french-animation-industry-weather-market-slowdown/
- Published: 2026-09-08T12:12:25+00:00
- Updated: 2026-09-08T12:31:16+00:00
- Original publisher: Variety
- Original article: https://variety.com/2026/tv/markets-festivals/french-tv-animation-unifrance-rendez-vous-mediawan-xilam-1236851478/
- Topics: Americas, Business, Europe, Markets, World

## Key points

- French animation firms counter market slowdown with new and legacy IP.
- Mediawan and Xilam highlight family-focused, internationally co-produced shows.
- Nostalgia reboots like "Astro Boy" aim to appeal across generations.

## Summary

French animation companies are pushing new intellectual property and beloved franchises to help the sector navigate a broader industry slowdown marked by budget cuts and labour shortages, according to executives speaking at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous market in Le Havre. Firms such as Xilam Animation and Mediawan Kids & Family say the answer lies not purely in economics but in leaning on distinctive creative strengths, international co-productions and diversified financing, while targeting family viewing and cross-generational appeal to sustain demand.

Mediawan is showcasing "Witch Detectives", a 26-episode pan-European 3D series about trainee witches, co-produced with Toonz Media Group and already backed by broadcasters including TF1, Super RTL, BBC and Rai. Xilam is highlighting new titles "Piggy Builders" and "Submarine Jim" alongside spin-off "Chickies", derived from its billion-view YouTube hit "Where's Chicky", while continuing to sell established franchises "Zig & Sharko" and "Oggy and the Cockroaches" worldwide. Both companies also point to nostalgia-driven revivals, including Mediawan's upcoming 2027 "Astro Boy" reboot, as a way to engage both parents and children simultaneously.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.