Cartoon Forum Announces 2024 Winner List

The winners of these Broadcaster, Investor/Distributor and Producer of the Year awards was announced in Toulouse on September 19.

The finalists have been announced for the 2024 Cartoon Forum Tributes, celebrating the year’s greatest achievements in the European animation industry. The winner was honored in a ceremony on September 19, which capped the Cartoon Forum gathering in Toulouse, France (Sept. 16-19).

Twelve companies from eight countries are in the run for the Broadcaster, Investor/Distributor and Producer of the Year awards, which will be voted by close to 1,000 professionals attending the European TV animation co-production forum. Cartoon Forum points out that the significant geographic diversity in this year’s nominees follows the great momentum of the animation industry across the continent.

Nominees will present themselves in short interviews held to the backdrop of Cartoon Forum’s program. Seventy-five TV series from 20 European countries — totaling a €350.7 million budget and 388 hours of content — will be presented at this 35th edition of the event which this year will spotlight on Italian animation.

BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR

ARTE (France – Germany)

Founded in 1992, Franco-German ARTE is a European public cultural television channel and digital network with a strong focus on creation and innovation. Samuel, Music Queens, Boys Boys Boys and Globozone are some of the series scheduled on the channel that have been previously pitched at Cartoon Forum.

Radio Télévision Suisse – RTS (Switzerland)

Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) is a public service broadcaster owned by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. Their TV channel RTS 1’s RTS Kids programming block broadcasts 24 hours a week of animation. Some of the series and TV specials included in its programming schedule are Audrey’s Shelter, The Ghastly Ghoul, Looking for Santa and Mum Is Pouring Rain, which were all pitched at Cartoon Forum.

Radio Televizija Slovenija – RTV (Slovenia)

Based in Ljubljana, Slovenia’s national public broadcaster Radio Televizija Slovenija schedules its animation offer in a weekend block on TV Slovenija 1 and its app RTV Živ žav. Rita & Crocodile, Ernest & Celestine and Pompon Little Bear are some of the European series included in its offering.

Televisió de Catalunya – TVC (Spain)

Generalist public TV broadcaster Televisió de Catalunya offers content for early childhood, children and early teens both through its channel SX3 and online. The pubcaster has participated as co-producer on international animated series such as The Triplets, Saari, Ask Lara and Jasmine & Jambo.

INVESTOR/DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR

Madrigall Group (France)

Madrigall Group is a French publishing holding company whose subsidiaries Casterman, Gallimard Jeunesse and Sarbacane are dedicated to children’s books, comic books and novels for teens and young adults. Their books Tobie Lolness, Ernest & Celestine, Trotro and Anna & Froga have become successful animated IPs.

Mondo TV Studios (Spain)

From its studio in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Mondo TV Studios is engaged both in the distribution & production of content and in delivering 2D and 3D animation services. Subsidiary to Squirrel Media, the company operates in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Latin America and the U.S. Hispanic market. Monster Loving Maniacs, Annie & Carola and Bat Pat are some of the series in its catalog that were pitched at Cartoon Forum.

Prime Entertainment Group (France)

Subsidiary to Hildegarde Group, Prime Entertainment Group has operated in the international distribution & production market for more than 20 years, working with major broadcasters and partners worldwide. In 2019, the company expanded to animation by adding content from Les Armateurs and Folimage in its catalog. Now, they are interested in enhancing its offer with content from studios in Europe and the rest of the world.

ZDF Studios (Germany)

ZDF Studios is a subsidiary to ZDF, one of the largest TV broadcasters in Europe. Founded in 1993, the company is focused on global program distribution, international co-productions and acquisition of licenses and merchandising. ZDF Studios has the largest German-language program catalog in the world and a growing number of international productions, including series, television films, documentaries and children’s programs such as Dinomite & Lucy, Klincus, Tobie Lolness, Alone and Dougie Dolittle.

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

Cartoon Saloon (Ireland)

Established in 1999 by Paul Young, Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey, Cartoon Saloon is a world-renowned animation studio with five Academy Award and two Golden Globe nominations, as well as many wins, including a BAFTA and an Emmy. Located in Kilkenny, Ireland, the studio produces shorts, feature films and TV series, including Skunk Fu, Dorg Van Dango and Silly Sundays, which have been pitched at Cartoon Forum.

Movimenti Production (Italy)

Italy’s leading independent production and animation studio, Movimenti Production is a subsidiary to Banijay Group that has produced acclaimed animated TV series, music videos, live shows and multi-platform projects such as Tear Along the Dotted Line and Topo Gigio. Their series OPS – What a Hopsrible Pack and Copperhead have been presented at Cartoon Forum.

Pikkukala (Finland – Spain)

Founded in Helsinki in 2012 by Veronica Lassenius and Pablo Jordi, Pikkukala is focused on the production of original animated series for kids and families. In 2018, the company landed in Spain with Pikkukala Barcelona, a studio focusing on TV and feature animation production and services. Royals Next Door, Taste Buddies and Saari are some of the studio’s series that were pitched at Cartoon Forum. The company is also an active co-producer in Europe, having been involved in series such as Samuel.

Sacrebleu Productions (France)

Founded in 1999 in Paris, Sacrebleu Productions has produced internationally acclaimed works such as their short-films Barking Island and Sunday Lunch, and their feature films Marona’s Fantastic Tale, Long Way North and Flow. Series-wise, the company has presented several projects at Cartoon Forum over the years, including Felix!! He can explain everything!, Annie Melting Heart Cake and The Song of the Storms.