Alphanim rebrands with Noddy

French animation studio and distributor Alphanim has changed its name and is set to coproduce a new Noddy series with France Télévisions.

Alphanim will now be known as Gaumont Animation, having been part of the Gaumont Group since 2007.

Its first production under the new banner will be the 3D CGI animated coproduction Noddy (52×11′), alongside France Télévisions and DreamWorks Classics.

The latter acquired rights to the well-known brand, originally created in 1949 by children’s author Enid Blyton, as part of its takeover of Classic Media last year.

Gaumont Animation is also coproducing and distributing the Calimero (104×11′), a cartoon about an Italian-Japanese chicken character first seen 50 years ago.

“I am confident that with our new strategic game plan, new shows and new name we are moving into a very rewarding period for our company,” said Pierre Belaïsch, MD of Gaumont Animation. “As we continue to gain international prominence, we will continue to refine our goals while always providing world-class programming for an ever-growing global audience.”

The company has produced and distributes a catalogue of over 30 kids’ television series and 800 half-hours of animation broadcast in over 130 countries, including Galactik Football, Robotboy and, most recently, Dude That’s My Ghost for Disney XD.

Gaumont, a feature film studio, also runs Gaumont International Television, a US-based subsidiary that launched in 2011, which currently has Hemlock Grove, Barbarella and Hannibal on its slate for Netflix, Canal+ and NBC and Sony/AXN respectively.