Superprod expands US presence with The Co-Production Co acquisition

Paris-based animation and live-action producer Superprod has acquired New York-based The Co-Production Company and made its founder Doug Schwalbe president of its fledgling US arm.

Doug Schwalbe

Superprod has also named former Cartoon Network executive Tatiana Krokar as VP of Superprod US as the Anna & Friends producer makes a major push into the US and expands its development and production footprint.

Superprod will have a bi-coastal US presence, with Schwalbe – who founded The Co-Production Company in 2021 after serving as senior VP of coproduction for Dreamworks Animation Television – based in New York, while Krokar is based in LA.

At DreamWorks Animation Television, Schwalbe structured and managed coproduction arrangements for numerous properties for Netflix, Apple TV+, Sky, Peacock and a live-action series with BBC Studios.

He went on to set up The Co-Production Company, which describes itself as a boutique firm specialising in finance and distribution arrangements for international productions.

Tatiana Krokar

Schwalbe will work with Superprod founders CEO Clément Calvet and chief operating officer Jérémie Fajner to expand the company’s North American footprint, and help to manage and produce a slate of both live-action and animated productions.

Meanwhile, Krokar, who co-reports to Schwalbe and to Superprod senior VP of animation Virginie Creance, held several positions while at Cartoon Network including director of development for original series.

While there, she was responsible for acquiring and developing projects, including content from Rick & Morty creator Justin Roiland.

Superprod US and The Co-Production Company join other Superprod subsidiaries such as Superprod Animation, Superprod Drama, Superights, Red Monk Studio and music management firm 440Hz.

The slate of children’s television productions that are currently under The Co-Production Company banner will remain active within Superprod.

These include Home Sweet Rome, a music-filled live-action coming-of-age comedy, which is an Italian/Canadian coproduction by Superprod subsidiary Red Monk and Canada’s First Generation Films. Based on a concept by Michael Poryes, creator of Hannah Montana and That’s So Raven, Home Sweet Rome is set to debut worldwide in 2023.

The kids’ slate also includes African-inspired animated series for HBO Max, Iyanu: Child of Wonder, from Roye Okupe’s YouNeek Studios, David Steward II’s Lion Forge Animation and Impact X Capital.

Also on the slate is Pisces Lane, a live-action musical teen series created by Michal Cooper Keren and Lior Yaron, with Cooper Keren serving as showrunner.

The series is produced for Nickelodeon Israel and Hot Cable Network by Israel-based Paramount-owned Ananey Studios, with Universal Music Israel producing and releasing all the music for the series.

The Co-Production Company is also making Bird’s Eye View, a short-form comedy series from Wellington Paranormal writer Nick Ward, produced by New Zealand’s Sweetshop & Green in collaboration with Studio Local and Pukeko Pictures.