Boris Hertzog’s OuiDo Productions has acquired the episodic IP production interests of French animation giant Technicolor Group, as well as the episodic and executive production operations of its subsidiary Mikros Animation.
Boris Hertzog
At the same time, Montreal-based VFX company Rodeo FX has taken over the service work operations of Mikros Animation, following Technicolor’s collapse last month.
Hertzog’s deal, financial details of which were not disclosed, reunites him with Technicolor Animation’s episodic IP production arm, which he was part of after Technicolor acquired OuiDo Productions, the French independent animation prodco he headed alongside Sandrine Nguyen, in 2015.
This company was later rebranded from OuiDo Productions to Technicolor Animation Productions, and then merged with Mikros Animation under the Technicolor Group.
Mikros has a presence in LA, Montreal, Paris, London and Bangalore and specialises in feature, longform and shortform episodic animation.
It has acted as creative studio, line producer or executive producer on content for channels such as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, TF1, France Télévisions, Gulli, M6, Gloob and Super RTL, with content airing and streaming in more than 180 countries.
Mikros also coproduced the animated series Coop Troop with Sixteen South, France Télévisions and Tencent in China.
In 2021, Hertzog became MD of Mikros Animation, a position he held until 2022, when he left to launch investment firm Lift Value and consultancy firm OuiDO Consulting/BH Conseils.
Nguyen remained at Mikros Animation, where she has served as senior VP of episodic and IP since 2021, alongside Julien Meesters, senior VP and head of creative.
Meesters has now been made president at Mikros Animation following Rodeo FX’s acquisition of Mikros’s operations, as well as Technicolor Canada’s equipment. The end-to-end animation studio is currently working on titles including the upcoming third instalment of the Paw Patrol film franchise.
Hertzog, who launched French distribution outfit Moon Keys International Content last year, said his latest acquisition marks “the beginning of a new chapter: OuiDO 2.0.”
“I am delighted to announce that the court has officially approved the acquisition by OuiDo Productions of Technicolor Animation’s IP activities and Mikros Animation’s episodic executive production activities,” Hertzog said on LinkedIn yesterday.
OuiDo’s acquisition has been supported by its majority shareholder, Lift Value, the company Hertzog co-founded with Gilbert Saada, and CYD Partners, led by Cédric and Yvan Depierre, the co-founders of Moon Keys International Content alongside Lift Value.
“The context may be challenging, but our ambition remains the same: to create, to innovate, to dream and to realise meaningful projects with all the energy that drives us. OuiDO 2.0 is also an opportunity to grow within an extended ecosystem, alongside the teams at Moon-Keys International Content (distribution) and soon a new subsidiary dedicated to publishing,” wrote Hertzog on LinkedIn.
Hertzog also thanked partners including broadcasters TF1, M6/Gulli and Disney, alongside funding body CNC and French animation studio TNZPV for their “loyalty and unwavering support throughout this transition.”
A former barrister, Hertzog began his career in animation in 2002 when he helped to set up 3D animation studio Attitude Studio, where he became MD. In 2007, he and Nguyen first set up OuiDo Entertainment, whose series division they sold to the Lagardère Group in 2008.
Between 2008 and 2013, Hertzog co-directed Genao Productions, before launching OuiDo Productions and acquiring from Lagardère the ongoing development of series Alvinnn!!! & the Chipmunks, Sonic Boom, Mini Wolf and The Legendaries.
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