Kevin Gillis

TV Kids
Weekly, May 20, 2008

Executive
Producer and Managing Partner

Breakthrough
Animation

Formed in 2003
as a joint venture between veteran Canadian producer Kevin Gillis and
Breakthrough Films & Television, Breakthrough Animation has released a
number of successful properties into the international market, including Atomic
Betty, licensed into
more than 120 territories, and Miss BG.

With a long
career in animation, Gillis takes a hands-on approach with the company’s
properties. Having started in the music business, writing songs for TV shows,
Gillis’s entrée into the cartoon business came with The Christmas Raccoons, a family special that he co-wrote
with a friend. “Once I got bit by that bug, I haven’t looked back.”

Gillis went on
to do a series called The Raccoons, which was broadcast in more than 180 territories, and soon
realized his passion for kids’ programming. His love for what he does has
translated into a string of hits, most recently Captain Flamingo, and Gillis is looking to build on
that success with the company’s new properties. These include Jimmy Two Shoes, for Teletoon Canada and Jetix Europe,
which has clocked up deals in more than 100 markets.

“Our strategic
philosophy is that we try to work as closely with the broadcasters as possible
so that we’re mindful of where their audiences are migrating and where they see
their goals heading,” Gillis says of his perspective on developing successful
shows. “From a creative point of view, we’re in step with them, so that we’re
creating content that’s going to deliver for them in an immediate way. We also
build value into the shows with strong writing and strong design and strong
acting, so that the shows have intrinsic annuity value that continues for many
years.”

Also key to
Gillis’s strategy is attracting talent. “We try to position Breakthrough
Animation as a home that’s going to care for your projects. If you’re a creator
with a great idea, you will find a very nurturing home at Breakthrough
Animation. We have an incredible team who are multi-skilled in development,
production, administration, post-production and distribution. But most of all,
we know how important it is to be sympathetic and empathetic to the creative
process and at the same time help make your idea come to life, so it becomes
more than an idea, it actually becomes a show or a short or a mobisode.”

Gillis notes
that Breakthrough Animation’s strong relationships with broadcasters have
helped the company attract top-notch talent. “Very often, a lot of good
projects come to us because broadcasters have recommended us. If they like a
property, they know that if they team us with that property, they have a
greater chance of getting what they’re looking for.”

And, Gillis
notes, broadcasters are increasingly looking for new-media elements to support
TV brands. As such, multiplatform property creation has been a priority at
Breakthrough Animation for almost three years now, he says, beginning with Captain
Flamingo and Miss
BG. “We created
financing models to be able to produce multiplatform content for both those
series. It wasn’t repurposed material. The audience wants a different
experience when they view multiplatform content. They want an engaging,
compelling interaction—they don’t want to see the same stuff they see on
conventional television. This is what we are doing now with both Jimmy Two Shoes and Atomic Betty. Our multiplatform vignettes provide
the viewer with behind-the-scenes adventures and more in-depth character
comedy. The engagement will be fresh and at times even surreal.”

Breakthrough
Animation is also working on My Big Big Friend, which it is co-developing with 2D Lab
in Brazil. And it is making its first steps into the world of adult animation
with the female-skewing sitcom Producing Parker for Canwest Global in Canada.

—By
Mansha Daswani