Cyber Group Studios’ Multi-Local Mindset

Raphaëlle Mathieu, executive VP of Cyber Group Studios, talks to TV Kids about the company’s multi-local approach and strategic partnerships.

Cyber Group Studios has a long-held belief that it is stronger by joining forces than on its own—and this has been a driving factor in the company’s recent growth. “We also believe in long-term relationships,” says Mathieu. “The companies we have invested in are family-run and have been established for a long time with extremely close relationships to local players and great reputations. This is what drives us. We believe in commitment and passion in our industry both on the creative and business sides.”

The company is honing what it calls a “multi-local” strategy, whereby local talents in all aspects of the kids’ industry can be part of content that has global appeal. “Local producers have incredible talent and a great deal of artists,” says Mathieu. “We believe that working with key local players even more closely—thanks to these local production companies—will maximize the potential of our content. We also hope to have content from these territories and be supported to make them successful international productions.”

Cyber Group Studios has invested in Graphilm Entertainment in Italy, which is co-producing Alex Player along with France Télévisions in France and Rai in Italy. It also invested in A Productions out of the U.K., which is going to produce Digital Girl. Cyber Group is also developing its real-time animation pipeline, and the first place it is going to ramp up in is Singapore. Scrawl Animation is developing the pipeline locally, enabling Cyber Group Studios to launch a second season of Giganto Club in co-production with Mediacorp. “We are extremely proud to work even more closely in these territories,” says Mathieu.

She and the team are looking forward to developing different types of strategic partnerships. For one, Cyber Group Studios aligned with Splash Entertainment to form CyberSplash. “We have been wanting to work with our friends at Splash for a long time, but we needed to find the right momentum and the right content,” Mathieu says. “This is the case with Family Rocks, a great new preschool show we launched at Annecy.” The show is developed and co-produced with the award-winning Israel-based Ananey Studios, part of Paramount Global.

“We want to grow more globally, of course, but not at all costs,” says Mathieu. “We need to find the right partners, do it in the right way and with the right timing.” In particular, she is eyeing growth in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking markets.

Heading to MIPJunior and MIPCOM, Cyber Group is highlighting 50/50 Heroes, commissioned by France Télévisions and The Walt Disney Company (Germany, Eastern Europe) and now sold to ITV in the U.K., Discovery LatAm and Disney Japan, to name a few. It is also showcasing Droners, which has been a hit on TF1 and ARD/WDR, with a second season in production. There’s a second season of Zak Jinks on offer as well. At MIPJunior, Cyber Group Studios will present The Case (La Custodia in Italian) for the first time in its full length. The animated movie, produced by Graphilm Entertainment and distributed by Cyber Group Studios, has received 29 awards and 16 nominations internationally this year.