Xilam Gears Up for Inaugural Trip to BLE

PARIS: Xilam is heading to Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) for the first time to build consumer products programs for its flagship CGI-animated slapstick comedy brand Oggy & the Cockroaches and the preschool series Paprika.

As part of the company’s strategy to drive international growth across consumer products and television sales, Xilam has established a licensing division, led by Marie-Laure Marchand. Additionally, the company is tapping MI PR Global, a full-service PR agency with both broadcast and licensing expertise, to strengthen Xilam’s corporate profile.

Paprika has been commissioned by France Télévisions and Disney Junior (EMEA). There are 78 episodes currently in production, and licensing programs will be pursued for boys’ and girls’ categories.

Oggy & the Cockroaches is currently in production on its fifth season, which has been commissioned by Gulli (France) and Cartoon Network (Asia, Africa and South America). Season five will air in 2017, followed by two additional seasons that have also been commissioned by Gulli and Cartoon Network. The series is distributed in more than 160 countries and watched in 600 million homes.

Marc du Pontavice, CEO of Xilam, commented, “Xilam is renowned for creating high-quality animated content for today’s children as demonstrated by the breadth of our global footprint on all the major kids’ networks. With Marie-Laure now on board to lead our licensing business, together with the new seasons of Oggy and our first preschool series, Paprika, it is now the right time for us to raise our profile at BLE.”