Banijay Kids & Family (formerly known as Marathon Media, Marathon Animation, Marathon Productions, Marathon Media Group, Zodiak Kids, Zodiak Kids Studios and ZodiakKids & Family) is a French television production company owned by Banijay Entertainment based in Neuilly-sur-Seine. The company was originally founded as Marathon Productions, by Olivier Brémond and Pascal Breton in February 1990, and Vincent Chalvon-Demersay joined the team in 1999 to develop Marathon's animation programming, along with David Michel.[1] The company is best known for the animated series Totally Spies! and LoliRock.
History
Marathon Media logo (2006–2012)
In September 2005, Marathon Media announced that they made a merger deal with the French division of the British-based European private firm Bridgepoint Capital who owns French Tele Images, to create the biggest major production and distribution group in France with Adventure Line Productions producer of Fort Boyard being part of the new group along with Vincent Chalvon-Demersay and David Michel continuing to hold their stakes in Marathon’s animation division.[2][3] The merger was completed in January 2006, with the combined entity subsequently named Marathon Group.
In July 2007, it was announced that Italian-based holding company De Agostini they had acquired the TV production and distribution company Marathon Group from Bridgepoint Capital, thus turning De Agostini from a multimedia company into a major European content production company.[4]
In February 2008, Marathon Group announced that they acquired a majority stake in French independent production company KM Production combining KM's operations with Marathon's.[5]
In February 2016, Zodiak Media merged with the Banijay Group,[6] and Marathon was folded within the process. The Zodiak Kids name was retained until 2022 when the company adopted the Banijay name.
In 2018, MoonScoop Group co-founder and co-chairman Benoît Di Sabatino was named as CEO of the company, succeeding Jean-Philippe Randisi.[7]
Zodiak Kids logo (2020–2021)
In April 2021, Banijay announced that they've acquired Paris-based French independent animation studio Monello Productions which was founded in 2013 by former Tele Images SVP Giorgio Welter from ITV Studios-owned Tetra Media Group and had placed the acquired animation studio under Zodiak Kids and will continued to be independent along with their founder continuing to serve as the company's president.[8]
In September 2022, Banijay Kids & Family acquired the Italian animation studio Movimenti Production and the British studio Kindle Entertainment.[9]
In January 2024, Zodiak Kids & Family Distribution was renamed as Banijay Kids & Family Distribution.[10]
In September 2024, Banijay Entertainment acquired a majority stake in French animation studio Procidis, placing it under the Banijay Kids & Family unit, with Benoît Di Sabatino becoming president and Hélène Barillé remaining as managing director.[11]
