France’s Superprod Group Acquires Mélusine Productions And Studio 352

France’s Superprod Group announced today that it has acquired Mélusine Productions, a leading production company in Luxembourg that has been involved in the production of many European animated features, including recent titles such as The Summit of the Gods, Wolfwalkers, Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia, and Kensuke’s Kingdom. Mélusine’s production arm, Studio 352, which employs around 40 people, is also part of the acquisition deal.

Here’s more about the deal:

• The acquisition is intended to strengthen Superprod’s development, production, and financing capabilities for both films and series. Mélusine is currently working on new projects with Folivari, Cartoon Saloon, and Superprod Animation. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
• Mélusine and Studio 352 will now receive new technical and financial resources, including access to Superprod’s Flow pipeline, based on open-source Universal Scene Description (USD) technology. Additionally, Mélusine will work with other companies in the Superprod family, such as Italy’s Red Monk Studio and the U.S.-based The Co-Production Company, as well as Superprod firms dealing with international sales (Superights) and music project management/rights (440Hz).
• Mélusine’s Stephan Roelants will continue his role as producer on current projects, but will hand over general management to Fabien Renelli, who has worked with him closely for the last couple decades.
• In a statement, Roelants said, “Having created, developed and ensured the existence of Studios 352 and Mélusine Productions for 27 years, I’m delighted to be able to hand over the reins to the younger generation. Isn’t it the wish of every company founder and manager to see the development of his/her company continued, thus ensuring a promising future? Joining the Superprod Group will give both companies the opportunity to flourish within a group capable of meeting new market challenges while preserving its Luxembourg identity.
• Superprod heads Clément Calvet and Jérémie Fajner added, “We are very proud of the trust Stephan Roelants has placed in us by handing over to us the studio and the company he has grown as an essential partner for the most prestigious animated films produced in Europe. We’ve known Stephan and the talented teams at Studio 352 for many years, notably through our co-production of the film Song Of the Sea, which took us together to the Oscars, Césars and European Film Awards.”