SIP Animation

SIP Animation was a French animation studio that developed and produced television series, pilots, and short-form animated content for international children’s and family audiences. It operated under the name Saban International Paris from 1989 until 2002 and became SIP Animation after the sale of Fox Family Worldwide and Saban’s related assets to The Walt Disney Company. The studio grew out of the broader Saban business founded by musician and entrepreneur Haim Saban. Saban and Jacqueline Tordjman had established Saban Records and Music in 1977, followed by Saban Productions in 1980. The Paris division entered animation in 1989, initially producing series connected with Saban’s wider television activities. In 1991, Saban International Paris became a separately operated facility with a multi-shareholder structure. Saban Entertainment retained a substantial interest, while International Film Productions and later Pueblo Films AG held the other major stake; Jacqueline Tordjman also held a small personal interest. During the 1990s, the studio expanded its production and co-production role. It worked with broadcasters and animation companies in France, Canada, Germany, and elsewhere, and became a significant supplier of original programming for Fox Kids Europe. Its projects included adaptations of literary works and European comic properties, including Princess Sissi, Diabolik, Iznogoud, Oliver Twist, Jim Button, and Wunschpunsch. Saban’s acquisition of Créativité et Développement in the mid-1990s also broadened the catalogue and development opportunities available to the Paris operation. The Disney acquisition of Fox Family Worldwide, announced in 2001 and completed later that year, changed the studio’s corporate context. Saban Entertainment was renamed BVS Entertainment, Haim Saban departed, and the Paris studio was renamed SIP Animation on October 1, 2002. SIP continued to develop animated projects for the former Fox Kids network system, which was subsequently rebranded as Jetix. Its output and development slate during this period included Gadget & the Gadgetinis, Jason and the Heroes of Mount Olympus, The Tofus, W.I.T.C.H., A.T.O.M. – Alpha Teens on Machines, and Combo Niños. SIP also pursued projects that were not completed or did not become established series. These included Astaquana, George and Me, Princess Bari, Wesh Wesh Express, Ko-Bushi, and The Jokers. The studio produced the short film Inukshuk, completed in 2008 and later premiered in 2009. By that time, industry conditions and the changing ownership structure around Jetix had weakened the studio’s independent operating role. Disney’s decision to acquire the remainder of Jetix Europe in 2008 was followed by SIP entering dormancy and liquidation proceedings. In 2009, André Lacour was appointed president during the liquidation process. Several former employees subsequently established or joined other animation ventures, including Jacqueline Tordjman’s Zagtoon and Bruno Bianchi’s Ginkgo Animation. Disney later consolidated ownership: in 2012 it acquired Pueblo Films AG’s remaining interest, making SIP wholly controlled through BVS Entertainment. The residual company and its assets were eventually terminated on October 25, 2023, with the remaining assets transferring to BVS Entertainment. SIP is therefore a defunct studio, but its productions and former personnel remain part of the wider history of French and European children’s television animation.

SIP Animation originated within the Saban business founded by Haim Saban and Jacqueline Tordjman. After the founders established Saban Records and Music in 1977 and Saban Productions in 1980, the Paris operation moved into animation in 1989 under the name Saban International Paris. It initially produced animated television programming for the broader Saban organization. In 1991, Saban International Paris became a separately operated facility. Its ownership was divided among Saban Entertainment, International Film Productions, and Tordjman; the non-Saban interest later moved to Pueblo Films AG. This structure allowed the studio to work as a production company while remaining closely linked to Saban’s international television distribution and children’s programming operations. The 1990s brought substantial expansion. The studio worked on Princess Sissi with CinéGroupe and developed adaptations of European comics and literature, including Diabolik, Achille Talon, Iznogoud, Oliver Twist, Jim Button, and the Michael Ende adaptation that became Wunschpunsch. Saban’s acquisition of Créativité et Développement added a catalogue and development capabilities to the wider operation. By the end of the decade, Saban International Paris was an important original-content producer for Fox Kids Europe. The sale of Fox Family Worldwide to Disney in 2001 transformed the corporate setting. Saban Entertainment became BVS Entertainment, and the Paris facility was renamed SIP Animation on October 1, 2002. The studio continued working with Fox Kids Europe as that business evolved into Jetix Europe. During the SIP period it developed and produced projects including The Tofus, W.I.T.C.H., Gadget & the Gadgetinis, Jason and the Heroes of Mount Olympus, A.T.O.M. – Alpha Teens on Machines, and Combo Niños. It also worked on pilots and proposed projects such as Astaquana, George and Me, Wesh Wesh Express, Ko-Bushi, and The Jokers. SIP’s production activity extended beyond series. It produced the short film Inukshuk, completed in 2008 and premiered in 2009, and pursued international partnerships including work with Canadian, German, Korean, Malaysian, and European companies. Some proposed projects were abandoned, while others were transferred to later ventures after employees left the company. After Disney announced its intention to acquire the rest of Jetix Europe in 2008, SIP entered dormancy. Liquidation proceedings began in 2009, during which Tordjman and other senior creative personnel departed. In 2012 Disney acquired Pueblo Films AG’s remaining stake through BVS Entertainment, and SIP’s residual operations were moved to Disney’s French headquarters. The company was ultimately terminated on October 25, 2023. Its remaining assets passed to BVS Entertainment, while former staff and projects continued to influence the French and international animation sector.

1. 2023SIP Animation is closed

   The company is formally terminated on October 25, 2023, with residual assets transferred to BVS Entertainment.

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2. 2012Disney obtains full ownership

   The remaining Pueblo Films AG stake is acquired through BVS Entertainment.

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3. 2009Liquidation proceedings begin

   SIP is placed into liquidation and a new president is appointed during the process.

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4. 2008SIP enters dormancy

   Following Disney’s move to acquire the remaining Jetix Europe interest, SIP’s active operations wind down.

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5. 2005A.T.O.M. premieres

   A.T.O.M. – Alpha Teens on Machines begins its international rollout on Jetix channels.

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6. 2002The studio is renamed SIP Animation

   Saban International Paris changes its name after Saban Entertainment becomes BVS Entertainment.

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7. 2001Disney acquires Fox Family Worldwide

   The transaction brings Saban Entertainment and its interest in the Paris studio into Disney’s corporate orbit.

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8. 1996Créativité et Développement acquisition expands the catalogue

   Saban’s acquisition of Créativité et Développement contributes catalogue and development opportunities to the Paris operation.

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9. 1991Saban International Paris becomes separately operated

   The studio adopts a multi-shareholder, separately operated structure while retaining a close relationship with Saban Entertainment.

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10. 1989Paris division enters animation

    The Saban Paris operation begins producing animated television series under the Saban International Paris name.

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11. 1977Saban Records and Music is established

    Haim Saban and Jacqueline Tordjman establish the business predecessor that later develops into the Saban entertainment group.

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An internationally oriented French animation producer focused on children’s television, adaptations, broadcaster co-productions, and programming for the Fox Kids and Jetix ecosystems.

• The TofusAnimated television series2004

  A children’s animated series developed by SIP and announced under the working title Tofu Family. Production began in 2003 for international broadcaster distribution.

• W.I.T.C.H.Animated television series2004

  A fantasy adventure series based on the Italian comic property published by Disney. SIP developed a pilot and participated in the series’ production during its Disney-era operating period.

• Gadget & the GadgetinisAnimated television series2002

  A co-production involving SIP, Fox Kids Europe, and DIC Entertainment. SIP held international distribution rights outside the United States during the project’s development.

• A.T.O.M. – Alpha Teens on MachinesAnimated action series2005

  An action-oriented animated series developed with Jetix Europe from the earlier working title The Insiders. Hasbro signed a toy-related agreement, and the series premiered on Jetix channels internationally.

• Combo NiñosAnimated television series2008

  A 2D animated series developed with Jetix Europe and TF1. SIP announced production in 2007, with delivery planned for the following international broadcast cycle.

• InukshukAnimated short film2009

  An eight-minute short film produced for Interfilm. It was completed in December 2008 and premiered in May 2009; Interfilm handled distribution.

• Princess BariAnimated feature project

  A proposed French-Korean animated co-production developed with Korean distributor M-Line. The project was reported as possibly completed but was never released.

• 2023Formal termination of the companyOther

  After years of dormancy and liquidation-related administration, the remaining SIP corporate entity no longer functioned as an active production studio.

  What changed. BVS Entertainment, as sole authorized shareholder, terminated SIP Animation on October 25, 2023.

  Aftermath. Remaining assets were transferred to BVS Entertainment rather than being folded into The Walt Disney Company France as a separate operating studio.

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• 2012Acquisition of the remaining Pueblo Films interestM&A

  Pueblo Films AG still held the remaining minority interest in SIP Animation.

  What changed. Disney acquired that interest through BVS Entertainment, making SIP wholly controlled by the BVS structure.

  Aftermath. The residual studio was relocated administratively to Disney’s French headquarters and operated without its former independent shareholder structure.

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• 2009Liquidation and operational wind-downStrategy

  The studio became dormant after the changing ownership and operating structure surrounding Jetix Europe.

  What changed. Shareholders placed SIP into liquidation and appointed André Lacour as president during the process.

  Aftermath. Employees and projects dispersed into other animation ventures, while the remaining corporate entity continued under Disney-linked ownership.

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• 2002Rebrand from Saban International Paris to SIP AnimationStrategy

  The Disney acquisition of Fox Family Worldwide brought Saban Entertainment into a new ownership structure and ended the studio’s ability to continue using the Saban identity in the same way.

  What changed. The company changed its name to SIP Animation on October 1, 2002 and continued developing programming for the Fox Kids and later Jetix ecosystem.

  Aftermath. The rebrand preserved the Paris studio’s operating identity while separating it from the former Saban branding.

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• 2023SIP Animation is formally terminated

  The company was closed on October 25, 2023, and its remaining assets were transferred to BVS Entertainment.

  BankruptcyOther
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• 2012Disney consolidates SIP ownership

  The remaining Pueblo Films AG interest was acquired, leaving SIP Animation wholly controlled through BVS Entertainment.

  M&A
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• 2009SIP Animation is liquidated

  The company entered liquidation and André Lacour was appointed president by shareholder decision.

  BankruptcyLeadership change
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• 2008SIP Animation becomes dormant after Jetix ownership changes

  Disney’s announcement that it would acquire the remaining interest in Jetix Europe was followed by SIP’s loss of active operating momentum and subsequent liquidation proceedings.

  M&A
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• 2007Combo Niños enters production

  SIP announced production of Combo Niños for a later Jetix Europe delivery window, with TF1 and other partners involved in the project.

  Product launch
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• 2004A.T.O.M. moves into production

  SIP and Jetix Europe announced an action-oriented animated series initially developed under the working title The Insiders; it later became A.T.O.M. – Alpha Teens on Machines.

  Product launch
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• 2003SIP Animation begins production on The Tofus

  The studio announced production of The Tofus and continued developing projects for Fox Kids and international partners.

  Product launch
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• 2002Saban International Paris becomes SIP Animation

  Following Disney’s acquisition of Fox Family Worldwide and the departure of Haim Saban from the associated businesses, the French studio adopted the SIP Animation name.

  Other
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1. SIP Animation