Xilam Animation SAS is a French animation studio which specializes in making animated television series and feature films. Marc du Pontavice and his wife Alix de Maistre founded it in 1999 as a replacement for the animation division of Gaumont Multimédia, which was itself an offshoot of the company's television division Gaumont Télévision, a company he co-founded in 1990..
History The origin of Xilam is closely linked to Gaumont's television production activity, launched in the early 1990s. From 1990, Marc du Pontavice joined the Gaumont group to develop a television production activity and co-founded Gaumont Télévision. In 1995, he formed a video game and animation division of the company, Gaumont Multimédia. From 1994 to 1999, certain animations such as Space Goofs and Oggy and the Cockroaches met with international success for the company.
In December 1998, Pontavice left the company but would remain as a freelance executive producer for the second season of Oggy and the Cockroaches. In 1999, he went on to found Xilam and produce his own animated properties. Around this time, Gaumont was looking to exit the animation market, and in December of the same year, Gaumont sold the assets of the former Gaumont Multimédia to du Pontavice for 44 million francs and reintegrated it into Xilam. In January 2000, Xilam, in partnership with German trader Igel Media, acquired Gaumont Multimédia's 200-episode animation library.
In 2002, Xilam started trading in the Euronext Paris stock exchange..
Xilam's programs, including Shuriken School, Space Goofs, and Oggy and the Cockroaches, are internationally successful.
In 2003, the company released its first animated feature film, the CGI-based Kaena: The Prophecy. In 2005, they announced an animated film based on The New Adventures of Lucky Luke. Xilam bought the Armada animation studio in Vietnam in 2008.
In 2012, they announced Oggy and the Cockroaches: The Movie would be made. In 2015, Xilam announced the production of seasons 5-7 of Oggy and the Cockroaches using 4K and Ultra HD. A new studio was opened in Angoulême in order to repatriate production to France in addition to that of Villeurbanne.
In 2016, the studio opened a new office in Lyon, France in order to accelerate production.. This new studio would produce the Paprika series, as well as the second season of Magic.. In 2019, it was announced that Xilam would acquire 50.1% of French CG studio Cube Creative. The deal was finalized on 20 January 2020.
The studio almost bought the children's free-to-air TV channel Gulli in 2019, after Lagardère was about to sell its television channels in a fierce dispute between the M6 channel, which ended up buying the channel, and the company's television division in that year.
On December 1, 2025, Xilam launched Toon Box – a brand-new, kids-safe streaming app featuring over 1,000 pieces of content from across its legacy library and new series, alongside an exclusive range of videos, activities, storybooks and games. Aimed at children aged 3-10 years old, the subscription-based and ad-free app has rolled out across 11 territories (the UK, the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, India, Mexico, Brazil, Australia) and was initially available on iOS before also launching on Android devices in 2026. Toon Box caters to the whole family featuring some of the most iconic series from Xilam's catalogue, including Oggy and the Cockroaches, Zig & Sharko, Where's Chicky?, Mr. Magoo, The Daltons, Lupin's Tales, Paprika, and more. Episodes are available to download and watch offline, and Xilam updates the app with new content each month. To access the full Toon Box offering, new subscribers benefit from a free first month and can choose between two offers: a monthly subscription with no commitment, or an annual subscription. The group has developed this project with tightly controlled investment.
The studio's current headquarters, since 2018, are located in the former French headquarters of the comic book publisher Dupuis.
, its board of directors includes Marc du Pontavice (CEO), Cécile Haimet (CFO), Caterina Gonnelli-Liden (co-CEO), Camille Wiplier, Safaa Benazzouz (deputy chief executive officers), Pierre Monfort (general counsel), distribution), Guillaume Jallot (CTO), Anne Hemery (EVP, human resources), Claire Darras (deputy chief operating officer) and Marie-Laurence Turpin (cultural and academic outreach director). Alix de Maistre serves as the studio's administrator, while the management of the Xilam Films division is led by Lucie Bolze.
On September 24, 2026, Armada TMT Studio (a subsidiary of Xilam Animation) announced on their Facebook page that they have renamed to Xilam Vietnam. This move aims to align the studio with its role as a production unit under Xilam Animation while reflecting its function of supporting the production process for the company's IP brands.
Process They previously used animation services in South Korea, such as Big Star Enterprise and Dong Woo Animation to animate their shows, but they stopped in the 2010s when it became too expensive and began focusing on animation services in Vietnam and the Philippines. Their recent films, I Lost My Body and Lucy Lost had some of the animation done at Gao Shan Pictures in Réunion in the Indian Ocean.
On the question of their shows' theme songs, they have their own visual identity and not a montage of clips, as Marc du Pontavice always believes that the opening sequence is, in a way, the signature serving two functions for him, a call to action and playing an important role in creating lasting memories.
Company name Xilam's name is an anagram of a declaration of love from Marc du Pontavice to his wife, Alix de Maistre (M-Alix), as it has an edifying interpretation and is composed of two syllables "xi" and "lam", where the first comes from the Greek name for the letter "X", which is the symbol of transgression and the second is a reference to the soul which comes from the Latin word anima.
Filmography
Animated series Title Creator(s) / Developer(s) Years Network Notes Oggy and the Cockroaches (seasons 2–present) Jean-Yves Raimbaud 2000–present France 3 Canal+ Family Gulli France Télévisions Purchased from Gaumontco-production with Tooncan (season 2) The New Adventures of Lucky Luke Morris 2001–03 France 3Télé-Québec/Teletoon (Canada) co-production with Dargaud Marina, Tooncan Productions and Lucky Comics Cartouche: Prince of the Streets Éric-Paul Marais 2001–02 M6 co-production with Storimages Ratz Monsieur Z 2003–04 Teletoon (Canada)France 3 and Canal J co-production with Tooncan Productions Tupu Pepper SueElastik Jane 2005 France 3Gulli Space Goofs (season 2) Jean-Yves RaimbaudPhilippe Traversat: Isabelle de CatalogneSamuel Kaminka 2005–06 France 3 Purchased from Gaumont Shuriken School Emilio GallegoJesùs Gallego: Pascal Morelli 2006–07 France 3Jetix (Europe) co-production with Zinkia Entertainment Rintindumb Morris France 3 co-production with Dargaud Marina and Lucky Comics A Kind of Magic Michel CoulonArthur de Pins 2008–18 France 3/Disney Channel Gulli/Canal J Primo TV (United States) Rahan: Son of the Dark Age Roger LécureuxAndré Chéret : Jean PecheuxPescal Morelli 2008–09 Canal+ Family & France 3Rai Gulp (Italy)Kika (Germany) co-production with Castelrosso Films, Rai Fiction and ZDF Enterprises Mr. Baby Marc du PontaviceCarol-Ann Willering: Franck Ekinci 2009–10 France 3 The Daltons MorrisRené Goscinny : Olivier Jean-MarieJean-François Henry 2010–16 co-production with Dargaud Media, Lucky Comics and B Media Kids Zig & Sharko Olivier Jean-Marie 2010–present TF1/Canal+ Gulli/M6 FloopaLoo, Where Are You? Marc du Pontavice: Fabien Limousin 2011–14 Canal+ Family/Teletoon+ & France 5Rai 2/Frisbee (Italy) co-production with Rai Fiction (season 1) and Castelrosso Films What's the Big Idea? Tanguy de Kermel 2013 France 5CBeebies (United Kingdom) co-production with Planet Nemo Animation and Skyline Entertainment Hubert & Takako Hugo Gittard 2013–15 GulliCanal+Canal J Rolling with the Ronks! Olivier Jean-MarieCharles Vaucelle: Franck Ekinci 2016–17 France 3Disney Channel (International)Primo TV (United States) Paprika Marion BilletBaptiste Lucas 2017–19 France 5Disney Jr. (International) If I Were an Animal... Marc du PontaviceFrédéric Fougea 2018 YouTube co-production with Boréales Athleticus Nicolas Deveaux 2018–24 Arte co-production with Cube Creative Mr. Magoo Millard KaufmanJohn Hubley Olivier Jean-MarieHugo GittardOlivier DelabarreBaptiste Lucas 2019–23 France 4 CITV ITVX co-production with Classic Media Moka's Fabulous Adventures! Andrès FernandezMaxence Sani 2020 GulliSuper RTL (Germany) Boon & Pimento YouTube co-production with CrossRiver Productions Coach Me If You Can Olivier Pouchelon France 4Cartoon Network (Europe) Where's Chicky? (seasons 2–4) William Hoareau 2020–25 Canal J co-production with Cube Creative Lupin's Tales Nicolas Le NevéLaura Muller 2021–present France 5Rai Yoyo (Italy)Youku (China) Originally entitled Tiny Bad Wolfco-production with Maga Animation Studio and Rai Ragazzi Chip 'n' Dale: Park Life Bill Justice 2021–24 Disney+ co-production with Disney Branded Television Oggy Oggy Jean-Yves Raimbaud 2021–23 NetflixFrance 5 Tangranimals Rémi ChapototTristan Michel 2021 France 5 co-production with Cube Creative Pfffirates Guillaume HerentBenjamin BusnelCarine Hinderchiette 2022 TFOU Oggy and the Cockroaches: Next Generation Jean-Yves Raimbaud Netflix The Adventures of Bernie Olivier Jean-Marie Alexandre SimardMathieu Peters-HougLucille Briand RTSGulli Spin-off of Zig & Sharko Karate Sheep Hugo Gittard 2023 Netflix (international)GulliToggo Kaeloo (season 5) Rémi ChapototJean-François HenryTristan Michel Canal+ Kids co-production with Cube Creative and Blue Spirit Buddybot Vincent SouchonJoyce ColsonFlorent Remize 2024–present Okoo Twilight of the Gods Zack SnyderJay OlivaEric Carrasco 2024 Netflix Animation services only co-production with Netflix Animation Studios and The Stone Quarry Piggy Builders Marie ManandJulien HazebroucqEmmanuelle Leleu 2025–present France 5CBeebies (United Kingdom)Kika (Germany) Submarine Jim Frédéric Martin 2026–present France TélévisionsToggo (Germany)CBBC (United Kingdom) The Doomies Andrés FernandezHenry GiffordRémi Zaarour Disney+ co-production with Disney Television Animation Chickies TBA 2027 France Télévisions Gemma and the Defenders TBA TBA Phil & Sophia
Purchased from Gaumont Highlander: The Animated Series (1994–96) Sky Dancers (1996) Dragon Flyz (1996–97) The Magician (1997–98)
Film Purchased from Gaumont Highlander: The Adventure Begins (1996; a compilation of the first few episodes of Highlander: The Animated Series) Dragon Flyz: The Legend Begins (1996; a compilation of the first three episodes of Dragon Flyz)
Original Title Year Distributor Notes Kaena: The Prophecy 2003 BAC Films Shuriken School: The Ninja's Secret 2007 Disney Channel co-production with Zinkia Entertainment Go West! A Lucky Luke Adventure Pathé Distribution (France)Alliance Vivafilm (Canada) co-production with Dargaud Media, Lucky Comics, France 3 Cinéma, Pathé, TPS Star, Cinecinema and Mikros Image Oggy and the Cockroaches: The Movie 2013 BAC Films co-production with France 3 Cinéma, Canal+, France Télévisions, CNC, B Media Kids, Backup Films, A Plus Image 4, Cofinova 9, Cofimage 24, Les Films du Gorak, Cube Creative and Mikros Image I Lost My Body 2019 Rezo Films Xilam's first R-rated movie My Life in Versailles Dandelooo co-production with Films Grand Huit and Miyu Productions Lucy Lost 2026 Le Pacte The Wolf 2027 ARP co-production with Bidibul Productions Untitled Jérémy Clapin film TBA The Migrant TBA
Other productions Purchased from Gaumont Monster Men (single version of the opening song in the series Space Goofs; performed by Iggy Pop, distributed by Virgin Records)
Original Stupid Invaders (2000) (video game adapted of the series Space Goofs)