Watch Next Media (Philippe Alessandri) has acquired a stake in the Paris-based animation studio Je Suis Bien Content, aka JSBC, founded by Franck Ekinci and Marc Jousset in 1996.
This partnership between JSBC and Watch Next is the outcome of a long-term working relationship between Philippe Alessandri and Franck Ekinci and Marc Jousset (Sally Bollywood, Lili’s island, Best Bugs). Watch Next’s influx of capital will allow JSBC to consolidate its activities and finance it’s growth. Both companies will soon share back offices (IT, accounting, legal and international distribution), while keeping the creative teams distinct and independent.
Watch Next Media is the production company created by Philippe Alessandri in 2015 after his departure from Zodiak. Its first series, Nate is late, has been sold to over 100 territories including Pop UK, Super RTL, Channel 9, Discovery Kids, Clan TV, France TV, VRT, etc. The production company is currently producing I, Elvis for Canal +, TV3 and Cartoon Network EMEA, Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese with the BBC and Gulli as well as Best Bugs with JSBC for Disney EMEA. Watch Next Media also distributes programs on the international market through its subsidiary company Kids First.
Je Suis Bien Content is one of the most critically acclaimed European animation studio. It is known for features such as Persepolis (Jury Award, Cannes festival) or April and the extraordinary world … (Grand Prix, Annecy festival) as well as for series like Boyster (Disney EMEA) and the Netflix adult anime Last Man. Its 2019 line-up includes the delivery of Best Bugs (52×11’) for Disney EMEA and Roger (78×7’) for France TV, and the production of Nawak (78×7’) with France TV, Kiddy-Crunchers (52×11’) for Canal + and the feature My father’s secrets.
For JSBC founders Franck Ekinci and Marc Jousset, “this partnership will allow Je Suis Bien Content to open towards the international market through Watch Next’s distribution arm Kid’s First, and consolidate our growth.”
For Philippe Alessandri, CEO of Watch Next Media and Kids First, “this partnership is the first step in Watch Next’s European expansion strategy, allowing us to expand our production and distribution slate while consolidating one of France’s main animation talent hubs”.
