By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
Xilam Animation has signed a licensing deal with Disney to produce two new animated series for its Disney+ platform.
At this week’s Annecy International Animated Film Festival, Disney announced the production of the upcoming original series by Xilam Animation called The Doomies (pictured above).
Disney also revealed it has ordered a second season of Chip ‘n’ Dale: Park Life from Xilam, in an extended format. The order builds on the success of the first season, which launched on Disney+ in 2021.
“We are thrilled that Disney is supporting an original creation by Xilam in a highly innovative content segment – horror comedy for teens – which demonstrates the studio’s capacity to revitalise its offering,” said Marc du Pontavice, CEO of Xilam Animation.
“We’re also proud to continue the Chip ‘n’ Dale adventure, which is a testament to Disney’s continued trust in our ability to bring back such iconic characters from their repertoire,” du Pontavice added. “The success of the first season on Disney+ marks a new milestone in our expansion in the US market. I would like to extend special thanks to the Disney EMEA teams, who provided us with vital support for this achievement.”
The Doomies was created and directed by Xilam veterans Andres Fernandez and Remi Zarrour. The series is a horror comedy and is Xilam’s first project aimed at a teen audience.
When best friends Bobby and Romy mistakenly open up a gateway to another world, they turn their town into a hotspot for terrifying creatures of doom.
“At its heart The Doomies is about ordinary kids dropped into utterly unreal and unspeakable peril. I think we can all relate to that,” said Orion Ross, VP of Animation at Disney EMEA.
“It’s always played for laughs, and we’ll cheer as Bobby and Romy somehow manage to save themselves and their town from seemingly certain doom. I also love the evocative and moody setting Andrès and the team at Xilam have created for this show, in an eerie town on the northern coast of France.”
The upcoming second season of Chip ‘n’ Dale: Park Life will be directed by three experienced Xilam directors including Jean Cayrol, Fred Martin and Kahlil Ben Nahmane.
Chip ‘n’ Dale: Park Life stars Disney’s well-known chipmunk characters in a non-verbal, classic comedy which follows the two chipmunks life in the big city. Combining the traditions of slapstick cartoons with character-driven narratives, season two introduces huge new adventures for the two small animals.
Founded in 1999, Xilam Animation is an integrated animation studio that creates, produces and distributes original programs in more than 190 countries.
Xilam’s acquisition of Cube Creative’s in 2019, provides the company with unique expertise in 3D and computer-generated imagery, alongside a programming portfolio that offers entertainment for families worldwide.