Drawing on a catalogue of iconic characters such as Petit Ours Brun, SamSam, Tom-Tom et Nana, and Zouk, Bayard Jeunesse Production has been developing audiovisual series for over 20 years. Their programs are broadcast on television and SVOD platforms in France and around the world.
Bayard Jeunesse Production (BJP) combines discovery of the world, the quest for meaning, and comedy to offer original entertainment for young and old alike, reflecting the values that Bayard has upheld for generations among its readers.
In France, Bayard Jeunesse is the leading publisher of children’s comics and children’s press, with 8 million readers every month. It is also the second-largest audio publisher in the country, with 3 million children connecting daily to its digital offerings.
Bayard Jeunesse Production’s mission is to adapt Bayard Jeunesse and Milan universes into audiovisual content with two development axes: entertaining children and helping them grow with confidence by providing keys to better understand themselves, others, and the world around them.
In terms of business positioning, BJP is a delegated producer. For every project, they commit the best partner to produce their content, always as a service partner of the project. They work on projects that are 100% produced by them or in coproduction with French or foreign co-producers.
What’s new
In terms of offerings, Bayard Jeunesse Production has launched about ten audiovisual series developments to accelerate the deployment of Bayard Jeunesse universes on screens within 5 years.
After delivering SamSam: Cosmic Adventures to France Télévisions (co-produced with Folivari) and launching the digital series I Love English with Essie for Lumni (France.tv’s educational platform) and co-produced with Réseau Canopé, there are three productions in progress in 2024 and one series in development, commissioned by France Télévisions.
Following the success of the first season, Zouk will soon be back on the small screen with new episodes (52 x 11’) co-produced with Caribara Production for Canal+. Additionally, Vampirette & Me (Vampirette et Moi) (52 x 13’) is under development, thanks to a production partnership with France Télévisions, and it will be presented in early 2025.
Edutainment productions are a significant part of BJP’s catalogue. Among them, we can mention Nature Chaser (Enquête de Nature) (25 x 3’) and SamSam Adventures (SamSam mission vivre ensemble) (30 x 2’), both for Lumni.
A more central role for YouTube
The iconic character Little Brown Bear has become a YouTube star with 1 million subscribers and 850 million video views. To strengthen this visibility and align with the distribution of linear rights, Bayard has decided to entrust the channel management to. The same approach has been taken for SamSam, another milestone IP of the group.
Furthermore, impressed by the talent of the Soupir teams, BJP has entrusted them with two high-potential channels, exclusively for the international market outside of France: Toto and Polo.
Distribution Strategy
Long-term partners support the distribution of BJP titles. Among them are Mediatoon, France TV Distribution (FTD), and Newen. The goal is to find the best partner for each project, tailored to each catalogue.
The distribution catalogue of the digital series has been entrusted to Bayard Rights, in addition to its mission to sell the group’s IP rights.
Discover more content on the fall issue of The European Animation Journal
