News

New Franco-Japanese Animation Studio Launches

Yapiko Animation, a new studio based on collaboration between French and Japanese animators, launched in October. The studio was founded by animator Eddie Mehong (Casshern Sins, Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine), director Jean-Louis Vandestoc (Monster Buster Club, Rekkit), and producer Séverine Varlette. It also brings together Japanese talents such as character designer and animation director Masami Suda (Fist of the North Star, Musashi), and animators Hiroshi Shimizu (Fullmetal Alchemist, FLCL), Yūichi Takahashi (Naruto Shippūden: The Will of Fire, Blue Exorcist), and Eriko Kubokawa (Fullmetal Alchemist, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time). The studio is based in both France and Japan, and its stated goals are to create animation productions for television and multimedia aimed at both Western and Eastern markets.

For its first animation projects, Yapiko Animation is teaming up with French creative team Catfish Deluxe to create two 26-episode series: Plume, about a girl who travels a strange land to look for her little brother, and Powerbag, about a boy who finds a magical backpack. The two teams also plan to collaborate on the feature film Happyland, about an apparently utopian world where no one is allowed to complain. The studios are currently seeking funding for all three projects.

Yapiko Animation has already produced the French and English versions of the iOS app "Afureko!AR," which allows players to practice voice acting and upload their videos to the internet. The studio posted the following user-created video to its Facebook page as promotion.

Source: CATSUKA

Thanks to Liam for the news tip.