Jonathan Peel

2001 has been a hugely important year for Millimages. In terms of 2D cel animation production we will have delivered four new series this year (2nd series of "Ethelbert the Tiger" 26 x 5 mins for the BBC and La Cinquieme, "Talis and the Thousand Tasks" 52 x 13 mins for France 3 ZDF and ORF, "Da Mob" in co-production with Happy Life 26 x 26 mins for Fox Family Fox Kids and Sky, "Old Tom" in co-production with Yoram Gross 52 x 13 mins for TF1 and ABC). We have also commenced production with "Corneil and Bernie", 52 x 12 mins, "Pigeon Man", 26 x 26 mins, the David Macaulay classic "The Way Things Work" in co-production with DK Vision, 26 x 13 minutes, "Jasper the Penguin", 52 x 5 mins, and "Fire Quest", 26 x 26 mins.

Millimages, in conjunction with Method films, opened a new stop motion studio in Paris called Amuse Films. Amuse have already delivered a half-hour special to TF1 called "La Peur du Loup", and are commencing production of "Planet Grabo", 26 x 12 mins aimed at older kids. The most up to date digital technology is employed, using Nikon digital cameras that are recorded straight to disc.

In February we co-financed and opened a new digital effects and 3D animation house called La Maison. The facility currently services feature films and commercials. We also invested in Attitude Studios who specialise in motion capture and 3D animation.

In June this year Millimages floated 20% of its capital on the Euronext Nouveau Marche. The issue was over subscribed by five times by the public, and by three and a half times by the institutions. Enough capital was raised to carry all the development plans for the next few years, which include:

1) Opening a US based company to market Millimages product in the Americas, to develop co-productions and acquire properties. Dorian Langdon, the ex-President of HIT Entertainment USA, has been hired to set up and be CEO of Millimages USA. This was a natural extension of Millimages relationship with Dorian when he represented "Archibald the Koala" and "Pablo the Little Red Fox" for us. I also worked with him previous to my joining Millimages with "The World of Peter of Peter Rabbit and Friends" (3 Cable Ace awards), "Willows in Winter" (2 Prime Time Emmy’s) and "Wind in the Willows" (Banff and Chicago Jury awards).

2) Setting up an International licensing and merchandising operation to promote Millimages properties. Veronique Pichon, who heads up the new company, previously ran European merchandising for Sony and has marketed many successful products such as the Soccer World Cup and Tin Tin.

3) Developing a Worldwide distribution network for Millimages’ new shows and its available past catalogue. The infrastructure for this will be in place by the end of the year.

4) Maintaining the high standards of creative development within the company whilst increasing the scope and volume. We forecast that we will be delivering 60 hours of animation per year by 2003.

5) Producing at least one animated feature film per year.

6) Continue the development of programming for Millimages On-line. This year we won the award for the best Internet film at the Cannes Film Festival with "Gotchaa!"

The most important things to us are that each show has its own individual graphic space, and that the literary idea is great for telling stories.