Moonscoop France goes into administration

The French arm of children’s producer-distributor Moonscoop has gone into administration – the second major kids’ firm to go under in quick succession.

The firm appointed an administrator on June 20, according to French business information site societe.com.

Moonscoop has a studio in France and a base in LA through its acquisition of Mike Young Productions in 2006 (however, the US studio is not included in the French financial reorganisation, see below). It has produced series including Code Lyoko, Chloe’s Closet, Geronimo Stilton and Casper’s Scare School, most of which it also sells on the international market.

Dive Olly Dive! and Davincibles are also among its large programme catalogue.

The news represents the emergence of a second kids’ TV company to go into administration in just two days, after TBI revealed Wales-based Dinamo Productions had gone into administration on June 26.

UPDATE July 8, 10.23am: LA-based Moonscoop US has clarified the structure of its business, which includes a production base and US VOD platform Kabillion, and that it is not included in the French Moonscoop’s administration filing.

Moonscoop France’s status in administration would allow it to reorganise its business, Moonscoop US said. “However,  we want to state clearly and emphatically to ensure no misconstruing of information that the US-based Moonscoop LLC and Kabillion are independent and stand-alone entities in our production and corporate operations, financing and rights ownership,” added Moonscoop LLC’s CEO Mike Young and president Liz Young.

“Furthermore, while Moonscoop France has an equity interest in our companies, we are a completely separate group and are both operationally and financially sound. We are busy with a robust production slate as well as several exciting new projects.

“Our key intellectual properties include: the international hit animated preschool series Chloe’s Closet, now in season two production and licensed in over 100 territories worldwide; Dive Olly Dive!, Hero 108, Growing Up Creepie, Pet Alien and Todd World. Our current new series production slate also includes Sabrina Secrets of a Teenage Witch, an iconic franchise of Archie Comics Publications. We also produce Lalaloopsy, based on the enormously popular MGA doll line and an instant ratings hit on Nickelodeon since its debut in March.”