Sharjah24: Visitors to the 2nd edition of Sharjah Animation Conference (SAC) heard all about the collaborative process behind some of the world’s most beloved animated series on Friday.

Celebrated producer Benoit Di Sabatino joined his contemporaries Giorgio Welter, Tom Beattie and Girogio Scorza for an insightful panel discussion moderated by animation producer entrepreneur Mounia Aram as the quartet wowed the audience with fascinating stories behind characters like 'Topo Gigio,' 'Mr. Bean,' 'Hello Kitty,' and 'TotallySpies.'

“Our plan is to develop those brands for ever and ever and ever,” said Di Sabatino, the CEO of Banijay kids and family, a French television production company based in Neuilly-sur-Seine and best known for the animated series Totally Spies! and LoliRock. “The purpose of [changing how each character looks] is to better understand how young women dress. So they are very contemporary,” added Di Sabatino while responding to a question on how he reacts to a growing appeal for his characters.

From navigating challenges to celebrating successes, the panel offered unique perspectives on working together across various studios.

“Collaboration is the key to everything we do,” said Welter, CEO of Monello Productions that’s currently working on their brand new series Super Happy Magic Forest whose 52 episodes, each 11 mins long, is expected to hit the screens of BBC in England, RAI in Italy and Canal Plus in France later this year around September. 

“This is a classic case of how we work together because the pre-production and animation happened in Italy, the writing for it in England and the post-production in France,” added Welter while referring to how the animation and pre-production in Italy for this series was done by Scorza, an award-winning producer whose 2002 diploma short film project was selected for the official competition at Annecy International Film Festival that year.

Giving further insights into the enchanting world of Super Happy Magic Forest while highlighting the captivating case study of the collaborative efforts that brought these iconic series to life, Bettie said: “It’s all coordination making sure that the foundation is right, the hierarchy is in place and that communication is not lost. We have to make sure everyone is talking because it’s a long journey together and we make sure we are on the same page as co-producer by working internally.”

Beattie is a BAFTA-nominated Managing Director of the multi award-winning Tiger Aspect Kids & Family, part of Banijay Kids & Family, where he oversees all development and production for the label. He also oversees the Mr Bean brand and is producer of Mr Bean: The Animated Series, having also created CBBC live action series Danny & Mick.

The annual Sharjah Animation Conference is organised by Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), bringing together industry experts, animators, filmmakers, and enthusiasts to explore the latest trends, techniques, and innovations in the world of animation.

The conference features panel discussions, workshops, masterclasses, and networking opportunities, providing a platform for professionals and enthusiasts to exchange ideas, learn from industry leaders, and showcase their work.