Primarily known for building licensing programs around its own slate of animated series, like sports-themed Galactik Football, Paris, France-based Gaumont-Alphanim is now looking to augment its operations by taking on third-party licensing, marketing and distribution.

‘We have really wanted to complement our portfolio,’ says Cédric Petitpas, VP of marketing and licensing and director of international sales. ‘When we heard that The Jim Henson Company was looking for a licensing agent for Sid the Science Kid and Dinosaur Train, we thought it was a good opportunity.’

While the ink is still drying on the deals, Petitpas says that Gaumont-Alphanim will be taking on all licensing for both series in French-speaking Europe, and was busy at Licensing Show last month getting the word out.

While Sid (Hasbro) and Dinosaur Train (Learning Curve) already have global master toy deals with products expected to hit shelves some time in 2011, many of the other categories are open across Europe. ‘Right now we are working on securing a publishing partner for both properties in France,’ says Petitpas. ‘It shouldn’t take very long.’

Petitpas says resources will be invested in finding strategic marketing partnerships to raise the profile of both properties. He’s also scouting for more potential IPs to represent over the next year.

On the TV distribution side, Gaumont-Alphanim has just inked a deal to sell the first season of Italian studio Cartoon One’s animated half-hour series Teen Days in Europe (excluding Spain, Portugal, Greece, the UK, Ireland and Italy), Asia (except Japan), South America, French-speaking Africa and the Middle East.

‘It’s on the Disney Channel in France and Italy,’ says Petitpas. ‘Our first job is to secure a terrestrial broadcaster and we will do the same internationally.’ As part of the deal, Gaumont-Alphanim is co-producing a second season and handle the L&M rights in French-speaking Europe.