France’s Xilam Animation has acquired a 50.1% majority stake in French CG- and 3D-animation studio Cube Creative, with the goal of speeding up Xilam’s delivery of programs and move into new animation styles. 

Cube Creative’s founding execs will hold 49.9% of the company’s equity and the company will remain fully operational. Xilam first announced it was entering into exclusive negotiations with Cube Creative last June.

Previously, Cube Creative makes shorts, music videos, series and feature films. This includes animated preschool series Kaeloo, which aired in France on Canal+ and Teletoon+ and Tangranimo (pictured).

Prior to the acquisition, Xilam laid out new plans to move beyond its 2D focus into CG and 3D, starting with its first CG-animated series Oggy Oggy. Netflix picked up the preschool series in October, while Xilam retained second-window global linear TV distribution and merchandising rights for the series.

Beyond preschool content, Xilam has been rapidly growing its global offerings recently, also teaming up with Netflix on the feature I Lost My Body, which is nominated for a best animated film Oscar this year. It is also rebooting Chip ‘n’ Dale for Disney+.