A new animation distributor called Moon Keys International Content has entered the global market, with ex-Mikros Animation MD Boris Hertzog (pictured, left) leading the charge. 

Exclusively focused on kids and family content, the Paris-based company launched quietly late last year and has been building out a senior leadership team that can ramp up its core business of developing, financing and selling animated series and movies.

For 2024, Moon Key’s goal is to invest in two or three TV projects and two or three feature films, most of which will be French-language. The company has already teamed up with OuiDO Productions (Schlump, Ooscar!!!!) and several other as-yet-unannounced partners to put together a development slate consisting of four animated series and two features. Project details are still under wraps.

From 2025 on, the plan will be to finance and distribute five series and five movies a year, as well as diversifying to cover more genres and target audiences.  The company is currently in talks with producers in Poland, Spain, the US and Mexico. 

Moon Keys is backed by Lift Value (a holding company owned by Hertzog and Gilbert Saada), investment fund Movie One and family holding company CYD Partners. And it will use this backing to provide its partners with support including development financing, presale negotiation in select territories and co-production investment.      

In addition to Mikros, Hertzog (pictured) previously served as a managing director at Technicolor Animation Productions and OuiDO Productions. His kids content credits include Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks, Sonic Boom, Mini Wolf and The Legendaries.

In April, Moon Keys brought in Isabelle Aghina (pictured, right) as director of distribution and acquisitions for TV series. She had previously spent the last 10 years working in leadership roles at Mediawan Kids & Family, where she co-founded and managed the distribution arm that successfully sold Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir and The Little Prince and His Friends. And before that, Aghina spent time at Lagardère, VIZ Media Europe, Marathon Media (now Zodiak Kids), Disney France and Saban. 

Going forward, she will work closely with Moon Keys COO and former Apple France CFO Yvan Depierre, head of development Benoît Pierre, head of partnerships Candice Baudet, and head of communications and marketing Clémentine Mellier.