EXCLUSIVE: Toy firm Wyncor and French toon house OuiDo! Productions have formed a worldwide distribution operation, as they team to produce a pair of animated series.

Wyncor Content Distribution becomes the latest player on the international sales market, with both sides taking a 50% stake in the joint venture.

The rationale for Sandrine Nguyen and Boris Hertzog’s OuiDo!, known for work on the likes of ALVINNN!!! and The Chipmunks and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+, is scaling its portfolio of IP internationally, while toy firm Wyncor is seeking to create a franchise-focused entertainment model. Last year, we revealed the company had hired former Disney and Mediawan exec Eric Rouillé to begin the push into distribution.

The sales company’s formation could be seen as a bright spark in the troubled global animation sector, with many shows struggling for financing and distribution complicated by direct-to-consumer models. France’s widely-respected toon sector has been hit harder than most, with several major companies such as Cyber Group Studios going to the wall amid the financial crisis in animation.

At the center of Wyncor and OuiDo!’s new pact are animated shows The Kwaaks! and Babs!, both 52-part series for children.

The Kwaaks! is based on Wyncor’s collectible plush toy brand, which recently launched at Toys “R” Us and Tiy Kingdom. Aiming at kids 5-8 and families, the action-comedy being billed as a “bold new twist to the superhero genre.” Set in Sunny City, it follows five superheroes who accidentally transform into extraordinary hybrid creatures called The Kwaaks! after a battle with a rogue tech villain. They have to master their new forms, while protecting the city.

OuiDo! is taking a 40% stake in the brand as part of the development, which the partners claim underscores “long-term franchise potential.”

The second show is Babs!, a CG-animated adventure series about a girl who can talk to animals. She runs a one-of-a-kind babysitting service for animals from across the globe, and uses creativity, teamwork and heart to save the day alongside her best friends.

“This is a defining moment for Wyncor,” said Julian Jacob, founder and CEO of Wyncor. “We are building a new kind of entertainment company – one where products, storytelling, and audience engagement are developed hand-in-hand from day one. Partnering with OuiDo! allows us to scale that vision globally with world-class creative and production expertise.”

Jacob founded Wyncor as a ‘toystech’ company in 2022, but is better known as an investor on Qui veut être mon associé, the French version of Shark Tank. Besides developing and making its own IP, Wyncor also manufactures and distributes toys based on franchises such as Dungeons & Dragons, Paw Patrol, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, SpongeBob SquarePants and Transformers. The company has teams based in the U.S., France, Spain, China, the UK and Latin America.

As for OuiDo!, the deal comes soon after it launched Disney+ seroes MagiCampers, and counts new seasons of shows such as Sonic Boom, Monchhichi and Gus – The Itsy Bitsy Knight as recent credits. The Paris-based toon maker is part of OuiDo! Media Group, which animation industry veterans Nguyen and Hertzog run to create TV shows and feature films.

“At OuiDo!, we believe IP needs to be built from day one with both creative vision and market reality in mind,” said Nguyen. “Wyncor’s product-first approach is incredibly complementary to our experience in premium animation and international co-productions. Together, we are uniquely positioned to launch standout franchises to resonate with audiences worldwide.”