Veteran animation executive Doug Schwalbe has launched The Co-Production Company, a boutique production firm specializing in finance and distribution arrangements for international productions.
The company is backed by France’s Superprod Group, whose animation arm co-produced Cartoon Saloon’s Song of the Sea and the cg feature White Fang. Schwalbe, a former svp of co-production at Dreamworks Animation Television, will identify marquee IP and creative talent for Superprod as it expands into live-action family content.
His new venture has also struck a multi-series deal with U.K. private equity firm Impact X Capital, which covers African-inspired shows with Roye Okupe’s Youneek Studios, including Iyanu, Child of Wonder. Dark Horse Comics acquired Youneek’s library of ten graphic novels in January, and it was announced then that Okupe was developing an animated series with investment from Impact X Capital and Schwalbe as executive producer.
