New York’s Baboon Animation is joining forces with Tokyo/LA-based indie studio Custom Nuts.
The companies’ respective founders, Mike de Seve and Silas Hickey, signed a co-production deal yesterday (October 17) at MIPCOM. The plan is to work together on some laugh-out-loud animated shows, says Joe Vitale, Baboon’s head of series.
The new partners share a business strategy of bringing IPs from outside of North America to international audiences. Custom Nuts, which opened its doors in 2019, is focused on slapstick and anime-inspired content that can sell globally. Baboon has a similar approach, with a focus on bringing IPs from Africa to global viewers. It also co-produces the superhero comedy series Garbage Boy & Trash Can for Cartoon Network Africa.
This is the second co-pro partnership for Custom Nuts this year; it signed an agreement with Banijay-owned prodco Beyond Entertainment in February.
Pictured left to right: Mike de Seve and Silas Hickey at MIPCOM.