Sebastien Rossi has been promoted from head of CG to creative director of Gaumont Animation’s kids & family division in advance of Annecy, where the team will be introducing four new comedy series for viewers ages six to 11.  

A co-pro with Studio 100, Ash is about a 13-year-old who discovers she’s half-human and half-fairy. Armed with new powers she has yet to master, Ash sets out to save her parents from her evil fairy aunt. 

Gaumont has reteamed with Scholastic Entertainment (the companies previously made Stillwater together) to co-produce Fortune Falls, a book-based concept set in a town where people let luck determine everything in their lives. Young protagonist Sadie sets out to debunk these superstitions and defy the odds.

The studio is also adapting two graphic novels: Agent 9 (TK x 11 minutes) is based on James Burks’ series at Penguin Random House about a blundering secret agent who tries to stop an evil organization; and Snapdragon (published by First Second Books) is described as a mix between Wednesday and Gravity Falls, starring a 12-year-old girl who moves to a strange new town and has to unravel its mystery.

Rossi will continue to oversee visual development in his new role, as well as developing and producing animated series and films. He reports to division president Terry Kalagian. Before joining Gaumont in 2021, Rossi worked as a CG supervisor at Fortiche Production (Arcane), as head of FX at TeamTO (Skylanders Academy) and as an FX supervisor at Mikros Image (Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods).