French distributor APC Kids is launching its own production company, Zephyr Animation, to develop original kids projects and co-develop/co-produce properties with global partners.

Run by APC Kids partners Lionel Marty, Emmanuelle Guilbart and Laurent Boissel, the new Paris-based studio has tapped former Xilam head writer and story editor David Sauerwein as its chief creative officer. He will oversee and manage all of Zephyr’s projects, with a keen focus on shows for preschoolers and kids ages six to nine that play in a wide variety of genres, from action-adventure to comedy.

The company’s first project out of the gate is animated comedy Adoonga (pictured) from South Korea’s Vooz (Pucca). This 52 x 11-minute series will be developed and produced by Zephyr and Vooz, with APC Kids handling global distribution and licensing rights everywhere except Asia and Latin America.

Expected to launch in 2021, Adoonga is about an adventurous gorilla who trades in jungle life for big-city living. Zephyr is also planning to announce a trio of new projects ahead of next month’s MIPCOM market in Cannes.

APC Kids is the children’s entertainment distribution arm of boutique financier and distributor About Premium Content, based in London. Its growing portfolio of animated kids content features The Memories of Nanette, Zoli & Pokey and preschool series Kid-E-Cats, which airs on Nick Jr. (globally), YLE (Finland), Turner’s Cartoonito (Italy) and HBO (Spain).

It is also the exclusive distributor for Genius Brands International’s Rainbow Rangers preschool series across EMEA, including Russia and ex-CIS countries.