Two former Antefilms execs have leveraged their knowledge of the European animation market to attract a Japanese backer for their production start-up. Helmed by Eric Garnet and Anne de Galard, GO-N Productions will develop and finance new series concepts, working closely with its Tokyo-based minority partner GDH.

GO-N initially plans to develop three projects a year, first working the concepts up to the pilot stage and then securing production and financing partners to take over. Garnet maintains that GO-N will never be a volume production outfit. Instead, the shop will specialize in creative and research work, as well as securing funding. Although no deals are finalized yet, Garnet says the company is looking at two properties developed by French children’s book authors, and he’s also interested in setting up international co-productions.

GDH subsidiary Gonzo Animation will have first dibs on producing GO-N’s projects, and GDH plans to leverage its connection to the French company as an entrée into the European market. Garnet says Gonzo, which has turned around five series a year since 2001 and is currently working on two feature films, would like to branch out from its adult anime comfort zone (Last Exile and Samurai 7). ‘Gonzo is a dynamic company that’s very commercially aggressive and very interested in Europe right now,’ he says.

GO-N’s main focus will be TV shows and feature films for four- to 12-year-olds because Garnet feels that’s where the bulk of the kids market resides. The company is open to almost anything, as long as it’s graphically driven and appeals to both boys and girls.