Cyber Group Studios, a leading producer and distributor of animated series, has acquired a majority stake in award-winning Italian animation studio Graphilm Entertainment. The acquisition will increase Cyber Group Studios’ creative and production capabilities to meet content demands in the European region and globally.

The strategic partnership will also provide Graphilm Entertainment with major development opportunities for its own productions and original creations, thanks to the resources of Cyber Group Studios’ development and production facilities, and worldwide distribution network. In addition, Cyber Group Studios will benefit from access to Graphilm Entertainment’s catalogue of kids and family content.

Founded in Rome in 1988 by Maurizio Forestieri, the company’s CEO, Graphilm Entertainment is a leading animation production company that has received numerous awards, among them three prestigious Pulcinella, including the Best Italian studio Award.

Graphilm’s latest feature animation movie, The Case, has received eight awards. These include Best Animated Film at the NYIFA – New York International Film Awards, Best Director at the New York Animation Film Awards in December 2021 and Best Animation at the Tokyo Film Awards this year. Originally commissioned by RAI (Italy), The Case was the most watched Italian feature animation movie on RAI’s channels in 2021.

Cyber Group Studios and Graphilm Entertainment already have a history of working together. The companies are behind the animated series Nefertine on The Nile, produced in partnership with RAI (Italy). The series received a Pulcinella Award for Best Pilot at Cartoons on the Bay.

In 2022, the companies will coproduce Alex Player (26 x 22’ CGI), an original Cyber Group Studios and Bee Prod creation (France). Commissioned by France Télévisions (France) and RAI (Italy), this new action-comedy series will be the very first kids’ animated program about E-Sports mixing 2D, CG and real-time animation technology. The companies will also work on an original Graphilm Entertainment creation entitled In the middle.

Cyber Group Studios, based in France, the US, UK and Singapore, recently announced acquisition of a majority stake in A Productions, one of the leading multi award-winning UK studios. In 2022, Cyber Group Studios has a roster of 10 series in production and over 10 more in development for linear broadcasters and platforms across all age groups from preschool to young adults.

Maurizio Forestieri, Founder and CEO of Graphilm Entertainment, says: “I created our company 34 years ago and this association with Cyber Group Studios holds many promising projects and new original creations with partners we already know well and respect.”