Popular series gets 7-million-euro budget for new season, co-financed by France Télévisions, Super RTL, COFIMAGE 34, SOFITVCINE 11, and CNC; use of ‘Sherlock’ asset bank allows creatives to tap and reuse models, animations, and special effects from previous episodes to produce new ones.
Watch Next has greenlit Season 3 of the 2D animated series Nate is Late (52 X 11') following its success on France Télévisions and Super RTL in the digital space and internationally. Since its October 2018 launch, the show has continuously broadcast on France Télévision's linear channels in favorable before- and after-school time slots. It has also gained popularity on non-linear platforms, including OKOO, Netflix, OCS, Amazon, and YouTube Kids.
Internationally distributed by Kids First, a subsidiary of Watch Next, Nate is Late has been picked up by territories on major channels and platforms such as Super RTL in Germany; Pop in the U.K.; Clan in Spain; SVT in Sweden; RTS in Switzerland; VRT in Belgium; Star in Greece; TRT in Turkey; MBC in the Middle East; Gloobs in Brazil; TV5 in Canada; Channel 9 in Australia; Tencent in China; and TVB in Hong Kong.
Created by Sylvain Huchet and Peter Saisselin and co-directed by Edouard Kuchiman and Gaultier Buiret, the show will receive a Season 3 budget of seven million euros, co-financed by France Télévisions, Super RTL, COFIMAGE 34, SOFITVCINE 11, and CNC. The production will be housed completely in Europe at Watch Next's group studios, including La Factorie in Paris and Lille and Animato in Torino. The relocation of production is possible through "Sherlock," an asset bank developed by Watch Next to manage the reuse of models, animations, and special effects from previous episodes.
"In a matter of days, we can index a bank containing several seasons with thousands of files without altering the server's sources,” explained Watch Next Studios director Jules Garcia. “Sherlock generates the display of static or animated thumbnails immediately accessible and reusable by teams at all stages of production. This is a crucial factor in avoiding production relocation."
"This new season showcases the narrative potential of the concept, the universe, and the series' characters,” added Watch Next Media founder and CEO Philippe Alessandri. “It demonstrates the synergy we have been able to create between the different studios within the group in France and Italy."
Source: Watch Next
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
