Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel

Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel is a Belgian audiovisual production company and label focused on developing animated television series and feature films from established comic-book properties. The business originated as the audiovisual division of Dupuis, the Marcinelle-based Belgian publisher associated with Franco-Belgian comics. Its activities have included production, international distribution and the development of screen adaptations based on characters and series from the Dupuis publishing catalogue and related rights holders. The company’s work sits at the intersection of publishing and animation. Rather than operating primarily as a consumer-facing broadcaster or standalone studio with a broad original-fiction slate, Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel has historically used the intellectual property portfolio of Dupuis and partner companies as the basis for animated productions. This model links comic publishing, licensing, television commissioning and international sales. Notable properties associated with its activities include The Smurfs and Living with Dad, the animated adaptation of the comic series Dad. In the early 2000s, the organization also operated an international distribution and licensing structure. In September 2002, its distribution division, Dupuis Audiovisuel International, appointed Christophe Vervaeke to manage licensing rights in Dutch-speaking territories. This indicates that the company’s role extended beyond production into territory-specific commercial exploitation of audiovisual and character rights. A major corporate change took place in June 2004, when Média-Participations acquired Dupuis, including Dupuis Audiovisuel and the animation studio Belvision. The transaction expanded Média-Participations’ animation capabilities alongside its existing French animation interests, including Dargaud Marina and Ellipsanime. Following the acquisition, Dupuis Audiovisuel’s distribution activities were integrated into Dargaud Marina’s distribution operation, Dargaud Distribution, which also assumed responsibility for the existing production library and future television distribution. Dupuis Audiovisuel consequently became part of a larger publishing-and-animation group rather than operating as an independent audiovisual business. The company continued to participate in major franchise-led animation projects. In 2017, it partnered with IMPS, the company responsible for managing The Smurfs intellectual property, through Peyo Productions to develop a new television version of the globally recognized franchise. In 2020, Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel announced Living with Dad for French broadcaster M6. The project involved several companies within the Média-Participations animation network, including DreamWall, Ellipse Studio Angoulême and Madlab Animations, illustrating the group’s use of distributed production resources across Belgium and France. In June 2022, Média-Participations reorganized its French animation production labels under Ellipse Animation. Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel, Dargaud Media, Ellipsanime Productions and the group’s Paris- and Angoulême-based studio operations were brought together within the new umbrella. Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel therefore moved from being principally identified with the publishing company Dupuis to functioning as a label within a consolidated animation production group. It remained involved in developing and producing animated series while benefiting from Ellipse Animation’s shared production and distribution infrastructure.

Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel developed from the audiovisual activities of Dupuis, the Belgian comic-book publisher based in Marcinelle. Its role was to bring comic properties into television and film while also supporting the licensing and distribution of audiovisual rights. The company’s catalogue and business model were therefore closely tied to the publishing operation and to the international popularity of Franco-Belgian comics. By September 2002, the business had an international distribution structure known as Dupuis Audiovisuel International. That division appointed Christophe Vervaeke to manage licensing rights in Dutch-speaking countries, demonstrating the company’s involvement in territory-based rights management as well as production. Its audiovisual activities were designed to extend the commercial life of comic characters through animated programs and related licensing arrangements. In June 2004, Média-Participations acquired Dupuis, including Dupuis Audiovisuel and the animation studio Belvision. The acquisition strengthened the French media group’s position in animation and added Dupuis-related production capabilities to its existing interests, including Dargaud Marina and Ellipsanime. As part of the post-acquisition organization, Dupuis Audiovisuel’s distribution arm was folded into Dargaud Marina’s Dargaud Distribution operation. Dargaud Distribution took over the existing production library and became responsible for distributing subsequent television series, while Dupuis Audiovisuel continued as a production-oriented entity within the enlarged group. The company later worked on franchise-based productions with external rights holders. In 2017, it partnered with IMPS, the organization managing The Smurfs brand, through Peyo Productions to produce a new television adaptation of the internationally known comic franchise. This partnership reflected the company’s emphasis on recognizable intellectual property and its ability to combine publisher-linked production resources with third-party licensing relationships. In June 2020, Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel announced Living with Dad, an animated adaptation of the Dad comic series for French broadcaster M6. Caroline Duvochel served as executive producer. Animation services were assigned to a network that included DreamWall in Belgium, Ellipse Studio Angoulême in France and Madlab Animations, a joint venture involving Ellipsanime Productions and Ankama Animations. The project illustrated how the company operated within a wider production ecosystem rather than relying on a single in-house facility. A further structural change came in June 2022, when Média-Participations created Ellipse Animation as an umbrella for its French animation production labels and studio operations. Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel, Dargaud Media, Ellipsanime Productions and the group’s Paris and Angoulême studio activities were consolidated within that organization. Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel consequently became an animation label under Ellipse Animation, while retaining its connection to Dupuis-originated properties and its role in developing animated series and films. Publicly available reference material identifies the label’s continuing function but does not provide a complete current executive roster, standalone financial profile or independent website.

• 2022

  Integration into Ellipse Animation

  [1]Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuelen.wikipedia.org

  Média-Participations grouped Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel and other animation labels and studios under Ellipse Animation.

• 2020

  Living with Dad announced

  [1]Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuelen.wikipedia.org

  Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel announced an animated adaptation of Dad for French broadcaster M6.

• 2017

  Smurfs television partnership

  [1]Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuelen.wikipedia.org

  Dupuis Audiovisuel partnered with IMPS through Peyo Productions on a television reboot of The Smurfs.

• 2004

  Acquisition by Média-Participations

  [1]Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuelen.wikipedia.org

  Média-Participations acquired Dupuis, including Dupuis Audiovisuel and Belvision, bringing the audiovisual business into a larger publishing and animation group.

• 2002

  International licensing expansion

  [1]Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuelen.wikipedia.org

  Dupuis Audiovisuel International appointed Christophe Vervaeke to manage licensing rights in Dutch-speaking territories.

A comic-book-driven animation production label that converts established Dupuis and partner-owned intellectual properties into television and film projects for Belgian, French and international markets.

• Animated television franchise · 2017

  The Smurfs

  Dupuis Audiovisuel partnered with IMPS through Peyo Productions on a television reboot of The Smurfs. The project drew on one of the best-known European comic properties and exemplified the label’s focus on adapting established intellectual property for international animated television.

• Animated television series · 2020

  Living with Dad

  Living with Dad is an animated adaptation of the Dad comic series announced for French broadcaster M6 in 2020. Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel was involved as producer, with animation services shared across DreamWall, Ellipse Studio Angoulême and Madlab Animations.

• 2022

  Consolidate animation labels under Ellipse AnimationStrategy

  Background

  Média-Participations reorganized its animation activities to bring several production labels and studio operations under a single umbrella.

  Action taken

  Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel, Dargaud Media, Ellipsanime Productions and related studios were grouped within Ellipse Animation.

  Aftermath

  Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuel became a label of Ellipse Animation rather than operating primarily as an audiovisual division of the publishing company Dupuis.

  Source

• 2004

  Join Média-Participations’ expanded animation groupM&A

  Background

  Média-Participations acquired Dupuis and sought to increase its audiovisual production capacity by combining Dupuis Audiovisuel and Belvision with its existing animation interests.

  Action taken

  Dupuis Audiovisuel entered the Média-Participations group, while its distribution activities were integrated into Dargaud Distribution.

  Aftermath

  The production library and future television distribution were handled through Dargaud Distribution, and Dupuis Audiovisuel operated within the group’s broader animation structure.

  Source

1. 1Dupuis Edition & Audiovisuelen.wikipedia.org