Cartoon Net Buys Ani Series 'lyoko'

French animation studio Antefilms said Monday that it has sold "Code Lyoko" to Cartoon Network U.S., marking the second cartoon series the company has sold to an American channel and the first under its new sales label Moonscoop Distribution.

"Code Lyoko" is set to air beginning April 19 as one of the highlights of Cartoon Network's new action-adventure block, Miguzi. The series, aimed at 6- to 10-year-olds, uses a mix of 2-D and 3-D animation and is about a secret world next door to a school where the show's protagonists become superheroes.

"Lyoko" aired on pubcaster France 3 last fall and pulled in an 18%-20% market share.

Antefilms had previously sold its series "Funky Cops" to the Fox Box-branded block, and is currently producing a second season of the show about two incompetent cops who become disco stars by night.

"It's not easy to penetrate the U.S. market, but once you've made an inroad, they're more open," Antefilms co-CEO Benoit di Sabatino said. "The success of 'Funky Cops' and 'Spy Kids' (produced by Paris-based Marathon) has done a lot to open doors."

Moonscoop was formed after Antefilms acquired rival studio France Animation in November. Titles acquired with France Animation include "Little Vampire" and the international hit "Titeuf."

Moonscoop, which has a combined catalog of some 1,600 half-hour episodes, will sell programming from both studios, which will continue to produce under their own names.

Elsewhere, children's rights specialist Entertainment Rights said Monday that it has signed a pan-European broadcast deal with Turner Broadcasting System Europe for "Duel Masters," its new animated series for boys.

"Duel Masters," based on the popular Japanese Manga comic, began airing March 4 on Cartoon Network and Toonami — Turner's new action-adventure channel for boys — across Europe, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia and central and eastern Europe.

Sam Andrews in London contributed to this report