Montreal: L’Equipe Spectra has expanded its TV production capacity with the launch of Spectra Animation, headed by veteran producer Andre A. Belanger. Belanger (Fennec, Bob Morane, The Fly), founded Cactus Animation in 1995. That company was subsequently integrated into Coscient Group-Motion International where Belanger created a 3D production studio. He holds a third of the shares in the new company. Spectra, headed by president Alain Simard and VP television sector and finance Luc Chatelain, holds two-thirds.

Spectra Animation will start with minority coproduction projects with Europe, but the goal is to invest in development and create a valuable proprietary catalogue, says Belanger. ‘The third step will be to look into organizing an international distribution [unit].’

Spectra Animation will establish a ‘key creative’ production studio in Montreal once contracts are signed. Belanger’s partners in Europe have included Ellipsanime, Editions Dupuis and Marathon Productions.

‘I also want to explore Canadian coproduction and I have some contacts at [Vancouver’s] Bardel Animation. I’d like to create a strong link with one company so we can develop together,’ he says.

Belanger (Pirates, Papyrus, Xcalibur) met with potential coproducers in Paris in early October before moving on to MIPCOM. Six of his animation series coproductions (since 1995) have been sold to France 3.

Belanger says he has the full support of Spectra’s infrastructure, including communications, distribution and financing, and says he looks forward to a reconfiguration and resurgence of the animation industry in Montreal.

L’Equipe Spectra’s TV sector includes five production companies. In addition to Spectra Animation, they are music, doc and performing arts producer Amerimage-Spectra, headed by Pierre L. Touchette; Canadian and international drama producer Productions Bleu Blanc Rouge, headed by Suzanne Girard; youth and French-track drama producer Productions Sogestalt, headed by Pierre Beaudry; and variety and doc producer Sogestalt 2001, headed by Guy Latraverse.

-www.equipespectra.ca