By founding Moon-Keys International Content, Boris Hertzog and Cédric Depierre are leveraging a rare complementarity within the audiovisual industry. Positioned at the intersection of production, finance, and distribution, Moon-Keys aims to offer a fresh perspective on animation. In this joint interview, its founders share their vision for an integrated, globally-minded model designed to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
Moon-Keys may be a young company, but it is built upon extensive experience. Could you briefly share your respective backgrounds and what motivated you to create Moon-Keys International Content?
Boris Hertzog: After more than 20 years as a producer, I felt it was time to expand my scope. Distribution has always been a key challenge for developing our companies. The limited number of independent distributors dedicated to animation leaves room for a new player capable of understanding producers and helping them build their projects.
Cédric Depierre Debord Broca: I have over twenty years of experience in the audiovisual sector, in financing and entrepreneurship. Throughout my career, I became increasingly convinced that international markets and animation are two of the most powerful pillars of the French audiovisual industry. French animation is widely recognised for its world-class expertise and creative excellence. It offers an unlimited narrative and artistic playground, as well as a fertile ground for the development of original IPs. These beliefs led me to co-found Moon-Keys – a company that embraces animation in all its dimensions: series, films, and digital content.
Our ambition is to support IPs capable of evolving across formats. Moon-Keys is also about uniting creative talents around a shared vision.
Your professional paths are clearly complementary. How does this diversity of experience inform your shared vision today?
Boris Hertzog: I’ve been working with Cédric for 15 years. Back when he was a banker, he was always closely involved in supporting our projects—through both the highs and the lows. He has always brought a unique combination of financial acumen and a real sensitivity to the creative and strategic aspects of the business.
The intersection of our two perspectives often sparks meaningful discussions that challenge our thinking and help us grow.
Our shared vision has always been rooted in one key idea, which Cédric held as a banker and still carries as an entrepreneur: how to help producers move their projects forward.
Cédric Depierre Debord Broca: Boris is undoubtedly one of France’s leading animation producers, with deep expertise in international markets—both in identifying strong IPs and understanding global dynamics. He produced Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks, one of the most successful French animated series in recent decades. We’re also fortunate to speak the same language—Boris began his career in corporate law, having founded his own firm.
As for me, my years in banking—where I created and led the Media division of one of France’s top financial institutions—gave me the opportunity to advise numerous entrepreneurs, analyse strategies across the entire value chain, and sharpen my understanding of market dynamics.
I’ve always had a strong inclination toward development and innovation. Our conversations—both with each other and with our teams—are consistently rich, insightful, and focused on building long-term value.
The distribution market is largely dominated by long-established players. What makes Moon-Keys’ approach different?
Cédric Depierre Debord Broca: Moon-Keys is one of the very few international distribution companies that combine genuine expertise in both series and feature films. We’ve assembled highly experienced teams with not only strong market knowledge but also a keen creative eye. We make deliberate, curated choices. The projects we support must carry meaning and demonstrate the potential to connect with an audience. From the outset, we also established a dedicated digital department with a broad definition of digital designed to meet audiences where they are: on streaming platforms, social media, and beyond, complementing theatrical and broadcast strategies.
Moon-Keys aims to bring together cosmopolitan communities from around the world, united by a shared passion for animation in all its creative richness and diversity.
Boris Hertzog: Our distinct backgrounds naturally shape a different approach to distribution – whether in our choice of partners or the way we structure financing. Because we’re fully focused on animation, we know how to invest early and support projects not just through their release, but from the development stage onward. We’re open to exploring alternative financing paths, including innovative or unconventional models.
We don’t operate within a rigid framework – we prefer flexibility, adaptability, and a commitment to the project’s long-term potential.
You’ve chosen an integrated model that includes financing, co-production, and distribution. What is the rationale behind this strategy?
Boris Hertzog: It’s about staying as close as possible to the needs of our partners – and having the agility to adapt to each project’s specific context.
Cédric Depierre Debord Broca: We’re working in an increasingly competitive environment, with fragmented audiences across multiple screens and formats. Bringing together all our areas of expertise is our way of helping partners get their projects off the ground and ultimately ensuring that those stories find their audiences worldwide.
How do you select the projects you support ? Would you say there is a “Moon-Keys signature”?
Boris Hertzog: We evaluate projects through three main lenses not necessarily in this order: the project’s potential, our ability to bring added value, and, perhaps most importantly, the quality of the relationship with the producing partner.
Cédric Depierre Debord Broca: I fully agree. I would add that we place a strong emphasis on consistency avoiding overlap or redundancy within our lineup. Of course, there’s always room for a passion project, which often aligns with the project’s inherent potential: a powerful story, a meaningful message, distinctive visual style, or demonstrated creative craftsmanship.
The recent acquisition of Mikros Animation’s episodic production unit (Technicolor Group) by OuiDO Productions marks a significant shift. How does this move align with your overall strategy?
Boris Hertzog: This operation held particular meaning for me. I co-founded those activities alongside Sandrine Nguyen and co-managed them until 2022. I couldn’t simply walk away from what had been such an important part of my professional journey. More broadly, in a market that remains under pressure, I firmly believe in the strength and momentum of French animation – both in terms of production and distribution.
The presence of OuiDO’s teams within the group Cédric and I are building adds real value and credibility with our partners. Ultimately, our ambition is to be a dedicated, long-term player in the animation sector.
You are now operating within a broader ecosystem that includes OuiDO, Lift Value, TNZPV, Lucky Number, and others. Would you consider this structure a new model for the French animation industry?
Cédric Depierre Debord Broca: In a way, yes. We function as a kind of federation – bound together by commercial agreements, and in some cases, equity partnerships. Each company retains full autonomy, with its own teams and operational leadership. But we collaborate closely, forming alliances rooted in mutual trust and a genuine desire to work together. What unites us is a shared belief in the power of creative synergies. Our complementary expertise allows us to strengthen one another.
Boris Hertzog: Our aim is to build a resilient and diversified ecosystem – one that is capable of supporting long-term investment in animation and contributing to the sector’s evolution, both in France and internationally.
French animation is often praised for its quality but sometimes struggles to reach international markets. How does Moon-Keys intend to meet this challenge?
Boris Hertzog: As a producer, I’ve had the privilege of working on Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks, one of the most widely sold French animated series of the past two decades. Another French series, Miraculous, has become a global phenomenon. With the outstanding productions we support and the strength of our team, I’m confident that we’re well-equipped to rise to this challenge and help our partners achieve global reach.
Cédric Depierre Debord Broca: Animation has historically been one of France’s most successful audiovisual exports. But in today’s intensely competitive environment, there’s always an element of unpredictability. That’s precisely what drives Moon-Keys—to reduce that uncertainty by backing the right projects and finding the right path to bring them to life and connect with audiences worldwide.
What major trends or transformations do you anticipate in the global content market for 2025–2026?
Boris Hertzog: Adult animation and digital-native formats will likely dominate industry conversations. But one of the biggest challenges will be to reduce production costs. This is key to helping producers secure financing more quickly and launch their projects under more favourable conditions.
Cédric Depierre Debord Broca: The international landscape is becoming more complex – far beyond the audiovisual sector alone. Paradoxically, there are more potential buyers than ever, yet many players struggle with limited sales opportunities. The acquisition strategies of major platforms have shifted significantly in recent years. The keyword today is adaptability.
As audiences fragment across formats and platforms, we must diversify, explore new models, and rethink production workflows to align with current market realities. And that’s exactly what global competitors are doing – so we must, too.
What are your ambitions for Moon-Keys over the next five years? How do you envision the company’s role within the global animation industry?
Boris Hertzog: Our ambitions are strong and clearly defined. We aim to establish Moon-Keys as the leading independent distributor dedicated to animation on the global stage.
Cédric Depierre Debord Broca: We want to become a key industry reference – for professionals and audiences alike. Our goal is to be recognised for the diversity and quality of our portfolio: from family features with strong international appeal, to auteur-driven films, from children’s content to adult animation. It’s a broad creative field, and we now have the structure and vision to fully embrace it.