Xilam & UGC: A Strategic Alliance to Build an 'Empire' of Content

PARIS, FRANCE – December 11, 2025

In an industry often defined by quarterly earnings and fleeting trends, a truly resilient company is one that makes bold, strategic investments in long-term value. This week, two of France's most formidable media players, animation powerhouse Xilam Animation and audiovisual leader UGC, announced a partnership that exemplifies such foresight. The two are joining forces to adapt Bernard Werber’s globally bestselling novel, Empire of the Ants, into a major television series. More than just another content deal, this collaboration represents a calculated fusion of creative and commercial strengths, designed to create a durable, high-value asset capable of competing on the world stage.

A Partnership Forged in Ambition

On the surface, the partnership is a logical marriage of expertise. Xilam, an Academy Award-nominated studio renowned for its animation prowess in hits like Oggy and the Cockroaches and the critically acclaimed feature I Lost My Body, will helm the complex visual effects required to bring the novel's intricate ant world to life. UGC, a titan in French film production, distribution, and cinema operation, brings its extensive experience in live-action production and a powerful distribution network to manage the human-centric narrative of the series.

This division of labor allows each company to focus on its core competency, mitigating the immense risks of a project this ambitious. The adaptation is planned as a hybrid production—live-action for the human investigation into the mysterious death of an ant expert, and photo-realistic visual effects for the parallel political drama unfolding within the ant colony. This approach is not only creatively necessary but also a sound business strategy. By leveraging Xilam's specialized animation talent, the project can achieve a level of visual fidelity for the ant world that would be prohibitively expensive or technically impossible for a traditional live-action studio to develop from scratch.

For Xilam, this project aligns perfectly with a stated strategic shift towards developing longer-cycle proprietary projects. While such investments can cause short-term revenue dips as resources are allocated, they are intended to build a library of owned intellectual property that generates returns for years to come. By co-producing a series based on a proven, globally recognized IP, Xilam is not just creating content; it is building a flagship asset with significant international sales potential, diversifying its portfolio beyond its beloved children's programming into prestige family entertainment.

Reviving a Literary Juggernaut

The choice of Empire of the Ants is itself a masterstroke of leveraging dormant value. Published 35 years ago, Bernard Werber's novel has sold over seven million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 30 languages, creating a vast, built-in audience. The book’s enduring appeal lies in its unique blend of science fiction, philosophical inquiry, and suspense thriller. It masterfully creates a fascinating alien world under our feet, forcing readers to question human-centric perspectives and consider complex ideas about communication, society, and intelligence.

The novel’s dual-narrative structure, however, also presents a significant adaptation challenge. Past attempts to bring the story to screen have faltered, but the current television series format is arguably the ideal medium to do justice to its parallel plots. The creative team assembled for the task underscores the project's commitment to quality. Writer Vladimir Haulet is adept at navigating different tones and formats, having penned both the acclaimed live-action dramedy Mixte for Amazon and successful animated series for Netflix and the BBC. His involvement signals an understanding that the series must succeed as both a human-led mystery and an epic, character-driven story about ants.

Author Bernard Werber’s enthusiastic endorsement lends crucial credibility. “I am thrilled to see Empire of the Ants finally come to life on screen,” he stated in the announcement. “This adaptation from such creative powerhouses as UGC and Xilam will bring a unique level of ambition to my universe.” This blessing is vital for engaging the novel's loyal fanbase from the outset.

The Hybrid Frontier: Artistry Meets Technology

To bring the ant world to life with the required realism, the producers have enlisted a team of world-class VFX specialists. This investment in top-tier talent is a clear indicator that Xilam and UGC are aiming for a final product that sets a new industry benchmark. The VFX direction is co-led by Nicolas Deveaux, a director celebrated for his stunningly realistic CGI animals in short films like 7 tonnes 2 and 5m80. His expertise in rendering lifelike creatures with poetic flair is precisely what is needed to make the ant protagonists relatable and believable.

He is joined by Quentin Reubrecht, a lead storyboarder on the visually groundbreaking animated series Arcane and a contributor to Xilam's own I Lost My Body. Reubrecht’s experience with complex, high-stakes visual storytelling in a sophisticated animated format will be instrumental in choreographing the series' intricate action sequences and dramatic moments within the ant colony. Together, this team is poised to navigate the fine line between scientific accuracy and narrative drama, creating a visual experience that feels both authentic and emotionally resonant.

Navigating the Global Streaming Gauntlet

The decision to produce Empire of the Ants for a family audience is a strategic maneuver to capture the broadest possible market. In the current streaming landscape, high-concept, family-friendly genre content is a proven winner, as seen with the success of Disney+'s Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Amazon's Fallout. These shows demonstrate that well-executed adaptations of beloved properties can attract large, multi-generational audiences and become cornerstone franchises for streaming platforms.

By targeting this demographic, Xilam and UGC are positioning the series as a premium, must-have acquisition for global distributors and streaming services. While the French market is a natural starting point, the project’s ambition is clearly international. The universal themes of the novel, combined with cutting-edge production values, make it a strong candidate for global success, capable of delivering the kind of reliable, long-tail returns that define a resilient media investment. This venture is more than an adaptation; it is a declaration that French creative industries can produce world-class content that not only entertains but also endures.