Buyer Database · Sales Agent · Updated

Charades

Charades is a Paris-based sales agent with a proven track record in festival-circuit feature animation, representing Oscar-nominated titles and actively selling prestige animated features across European and Asian territories.

Current mandate

Charades is currently in active discussions with buyers in several European territories for "We Are Aliens," signaling a live sales campaign for festival-driven animated content. The company positions itself as a multi-genre, director-driven sales agent with particular depth in feature animation, a segment where it has built a demonstrable market reputation. Its slate prioritizes prestige festival credentials, with Cannes and Annecy serving as key launchpads, and its territorial focus spans active Asian markets including South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand, alongside the European discussions currently underway.

Recent representation activity underscores the breadth of Charades' animation mandate. The company is partnering with Anton on worldwide sales of "Memoir of a Snail," the Adam Elliot-directed feature that received major production investment from Screen Australia and was developed in association with VicScreen, with financing support from multiple partners including the Melbourne International Film Festival Premiere Fund. Charades' involvement in that project dates from its earliest stages, reflecting a pattern of early-stage attachment to auteur-driven animation rather than late-stage acquisition.

Sellers and producers seeking representation should approach Charades with festival-credentialed animated features that carry a distinctive directorial voice and emotionally resonant storytelling. The company's appetite, as evidenced by its slate and executive commentary, runs toward projects with international co-production structures, particularly those with Japanese or French creative components, and a balance of artistic ambition and broad audience appeal. Early-stage outreach aligned with Annecy or Cannes market cycles is consistent with how the company has historically engaged with new projects.

Signature peaks

  • 2 titles Oscar-Nominated Animation Sales — Mirai and I Lost My Body; both handled by Charades on international sales
  • 38 records Activity Signals (12 months) — Total tracked records over the past 12 months, with 32 decision makers monitored
  • 400+ titles Anton Co-Production Slate — Anton, Charades' partner on Memoir of a Snail, has produced and/or financed more than 400 titles including Paddington and Shaun The Sheep

Mandate dimensions

Genre focus
animation
Territory focus
Asia (South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand); active discussions in European territories
Budget tier (observed)
Not disclosed
Access pattern
Approach Charades through Annecy or Cannes market cycles, where the company has historically attached to projects at early stages. Festival credentials and a strong directorial voice are the clearest entry points. The company's co-head Carole Baraton is a tracked decision maker for animation representation conversations. With 32 decision makers monitored across the organization, the team is structured enough to support formal submission inquiries timed to market calendars.
Deal structure
Charades operates as a worldwide sales agent, handling international rights territory by territory. On "Memoir of a Snail," the company is partnering with Anton on worldwide sales, indicating a co-sales model is within its deal structure repertoire. The company's involvement in financing structures, as seen with "Memoir of a Snail" (Screen Australia, VicScreen, MIFF Premiere Fund), suggests it can engage beyond pure sales agency into co-production and financing association roles on select projects. Pre-sales at festival markets are consistent with its animation slate approach.

Market context

"Charades co-head Carole Baraton described being part of the project 'from its earliest stages', indicating early-stage involvement in director-driven projects."

Aligns with growing international appetite for festival-circuit animation, particularly Japanese-French co-productions with distinctive artistic approaches

Common questions about Charades

What films does Charades represent for international sales?

Charades currently represents 'Memoir of a Snail,' the Adam Elliot-directed animated feature produced with Screen Australia, Anton, VicScreen, and the Melbourne International Film Festival Premiere Fund, on worldwide sales in partnership with Anton. The company also has an active campaign underway for 'We Are Aliens.' Its broader animation track record includes international sales on Oscar-nominated features 'Mirai' and 'I Lost My Body,' reflecting a consistent focus on auteur-driven, festival-credentialed animated features.

Does Charades handle pre-sales and early-stage projects?

Yes. Charades co-head Carole Baraton has described the company's involvement in 'Memoir of a Snail' as beginning 'from its earliest stages,' indicating a clear appetite for pre-sales and early attachment on director-driven projects. This early-stage model is consistent with the company's broader positioning around festival-circuit animation, where pre-sales at markets such as Annecy or Cannes are a standard financing tool for the types of international co-productions Charades gravitates toward.

Which markets does Charades sell into?

Charades is actively selling into Asian territories including South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand. The company is also currently in active discussions with buyers in several European territories for 'We Are Aliens.' Its festival-driven slate, with credentials from Cannes and Annecy, positions it well across both European and Asia-Pacific buying communities, where appetite for distinctive, artistically ambitious animated features has been growing according to recent market coverage.

How do I reach Charades or submit a project for representation consideration?

Charades is best approached through the major international film markets aligned with its slate, particularly Annecy (for animation) and Cannes. The company tracks 32 decision makers according to current intelligence, suggesting a structured internal team. Outreach timed to festival market cycles, with a project that carries festival credentials or a strong directorial pedigree, is consistent with how Charades has historically engaged. Producers with international co-production structures, particularly French or Japanese creative components, are well-positioned to initiate conversations.

What are Charades' strongest territories for animation sales?

Based on current activity signals, Charades is most active in Asian territories, specifically South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand. European territories are also a live focus, with active buyer discussions reported for 'We Are Aliens.' The company's recognition as Distributor of the Year at Cartoon Movie in 2022 points to particular strength within the European animation buying community, where Cartoon Movie serves as a primary deal-making forum for animated feature projects.

Is Charades actively acquiring or representing new projects right now?

Charades is currently active in the market, with 38 tracked records over the past 12 months and a latest signal dated June 2026. The company has live sales campaigns running for at least two animated features and is in active discussions with European buyers. Its partnership with Anton on 'Memoir of a Snail' and its ongoing 'We Are Aliens' campaign indicate a fully operational sales slate. Producers with festival-credentialed animated features in development or ready for market are within the company's current mandate.

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