French financing outfit BackUp Films is investing in several new productions through its Cofanim fund for animated projects.

The company is providing production finance for two new features, an adaptation of Philippe Chatel’s popular musical Emilie Jolie, produced by TéléImages Kids, part of Zodiak Entertainment, and Pinocchio, co-produced by Cometa Films in Italy, Iris Productions in Luxemburg, France’s 2d3D and Belgium’s Walking The Dog. Enzo D’Alo directs the film. “It’s faithful to the original story but the animation is very innovative and contemporary,” says Jean-Baptiste Babin, one of BackUp’s founding partners.

BackUp has also struck development deals with Persepolis producer Je Suis Bien Content and Planet Nemo.

The company is also providing production finance for a range of TV series including Toon Factory’s My Friend Grompf, Xilam’s Zig and Sharko, Moonscoop’s Casper the Friendly Ghost, and Mouk, produced by Millimages.

Launched three years ago, BackUp’s Cofanim fund invests in French-qualified animated features and TV series and is worth around $6m for 2010. “There aren’t that many private funds that are solely devoted to animation,” Babin says. “This is another example of BackUp trying to meet producers’ needs.”