Baobab Studios
Baobab Studios is an independent Emmy-winning animation studio creating transmedia IP across film, TV, VR/AR, Roblox games, and publishing, serving major streamers (Disney+, Netflix, HBO Max), XR hardware platforms (Meta, Apple), and gaming audiences through licensing, production deals, and direct-to-consumer content distribution.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersRedwood City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Baobab Studios does
Baobab Studios is an independent animation studio founded in 2015 by Maureen Fan (former Zynga VP), Eric Darnell (Madagascar franchise director), and Larry Cutler (former Pixar Technical Director), headquartered in Burlingame, California. The company creates transmedia entertainment spanning feature films, animated television series, interactive VR/AR narratives, Roblox games, and children's books, generating revenue through licensing and production deals with major streaming platforms (Disney+, Netflix, HBO Max), VR/AR hardware ecosystems (Meta Quest, Apple Vision Pro), the Roblox gaming platform, and traditional publishing/retail channels. Its core technology combines proprietary interactive narrative platforms with VR character embodiment systems that place audiences inside animated story worlds, supported by deep Hollywood character-animation expertise from Pixar and DreamWorks alumni.
The studio's go-to-market is structured around three primary motions: enterprise production/licensing deals with major streamers and studios, direct-to-consumer distribution of VR/AR experiences through hardware-app-store marketplaces, and Roblox-native publishing that treats gaming ecosystems as franchise incubation engines. The March 2026 acquisition of three high-engagement Roblox games (Natural Disaster Survival with 4.1B+ visits, Barry's Prison Run with 42B+ minutes of playtime) exemplifies the studio's distinctive model of acquiring proven gaming IP for animation adaptation. Backed by strategic investors including Disney and Comcast/NBCUniversal, Baobab has won 10+ Emmy Awards across interactive media and animation categories, and maintains an active development slate including Momoguro (with 9 Story Entertainment for Netflix), The Witchverse and Intercats (for Disney+), and an Emmy-nominated Roblox collectible game (Momoguro: Legends of Uno).
Baobab Studios firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Baobab Studios
- Legal name
- Baobab Studios, Inc.
- Website
- https://baobabstudios.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Baobab Studios is an independent Emmy-winning animation studio creating transmedia IP across film, TV, VR/AR, Roblox games, and publishing, serving major streamers (Disney+, Netflix, HBO Max), XR hardware platforms (Meta, Apple), and gaming audiences through licensing, production deals, and direct-to-consumer content distribution.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Baobab Studios industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animation Studio
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (512110)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Immersive/Interactive Animation (AR/VR/Real-Time) (MPAHACAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- VR/AR/XR Game Studios (MPAFAAAE), Social/UGC & Sandbox Game Studios (Roblox-like) (MPAFAAAF), VR/AR Game Publishing & Distribution (MPAFABAK)
Keywords
Where Baobab Studios is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Redwood City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Baobab Studios business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Film & TV Production: Original animated feature films and television series produced for major streaming platforms and theatrical release. Projects include The School for Good and Evil, The Tiger's Apprentice, Momoguro TV series, Intercats, and The Witchverse.
- Interactive VR/AR Experiences: Immersive virtual reality and augmented reality experiences distributed through Meta Quest, Apple Vision Pro, and other XR platforms. Includes award-winning titles like Invasion!, Asteroids!, Baba Yaga, and Crow: The Legend.
- Gaming/Roblox Content: Original game titles on Roblox platform including Momo Quest, Ninja Parkour, Stunt Simulator, Beast Mode, and other titles with millions of visits. Revenue from Roblox platform engagement.
- Publishing: Book series including The Magic Paintbrush and The Magic Paintbrush: The Guardian's Quest, sold through Amazon and other retail channels.
- Art Books & Merchandise: The Art of Baobab book showcasing behind-the-scenes concept art and character exploration from the studio's projects.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Baobab Studios product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Baobab Studios is an independent animation studio that creates original animated IP and distributes it across multiple formats including interactive VR/AR narratives, animated TV series and feature films for major streaming platforms, Roblox games, and published books. The studio's core offering is the production and transmedia expansion of original animated franchises, with proprietary interactive narrative technology enabling audience participation in animated stories. Content is delivered through enterprise licensing deals with streamers, direct distribution on VR app stores and Roblox, and retail book channels.
Product overview
Baobab Studios is a 10-time Emmy Award-winning independent animation studio specializing in transmedia entertainment at the intersection of film, games, and technology. The company creates original universes and expands content across theaters, streaming, games, and publishing. The portfolio includes TV/Film properties (Intercats, The Witchverse, Momoguro) and Interactive VR Narratives (Baba Yaga, Crow: The Legend, Namoo, Invasion!, Asteroids!, Jack, Bonfire, Paper Birds), published across Disney+, HBO Max, Meta Quest, and Roblox platforms. The company also publishes books (The Magic Paintbrush series, Art of Baobab) and operates an extensive Roblox gaming portfolio (Momo Quest, Momoguro: Legends of Uno, Ninja Parkour, Stunt Simulator, Beast Mode, Snap Together, Find All Breads, Obby But You're A Ragdoll) with over 100 million combined visits, leveraging game ecosystems as a new frontier for franchise development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Intercats (TV Series) A four-quadrant animated workplace comedy series in development at Disney+ about the cats who produce the hysterical cat videos that go viral on the Internet, following a ragtag team of cats aspiring for independence while navigating their own relationships.
- Intercats (Graphic Novel)
Quantifiable outcome
- 10+ Emmy Awards across interactive media and animation categories
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Baobab Studios
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Baobab Studios technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Baobab Studios partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- 9 Story Entertainmentcore9 Story Entertainment is the co-production partner for Momoguro TV series with Baobab Studios, providing animation production expertise.
- Meta (Facebook)coreMeta is a key platform partner providing distribution for Baobab VR experiences on Meta Quest headset platform. Multiple award-winning experiences available on Meta Quest store.
- ApplecoreApple is a platform partner with Baobab experiences available on Apple Vision Pro AR/VR platform.
- Warner Bros. DiscoverycoreWarnerMedia OneFifty acquired Oscar-shortlisted Namoo and When the Sun Sets for HBO Max streaming distribution.
- NetflixcoreNetflix is a streaming distribution partner for Baobab content including the award-winning series Oni: Thunder God's Tale and co-producer of Momoguro.
- RobloxcoreRoblox is a key gaming platform partner hosting Baobab's portfolio of games including Momo Quest and others with 100M+ combined visits. Baobab acquired Roblox games for animation adaptation.
- Oprah WinfreyminorCollaborator who voiced a character in Crow: The Legend interactive VR experience.
- John LegendminorCollaborator who voiced Crow in Crow: The Legend and contributed music to the project.
- Pamela RibonminorWriter of Ralph Breaks the Internet and Moana is developing Intercats animated series with Baobab Studios for Disney+.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Baobab Studios competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Penrose Studios: VR animation studio behind Emmy-nominated Allumette and Arden's Wake, founded by a former Oculus Story Studio head. Direct competitor in cinematic VR animation with the same niche focus on story-driven immersive experiences.
- ILM Immersive (formerly ILMxLAB): Lucasfilm's immersive storytelling division producing VR/AR narrative experiences (Vader Immortal, Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge). Closely comparable as a major-studio-backed VR narrative studio competing for the same premium interactive-animation audience.
- Felix & Paul Studios: Emmy-winning immersive content studio producing high-end VR/AR experiences in partnership with NASA, Cirque du Soleil, and major IP holders. Comparable as a peer-tier VR studio producing premium narrative content for headsets.
- Within (formerly Vrse): VR content studio and distribution platform hosting premium immersive narratives. Direct peer in developing and distributing story-driven VR experiences on Meta Quest and other headsets.
- Magnopus: Immersive entertainment company developing VR/AR/mixed-reality experiences and location-based attractions, including work with Disney and other major IP holders. Comparable as a cross-format immersive storytelling studio bridging Hollywood and XR.
- Nexus Studios: Independent studio producing immersive animation, interactive narratives, and branded VR/AR content (including Emmy-winning work). Comparable as a similarly-sized boutique animation/interactive shop competing for streaming and platform commissions.
- Dreamscape Immersive: VR immersive content studio with backing from Steven Spielberg, Warner Bros., and others, focused on narrative VR experiences across headsets and location-based venues. Comparable as a narrative-driven VR studio with major-studio investor backing.
- Tonko House: Independent animation studio producing award-winning shorts (The Dam Keeper) and feature work, with creators including Erick Oh (Namoo's director at Baobab). Closely connected peer in boutique animation craft with shared talent pipelines.
Broad incumbents
- Skydance Animation: Larger-scale animation studio (Luck, Spellbound) producing theatrical and streaming animated features with strategic gaming-adaptation ambitions (cited alongside Baobab at GamesBeat 2025). Comparable as a bigger incumbent pursuing similar game-to-screen adaptation opportunities.
- Roblox Corporation: Owner of the UGC gaming platform hosting Baobab's game portfolio and the source of recently acquired IPs. Platform partner and ecosystem incumbent whose economic and policy decisions shape Baobab's largest gaming revenue stream.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Baobab Studios social profiles
Digital presenceBaobab Studios financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Baobab Studios leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Baobab Studios funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors18 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Baobab Studios M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Baobab Studios
What does Baobab Studios do?
Baobab Studios is an independent animation studio that creates original animated IP and distributes it across multiple formats including interactive VR/AR narratives, animated TV series and feature films for major streaming platforms, Roblox games, and published books. The studio's core offering is the production and transmedia expansion of original animated franchises, with proprietary interactive narrative technology enabling audience participation in animated stories. Content is delivered through enterprise licensing deals with streamers, direct distribution on VR app stores and Roblox, and retail book channels.
Is Baobab Studios a public or private company?
Baobab Studios is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Baobab Studios founded?
Baobab Studios was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Baobab Studios based?
Baobab Studios is headquartered in Redwood City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Baobab Studios make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Film & TV Production is the primary driver. The others are interactive VR/AR Experiences, gaming/Roblox Content, publishing and art Books & Merchandise.
Who are Baobab Studios's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Penrose Studios, ILM Immersive (formerly ILMxLAB), Felix & Paul Studios, Within (formerly Vrse), Magnopus, Nexus Studios, Dreamscape Immersive and Tonko House. Broad incumbents are Skydance Animation and Roblox Corporation.
Does Baobab Studios have an API?
No public API is recorded for Baobab Studios.
What industry is Baobab Studios in?
Baobab Studios's product category is Animation Studio. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHACAN, Immersive/Interactive Animation (AR/VR/Real-Time), with a secondary code of MPAFAAAE, VR/AR/XR Game Studios. Its NAICS code is 512110 and its SIC code is 7812.