Atomic Cartoons
Atomic Cartoons is a Vancouver-based, ~1,000-employee animation production studio producing CG and 2D animated series for major entertainment IP holders (Disney, Marvel, LEGO, Netflix, Sony, PBS) and streaming platforms, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thunderbird Entertainment under Blue Ant Media.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersVancouver, Canada
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Atomic Cartoons does
Atomic Cartoons Inc. is a Vancouver-headquartered, artist-driven animation production studio founded in 1999 and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thunderbird Entertainment (acquired by Blue Ant Media in 2024). The studio runs multi-pipeline CG and 2D animation production across genres including preschool, comedy, action adventure, and adult animation, employing roughly 1,000 artists, directors, producers, and writers across offices in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, and Los Angeles.
The studio operates two distinct revenue streams. The primary stream is animation production services delivered on a fee-for-service basis through co-production and work-for-hire engagements with major entertainment IP holders and platforms including Disney, Marvel, LEGO, Netflix, Sony, HBO Max, PBS, CBC, Nickelodeon, and Apple TV+. Atomic's slate spans both service work on third-party franchise IPs (LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, Marvel's Iron Man and His Awesome Friends, Dr. Seuss's Red Fish Blue Fish, Princess Power) and original IP (Mermicorno: Starfall, Super Team Canada, Hilda, The Last Kids on Earth). The secondary stream is licensing and consumer products revenue, managed through sister entity Thunderbird Brands, which monetizes original IP via master toy licenses (Jazwares for Mermicorno: Starfall) and territory licensing agents (Nelvana Enterprises in Canada).
The studio is B Corp certified and operates as a BC Benefit Company, embedding DEI, sustainability (54% remote-work carbon reduction, 25% facility footprint reduction via renewable natural gas), and reconciliation commitments into its operating model. Pricing on production services is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; customer relationships are anchored by long-running platform partnerships and repeat engagements with major entertainment brands. The studio's competitive positioning rests on production scale across multiple simultaneous pipelines, a deep talent base, and brand-level ESG credentials that differentiate it for partners prioritizing values-aligned production partners.
Atomic Cartoons firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Atomic Cartoons
- Legal name
- Atomic Cartoons Inc.
- Website
- https://atomiccartoons.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Atomic Cartoons is a Vancouver-based, ~1,000-employee animation production studio producing CG and 2D animated series for major entertainment IP holders (Disney, Marvel, LEGO, Netflix, Sony, PBS) and streaming platforms, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thunderbird Entertainment under Blue Ant Media.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Atomic Cartoons industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animation Production Services
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming) (MPADACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Adult Animation Production (MPADACAK)
Keywords
Where Atomic Cartoons is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vancouver
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Atomic Cartoons business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Animation Production Services: Produces animated series and specials for major entertainment brands and streaming platforms, operating as a production studio on co-production deals.
- Licensing and Consumer Products: Through Thunderbird Brands, manages licensing deals for original IP including toy rights (e.g., Jazwares master toy license for Mermicorno: Starfall) and international distribution.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Atomic Cartoons product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Atomic Cartoons is a full-service, artist-driven animation studio that produces high-end CG and 2D animated series and specials across preschool, comedy, action-adventure, and adult genres. It serves as a co-production and work-for-hire partner for major entertainment brands and streaming platforms (Disney, Marvel, LEGO, Netflix, Sony, PBS, Max) while also developing original IP such as Mermicorno: Starfall and Super Team Canada. Revenue is generated through production-service fees and consumer-product licensing of its original properties.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Super Team Canada Original adult animated comedy series produced for Bell Media's Crave, co-produced with Will Arnett's Electric Avenue. Targets adult animation audiences and serves as Atomic's first adult original animated series.
- Mermicorno: Starfall Original 2D-animated series developed in collaboration with global lifestyle brand tokidoki (co-founded by Simone Legno), distributed on Max (26 episodes x 22 minutes). Supported by global master toy licensee Jazwares and Canadian licensing agent Nelvana Enterprises.
- Surf's Up TV Series Adaptation Kids' animated series adaptation of Sony's Surf's Up IP, produced with Electric Avenue. Brings back the franchise penguins for new surf-filled adventures on Pen Gu Island.
- LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy LEGO Star Wars animated series produced for Disney+/Lucasfilm, demonstrating Atomic's franchise-level CG production work for global IP holders.
- Marvel's Iron Man and His Awesome Friends Marvel preschool animated series produced for Disney Junior, showcasing Atomic's CG franchise capability for major entertainment IP holders.
- LEGO Pixar BrickToons LEGO and Pixar BrickToons animated series produced for Disney+, reflecting Atomic's franchise work for LEGO and Pixar.
- Molly of Denali Co-produced with WGBH Boston for PBS KIDS and CBC Kids. First nationally distributed US children's series to feature an Indigenous lead character; winner of the Peabody Award and TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming.
- Wonderoos Kids animated series produced as part of Atomic's preschool/kids content portfolio for major streaming and broadcast partners.
- Young Love Animated series distributed on Max (HBO Max), representing Atomic's relationship with Max as a distribution platform for adult/family animation.
- Princess Power Animated series co-produced with Drew Barrymore's Flower Films, distributed on Netflix. Part of Atomic's kids and family content portfolio.
- Hamsters of Hamsterdale Animated series produced in partnership with Nickelodeon and Nelvana, distributed on Nickelodeon cable channels for youth audiences.
- Dr. Seuss's Red Fish, Blue Fish Animated series based on Dr. Seuss properties, co-developed with Dr. Seuss Enterprises.
- Action Rabbits Upper preschool series co-developed with TF1, Blue Spirit, and Milkcow Media for French broadcaster TF1's TFOU kids channel and TF1+ streamer.
- Hilda Animated series for which Joel Bradley is credited as a champion of acclaimed hits, representing Atomic's Netflix and global streaming portfolio.
- The Last Kids on Earth Animated series for which Joel Bradley is credited as a champion of acclaimed hits, representing Atomic's action-adventure and kids portfolio.
Companies that use Atomic Cartoons
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Atomic Cartoons technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Atomic Cartoons partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Thunderbird EntertainmentcoreThunderbird Entertainment is the parent company of Atomic Cartoons. Thunderbird acquired Atomic as part of its content production portfolio. Atomic is also referred to as a Thunderbird Entertainment Company and a Blue Ant Studios Company.
- Electric Avenue (Will Arnett)coreElectric Avenue, led by Will Arnett, co-produces Super Team Canada with Atomic Cartoons. Marc Forman serves as executive producer through Electric Avenue.
- Bell Media's CravecoreBell Media's Crave is the Canadian streaming platform for Super Team Canada. The series will drop on Crave in May 2025.
- Max (HBO Max)coreMax (HBO Max) distributes Young Love animated series. Also distributes Mermicorno: Starfall with January 2025 premiere date.
- tokidokicoreGlobal lifestyle brand tokidoki, co-founded by Simone Legno, collaborated with Atomic Cartoons on Mermicorno: Starfall. Simone Legno is executive producer on the series.
- Nelvana EnterprisesminorAppointed as Canadian licensing agent for Mermicorno: Starfall. Nelvana Enterprises represents the property in Canada.
- JazwaresminorGlobal master toy licensee for Mermicorno: Starfall. Jazwares holds exclusive global rights to produce figures, dolls, games, vehicles, Halloween costumes and more.
- TF1, Blue Spirit, Milkcow MediaminorPartnership to develop Action Rabbits, an upper preschool series for French broadcaster TF1's TFOU kids channel and TF1+ streamer.
- Pride at Work Canada/Fierté au travail CanadaminorPride at Work Canada partners with Atomic to celebrate and provide an inclusive workplace for all employees regardless of gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
- WGBH BostoncoreWGBH Boston co-produced Molly of Denali with Atomic Cartoons for PBS KIDS and CBC Kids.
- Dr. Seuss EnterprisescoreDr. Seuss Enterprises collaborated with Atomic Cartoons on Dr. Seuss's Red Fish, Blue Fish animated series.
- Flower Films (Drew Barrymore)coreFlower Films, Drew Barrymore's production company, co-produced Princess Power with Atomic Cartoons.
- Nickelodeon, NelvanacoreNickelodeon partnered with Nelvana and Atomic Cartoons to produce Hamsters of Hamsterdale.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Atomic Cartoons competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Atomic Cartoons social profiles
Digital presenceAtomic Cartoons financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Atomic Cartoons leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Atomic Cartoons funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Atomic Cartoons 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 Atomic Cartoons
What does Atomic Cartoons do?
Atomic Cartoons is a full-service, artist-driven animation studio that produces high-end CG and 2D animated series and specials across preschool, comedy, action-adventure, and adult genres. It serves as a co-production and work-for-hire partner for major entertainment brands and streaming platforms (Disney, Marvel, LEGO, Netflix, Sony, PBS, Max) while also developing original IP such as Mermicorno: Starfall and Super Team Canada. Revenue is generated through production-service fees and consumer-product licensing of its original properties.
Is Atomic Cartoons a public or private company?
Atomic Cartoons is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Atomic Cartoons founded?
Atomic Cartoons was founded in 1999. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Atomic Cartoons based?
Atomic Cartoons is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Atomic Cartoons make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Animation Production Services are the primary driver. The others are licensing and Consumer Products.
Does Atomic Cartoons have an API?
No public API is recorded for Atomic Cartoons.
What industry is Atomic Cartoons in?
Atomic Cartoons's product category is Animation Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADACAG, Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming), with a secondary code of MPADACAK, Adult Animation Production. Its SIC code is 7812.