What Cosmos-Maya does

Cosmos-Maya is India's leading IP-driven animation studio, founded in 1996 by filmmakers Ketan Mehta and Deepa Sahi and headquartered in Mumbai with additional production operations in Kolkata and a Singapore-based international holding entity (Cosmos Entertainment) established in 2013. The company produces original 2D and 3D animated television series, feature films, and short-form content for children and family audiences, operating a catalogue of 2,000+ hours of licensed animation built over nearly three decades, including flagship IPs Motu Patlu (launched 2012), ViR: The Robot Boy, Titoo, Chacha Bhatija, and Selfie with Bajrangi. Cosmos-Maya holds an estimated 60% domestic share of the Indian kids animation market and currently produces 24 series and 58 movies, with distribution through direct licensing agreements with Sony YAY!, Disney Star, and Viacom18, alongside service production for international clients including BBC, Disney, Activision, and Google.

The business operates through three principal brands: Cosmos India (the core production studio and B2B content licensor), Wow Kidz (a direct-to-consumer digital distribution brand operating 35 YouTube channels with 100M+ subscribers and 56B cumulative views, plus 7 Facebook pages, monetizing content via advertising and audience reach), and Cosmos Creative Academy (an education division operating three Mumbai learning centres with degree programs, career courses, and 300+ studio mentors, having trained 50,000+ animation professionals historically through the related MAAC division). Revenue is generated through IP licensing and royalties to broadcasters and streaming platforms, fee-based service production for international studios, and recurring training and education fees. Pricing is project-based and negotiated per engagement with no public pricing disclosed, and contracts with major broadcasters run on multi-year cycles.

Cosmos-Maya is privately held and has been PE-backed through two control transactions: KKR-backed Emerald Media acquired a controlling stake in 2018, followed by NewQuest Capital Partners (TPG-backed) acquiring a controlling interest in 2021 with Emerald Media achieving a profitable exit. The company has received international recognition including an Asian Academy Creative Award (2023) for Motu Patlu, alongside IFTA, BAFTA, and Pulcinella awards for earlier service production work. A forthcoming Cosmos International division signals intended expansion beyond the Indian market, while the Singapore holding entity already facilitates international IP licensing and sales.

Name

Cosmos-Maya

Legal name

Cosmos Maya India Pvt Ltd.

Website

https://cosmos-maya.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Cosmos-Maya is India's leading IP-driven animation studio, producing original 2D and 3D kids content including Motu Patlu and ViR: The Robot Boy, licensing to major Indian broadcasters, and distributing via the Wow Kidz digital brand reaching 100M+ YouTube subscribers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. IP Licensing and Royalties: Licensing of proprietary animation IPs (Motu Patlu, ViR: The Robot Boy, etc.) to broadcasters, streaming platforms, and merchandise partners. Long-standing relationships with major Indian broadcasters including Sony YAY!, Disney Star, and Viacom18.
2. Animation Production Services: Service production for international clients including BBC, Disney, Activision, Google. Line production of animated content under service production model.
3. Education and Training: Cosmos Creative Academy providing degree courses (B.Voc program), career courses, and specialized animation training. Over 30 courses with 300+ studio mentors and live project training.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cosmos-Maya is a leading Indian animation studio that creates, produces, and licenses original animated content for children across television, digital, and feature film formats. The company operates three main business divisions: Cosmos India (core animation production studio), Wow Kidz (digital distribution brand with 100M+ subscribers), and Cosmos Creative Academy (animation training). It holds proprietary IPs such as Motu Patlu and ViR: The Robot Boy, with a licensing catalogue of over 2,000 hours, and also provides animation production services for international clients.

Product overview

Cosmos-Maya is a comprehensive animation studio operating across three main divisions: Cosmos India (the core animation production studio), Wow Kidz (social media distribution brand), and Cosmos Creative Academy (education and training). The company produces original animated content in 2D, 3D, and feature formats, with flagship properties including Motu Patlu, ViR: The Robot Boy, and Titoo. With 29 years of industry legacy, the studio has produced over 40,000 minutes of original animation content and maintains a licensing catalogue of over 2,000 hours. Wow Kidz distributes this content across YouTube (35+ channels, 125M subscribers) and Facebook platforms, while Cosmos Creative Academy trains the next generation of animators through degree and career courses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wow Kidz: Cosmos Maya's social media brand with over 100 million subscribers across 35 channels on YouTube, over 7 pages on Facebook. Features popular shows such as ViR: The Robot Boy, Motu Patlu and Chacha Bhatija.
• Cosmos Creative Academy

Products and services

• Cosmos India India's leading animation studio division producing original animated content for television and digital platforms. Has created 18 shows running successfully across kids' channels in India, including flagship IPs like Motu Patlu, ViR: The Robot Boy, Titoo, and Selfie with Bajrangi.
• Wow Kidz

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% domestic market share in India (2018 milestone)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Disney StarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDisney Star is a key broadcasting partner for Cosmos Maya's animation content, airing shows on their kids and infotainment cluster platforms. Business Head Devika Prabhu has publicly praised the creative partnership.
• Sony YAY!coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSony YAY! is a major broadcasting partner for Cosmos Maya content. Business head Leena Lele Dutta has acknowledged the collaborative relationship and iconic characters created for Indian audiences.
• Viacom18coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorViacom18 broadcasts Cosmos Maya content on their kids TV network. Head Anu Sikka has described the studio as setting a benchmark in Indian animation with their IP-driven approach.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Toonz Animation: Toonz is an India-origin animation studio with strong service production work for international clients (similar to Cosmos-Maya's 2000-2010 BBC/Disney era) plus original IP. Comparable headcount and India-based delivery model make it a close operational peer.
• Mondo TV: Mondo TV is an Italian-listed animation IP company (Sylvanian Families, YooHoo & Friends). Directly comparable as a small-cap, IP-driven animation licensing and distribution business targeting global broadcasters.
• WildBrain: WildBrain is a Canadian kids' entertainment and animation IP owner (Teletoon, Peanuts, Strawberry Shortcake) with a similar YouTube-first distribution strategy. Comparable in operating a deep IP library, multi-platform licensing, and kids-focused digital reach.
• Green Gold Animation: Green Gold Animation is India's other flagship kids' animation studio, creator of Chhota Bheem — a direct competitor to Cosmos-Maya's Motu Patlu. Both studios compete for the same broadcaster slots, OTT commissions, and merchandise shelf space in the Indian kids' IP market.
• 88 Pictures: Singapore-based animation studio with India delivery operations, producing original IP and service work for international clients. Closely comparable operating model to Cosmos-Maya's Singapore-anchored international arm.
• DQ Entertainment: DQ Entertainment is an India-based animation and gaming content company producing original kids' programming and licensing internationally. Directly comparable IP-led animation business model and India operating geography.

Broad incumbents

• Sony Pictures Animation: Sony Pictures Animation is the global animation arm of Sony and the parent of Sony YAY! — Cosmos-Maya's largest broadcaster partner. Comparable in producing global kids' animation IP and a key ecosystem player for Cosmos-Maya's distribution.
• Technicolor Animation / Millimages: Technicolor's animation division (incorporating Millimages) is a global animation services and IP owner. Comparable as a major animation production services business with international broadcaster relationships, though larger and more diversified than Cosmos-Maya.
• Nelvana (Corus Entertainment): Nelvana is a long-established Canadian kids' animation studio (owned by Corus Entertainment, owner of Treehouse TV) producing original IP and service work. Comparable as an integrated kids' content production and distribution business, though larger and more diversified.

Emerging players

• Zebu Animation Studios: Zebu Animation is an Indian animation studio focused on original IP and service production. Notably, Cosmos-Maya's COO Adi Shayan was formerly CEO at Zebu, indicating close operational and competitive overlap in the Indian animation ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cosmos-maya

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cosmos-Maya