The Spa Studios
The SPA Studios is a Madrid-based feature animation studio providing original IP development, visual development, storyboarding, character design, and 2D/3D animation services to global studios and streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersMadrid, Spain
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Spa Studios does
The SPA Studios (legal name SERGIO PABLOS ANIMATION STUDIOS, S.L.) is a privately held, award-winning feature animation studio founded in 2004 by Sergio Pablos and Marisa Román in Madrid, Spain. The studio employs 11–50 people and operates from its headquarters in Las Rozas, Madrid. It specializes in 2D and 3D animated feature film production, offering a vertically integrated stack of capabilities including visual development, storyboarding, character design, animation production, executive production, and original IP conception. Its core technology base is hand-crafted feature animation, supplemented by a proprietary rendering/animation technique developed for Klaus that the company describes as surpassing traditional animation limitations.
The studio's product portfolio includes the fully original Netflix feature Klaus (2019), the originating concept for the Despicable Me franchise (Illumination, 2010), the original idea for Smallfoot (Warner Animation Group, 2018), and service work on Rio (Blue Sky, 2011); a second original Netflix production, Ember, is currently in production. The studio has won 7 Annie Awards, 1 BAFTA, 2 Quirino Awards, received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature, and is recognized across the Oscars, Annie, BAFTA, Goya, Quirino, and VES circuits.
SPA Studios operates a hybrid business model combining project-based animation production services for major studios (Disney, Universal, Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Animation, Blue Sky) with licensing/royalty revenue from originating franchise concepts and a Netflix first-look partnership for original productions. Revenue is derived from production service contracts and from licensing/IP economics tied to originated concepts (Despicable Me, Smallfoot) and Netflix distribution deals (Klaus, Ember). The studio is privately held by its founders with no disclosed institutional investors, no funding rounds, and no public revenue disclosure.
The Spa Studios firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Spa Studios
- Legal name
- SERGIO PABLOS ANIMATION STUDIOS, S.L.
- Website
- https://thespastudios.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The SPA Studios is a Madrid-based feature animation studio providing original IP development, visual development, storyboarding, character design, and 2D/3D animation services to global studios and streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Spa Studios industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animation Production Services
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams) (BPAFAIAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Interactive & Immersive Content Production (AR/VR/3D) (BPAFAIAL)
Keywords
Where The Spa Studios is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madrid
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Spa Studios business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Animation Production Services: The studio provides high-end animation and visual development service work for animated productions from major studios including Disney, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Animation, and Blue Sky Animation, spanning visual development, storyboarding, character design, and production services.
- Original Film Production: SPA Studios conceives, develops, produces, and distributes original animated feature films, such as 'Klaus' produced for Netflix, retaining creative ownership and earning revenue through production deals and distribution partnerships.
- IP Licensing and Concept Development: The studio creates original film concepts and franchises (e.g., Despicable Me, Smallfoot) that are then licensed to major studios for production and distribution, earning executive producer credits and licensing fees.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
The Spa Studios product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The SPA Studios is a feature animation studio that conceives, develops, and produces original animated feature films and provides high-end animation production services. Service offerings include 2D and 3D animation, visual development, storyboarding, character design, and executive production for major film studios and streaming platforms. Original productions (Klaus, Ember) are developed and produced under a first-look deal with Netflix.
Product overview
The SPA Studios is an award-winning feature animation studio based in Madrid, Spain, specializing in the production and development of original animated feature films. The studio offers animation production services including visual development, storyboarding, character design, 2D and 3D animation, and executive production. Its portfolio includes produced films (Klaus, Rio, Despicable Me, Smallfoot) and currently has Ember in production. The studio was founded in 2004 by Sergio Pablos and Marisa Román.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Animation Production Services High-end animation and visual development services including 2D and 3D animation, character design, visual development, storyboarding, and production services for major film studios and streaming platforms producing animated feature films.
- Klaus A 2D animated Christmas comedy feature film written and directed by Sergio Pablos, produced entirely by The SPA Studios and distributed by Netflix. Featured a proprietary animation technique that pushes beyond traditional animation limitations.
- Ember An epic prehistoric adventure feature film in production about young Dikika's quest for fire, produced by The SPA Studios and Netflix, directed by Sergio Pablos.
- Despicable Me 3D computer-animated feature film with original concept, visual development, storyboarding, and executive production by The SPA Studios, produced by Illumination Entertainment for Universal Pictures.
- Smallfoot 3D computer-animated musical comedy feature film with original idea, visual development, and storyboarding by The SPA Studios, produced by Warner Animation Group and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
- Rio 3D computer-animated feature film with visual development, storyboarding, and character design by The SPA Studios, produced by Blue Sky Studios and distributed by 20th Century Fox.
Quantifiable outcome
- Klaus won 7 Annie Awards, 1 BAFTA, 2 Quirino Awards, and received Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Spa Studios
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
The Spa Studios technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The Spa Studios partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NetflixcoreNetflix is SPA Studios' primary distribution partner for original productions. They co-produced 'Klaus' which was Netflix's first original animated feature film, and are currently collaborating on 'Ember'. This is a strategic first-look partnership where SPA Studios develops and produces animated features exclusively for Netflix distribution globally.
- Illumination EntertainmentcoreSPA Studios originated the concept for 'Despicable Me' and served as Executive Producer on the film. The franchise has become a multi-billion dollar franchise for Illumination. SPA provided original idea, visual development, storyboarding, and executive production services.
- Warner Bros. PicturescoreSPA Studios created the original concept for 'Smallfoot' based on Sergio Pablos' unpublished children's book 'Yeti Tracks'. Warner Animation Group produced and Warner Bros. Pictures distributed the film. SPA provided original idea, visual development, and storyboarding.
- DisneyminorSPA Studios has provided 15 years of service production work for Disney including visual development, storyboarding, and character design services across various animated productions.
- Universal PicturesminorSPA Studios provided service production work for Universal Pictures. Additionally, SPA licensed the Despicable Me concept to Universal/Illumination for production.
- Blue Sky StudiosminorSPA Studios provided visual development, storyboarding, and character design services for Blue Sky Studios' 'Rio' (2011), for which Sergio Pablos received his second Annie Award nomination for Best Character Design.
- Sony Pictures AnimationminorSPA Studios has provided production services for Sony Pictures Animation projects as part of their service operation.
Scale indicators3 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Spa Studios competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Skydance Animation: Newer feature animation studio (Luck, Spellbound) backed by Skydance Media. Comparable as a boutique animation producer building an original feature slate with streaming distribution partnerships.
Broad incumbents
- DreamWorks Animation: Major feature animation studio owned by Universal. Comparable as a producer of franchised animated features and a long-standing service/work-for-hire partner ecosystem participant.
- Sony Pictures Animation: Major feature animation division within Sony Pictures. Comparable as both a buyer of SPA Studios' service work and a competitor in original animated feature production.
Direct peers
- Aardman Animations: UK-based independent animation studio renowned for original feature films (Chicken Run, Wallace & Gromit). Comparable as a founder-led, award-winning independent studio focused on original IP with major distribution partnerships.
- Illumination Entertainment: Animation studio that produces the Despicable Me franchise originating from SPA Studios. Most directly comparable as a feature animation studio with a mix of original IP and franchise production, though materially larger.
- Mikros Animation: Paris-based animation studio providing feature animation and visual development services for major studios. Closely comparable to SPA Studios' service-production business model, scale, and European footprint.
- Cartoon Saloon: Irish independent animation studio behind The Secret of Kells and Wolfwalkers. Comparable as a small, founder-led European animation house producing original feature films with multiple Oscar nominations.
- Animal Logic: Australia-based animation and VFX studio (Happy Feet, The LEGO Movie) acquired by Netflix in 2022. Comparable as a feature-animation service and co-production partner to major studios and streamers.
- Laika Studios: Oregon-based boutique animation studio producing original stop-motion/CGI feature films. Closely comparable to SPA Studios in scale, original-IP strategy, and prestige positioning without major-studio ownership.
- Warner Bros. Pictures Animation: Partner studio that produced and distributed Smallfoot, originating from an SPA Studios concept. Comparable as a feature animation buyer/producer working with boutique creative partners.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Spa Studios social profiles
Digital presenceThe Spa Studios financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Spa Studios leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Spa Studios funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Spa 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 The Spa Studios
What does The Spa Studios do?
The SPA Studios is a feature animation studio that conceives, develops, and produces original animated feature films and provides high-end animation production services. Service offerings include 2D and 3D animation, visual development, storyboarding, character design, and executive production for major film studios and streaming platforms. Original productions (Klaus, Ember) are developed and produced under a first-look deal with Netflix.
Is The Spa Studios a public or private company?
The Spa Studios is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Spa Studios founded?
The Spa Studios was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Spa Studios based?
The Spa Studios is headquartered in Madrid, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does The Spa Studios make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Animation Production Services are the primary driver. The others are original Film Production and IP Licensing and Concept Development.
Who are The Spa Studios's main competitors?
Skydance Animation is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are DreamWorks Animation and Sony Pictures Animation. Direct peers are Aardman Animations, Illumination Entertainment, Mikros Animation, Cartoon Saloon, Animal Logic, Laika Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation.
Does The Spa Studios have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Spa Studios.
What industry is The Spa Studios in?
The Spa Studios's product category is Animation Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAIAJ, Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams), with a secondary code of BPAFAIAL, Interactive & Immersive Content Production (AR/VR/3D). Its NAICS code is 51211 and its SIC code is 7812.