The Spa Studios

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.

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

101–250 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

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 industry

PRIMARYBPAFAIAJ

Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams)

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Content Marketing & Production (Copy, Video, Design)

SECONDARYBPAFAIAL

Interactive & Immersive Content Production (AR/VR/3D)

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Content Marketing & Production (Copy, Video, Design)

Keywords

• Animation production services
• Feature film production
• Visual development
• Character design
• Storyboard services

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Core 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

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NetflixcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2019Netflix 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 EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPA 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. PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPA 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.
• DisneyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSPA Studios has provided 15 years of service production work for Disney including visual development, storyboarding, and character design services across various animated productions.
• Universal PicturesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSPA Studios provided service production work for Universal Pictures. Additionally, SPA licensed the Despicable Me concept to Universal/Illumination for production.
• Blue Sky StudiosminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSPA 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 AnimationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSPA Studios has provided production services for Sony Pictures Animation projects as part of their service operation.

Scale indicators3 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging 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

• Xx.com/thespastudios
• Facebookfacebook.com/thespastudios
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-spa-studios

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 The Spa Studios