What Pocket Trap does

Pocket Trap is a privately held independent game development studio headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, founded in 2013. The studio operates with a small team (1–10 employees) and builds transmedia properties that originate as console and PC video games and extend into animation and comics. Its core catalog consists of two published games — the action beat-em-up Ninjin: Clash of Carrots (2018, published by Modus Games) and the action RPG Dodgeball Academia (2021, published by Humble Games) — distributed digitally across Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Steam, GOG, and Humble Bundle, plus the co-produced 22-episode Ninjin Animated Series airing on Cartoon Network and HBO Max in Latin America, and Ninjin webcomics on Cartoon Network's website.

Pocket Trap generates revenue through one-time game sales on third-party digital storefronts (pricing set and collected by its publishing partners) and through co-production/licensing arrangements tied to the Ninjin animated series. The studio does not publish games itself; it relies on tier-one mid-sized publishers (Humble Games, Modus Games) for global game distribution and on Birdo Studio and Cartoon Network Brasil for animation production and broadcast. End customers are individual consumers — console/PC gamers on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC who purchase the games, and Latin American viewers who consume the animated series on Cartoon Network and HBO Max.

The company is bootstrapped, with no disclosed funding rounds, parent company, or institutional investors identified in the available sources. Its competitive position rests on owned IP (Ninjin, Dodgeball Academia), transmedia execution across games, animation, and comics, and distribution relationships with established publishers and broadcasters. No AI/ML capabilities, patents, certifications, or recent post-2021 product activity are documented in the input.

Name

Pocket Trap

Legal name

Pocket Trap

Website

https://pocket-trap.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pocket Trap is an independent São Paulo-based game studio that develops and co-produces transmedia entertainment IP — primarily the Ninjin franchise (video game, animated series, webcomics) and Dodgeball Academia — distributed globally through publishers and Latin American broadcasters for individual gamers and viewers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Video Game Sales: Pocket Trap develops and publishes console/PC games sold through digital distribution platforms including Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Steam, GOG, and Humble Bundle. Revenue is generated through one-time game purchases.
2. Animated Series Licensing: The studio co-produces and co-creates the Ninjin animated series with Birdo Studio and Cartoon Network Brasil, which airs on Cartoon Network and HBO Max in Latin America. Revenue likely includes licensing fees and production partnerships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Pocket Trap is a game development studio that creates console and PC video games (such as the action RPG Dodgeball Academia and the beat-em-up Ninjin: Clash of Carrots) and co-produces anime-inspired animated series (Ninjin). The studio focuses on building transmedia entertainment properties that span video games, animated content, and webcomics.

Product overview

Pocket Trap is a game development studio from São Paulo, Brazil, founded in 2013. The company develops a portfolio of video game titles and transmedia properties. Core products include the console/PC action RPG "Dodgeball Academia" published by Humble Games, the action beat-em-up "Ninjin: Clash of Carrots" published by Modus Games, and the "Ninjin Animated Series" — an anime co-production with Birdo Studio and Cartoon Network that expands the Ninjin universe. The studio also produces "Ninjin Webcomics" for Cartoon Network's digital platform. These products share the Ninjin universe as a transmedia property spanning games, animation, and comics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ninjin Universe: A transmedia franchise including the video game Ninjin: Clash of Carrots and the animated series Ninjin on Cartoon Network and HBO Max, featuring characters NINJIN the rabbit and AKAI the ninja fox.
• Dodgeball Academia

Products and services

• Dodgeball Academia A console/PC action RPG where players join Otto at an academy to train and become the ultimate dodgeball champion. Features an eight-episode story mode with RPG-style character progression, side quests, minigames, and a local competitive versus mode for two players. Created by Pocket Trap and Ivan Freire, published by Humble Games.
• Ninjin: Clash of Carrots A fast-paced action beat-em-up game set in feudal Japan. Players choose between Ninjin the rabbit or Akai the ninja fox to defeat the evil Shogun Moe. Features 2-player local/online co-op, Story Mode, a survival "Live TV Show" mode, and over 150 weapons and items. Created by Pocket Trap, published by Modus Games.
• Ninjin Animated Series A 22-episode anime-inspired action comedy animated series co-produced with Birdo Studio and Cartoon Network Brasil. Created by Pocket Trap and Roger Keesse, it is set in the same universe as the video game Ninjin: Clash of Carrots and follows NINJIN, a rabbit cub training to become a ninja master alongside his friends AKAI and FLINK.
• Ninjin Webcomics Webcomics based on the Ninjin universe, published on Cartoon Network's website, extending the transmedia property into digital comics.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ninjin: Clash of Carrots features 150+ weapons and items
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Humble GamescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHumble Games is the publisher of Dodgeball Academia. They handle the publishing and distribution of the game across all platforms (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, GOG, Humble Bundle).
• Modus GamescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorModus Games is the publisher of Ninjin: Clash of Carrots. They handle the publishing and distribution of the game across Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam platforms.
• Birdo StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBirdo Studio is a co-production partner in the Ninjin animated series along with Cartoon Network Brasil. Birdo contributes to the animation production and creative development of the series.
• Cartoon Network BrasilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCartoon Network Brasil is a co-producer and broadcast partner for the Ninjin animated series. They provide the broadcast platform and co-fund the production of the anime-inspired animated content.
• Roger KeessecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoger Keesse is the co-creator of the Ninjin animated series alongside Pocket Trap. Contributes to creative direction and story development of the transmedia property.
• Ivan FreireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIvan Freire is the co-creator of Dodgeball Academia alongside Pocket Trap. Contributes to game concept and creative development.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• WayForward Technologies: Long-running indie studio known for character-driven action games with cartoon aesthetics (Shantae, River City Girls). Like Pocket Trap, WayForward blends retro-style action with distinctive character design and has explored animation tie-ins.
• Tribute Games: Small indie studio behind TMNT: Shredder's Revenge and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Tribute shares Pocket Trap's focus on retro-style action games with strong cartoon aesthetics and licensed IP-adjacent projects.
• Yacht Club Games: Small indie studio founded by former WayForward developers and best known for Shovel Knight. Yacht Club Games mirrors Pocket Trap's profile: a small team producing character-rich, retro-inspired action games.
• Studio MDHR: Small independent studio behind Cuphead, recognized for distinctive hand-drawn cartoon-style action. Comparable to Pocket Trap in scale and in combining unique art direction with character-driven action gameplay.
• Drinkbox Studios: Small independent Canadian studio behind Guacamelee and Nobody Saves the World. Drinkbox mirrors Pocket Trap's profile: a compact team focused on character-driven action games with strong art direction.
• Supergiant Games: Small independent studio behind Bastion, Transistor, Hades, and Pyre. Comparable to Pocket Trap as a small, narrative- and character-driven indie developer with multi-title catalogues.

Regional players

• Aquiris: Brazilian game studio that has shipped multiple console/PC titles including Horizon Chase Turbo and Kaze and the Wild Masks. Aquiris is a regional peer operating in the same Brazilian market with comparable scope and size.
• Behold Studios: Brazilian indie studio behind Knights of Pen and Paper. Behold Studios is a regional peer — a small Brazilian developer of character-driven games with distinct art styles, similar to Pocket Trap.
• Long Hat House: Brazilian indie game studio behind Dandara. Long Hat House is a regional peer — a small Brazilian developer with similar artistic and narrative sensibilities to Pocket Trap.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PocketTrap

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Pocket Trap