What Like A Photon Creative does

Like A Photon Creative (LAPC) is an independent, female-led and female-owned animation production company headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, with a newly opened office in Dublin, Ireland. Founded in 2014 by co-CEOs Nadine Bates and Kristen Souvlis, the studio produces original and commissioned animated content across the full content lifecycle: feature films, pre-school television series, broadcast segments, multi-platform apps, and branded publishing collaborations. Its core production capability is a fully in-house pipeline that produces every frame from Brisbane, spanning 2D/3D animation, live-action, and multi-platform digital output.

The company generates revenue through a mix of licensing and co-production economics on its slate of animated features, professional production fees for commissioned work from global children's brands, and transaction-based revenue from consumer apps distributed via Apple App Store and Google Play. The flagship franchise is the "Tales from Sanctuary City" cinematic universe developed under a multi-film slate deal with Universal Content Group, alongside independent co-productions such as Scarygirl with Highly Spirited. Tier-1 commissioned clients include Disney Junior (Balloon Barnyard pre-school series), Sesame Workshop (segments for Seasons 45 and 47), Blue Ant Media (Zoomoo Groove), and branded publishing partners Crayola, Macmillan, and HarperCollins. Distribution for theatrical features is handled through international sales agent Sola Media, with films reaching major markets including the American Film Market and the European Film Market.

LAPC's market position rests on three pillars: a deep and growing content library (seven feature animations since 2020, plus TV series, segments, and apps), repeat relationships with the world's leading children's entertainment brands and publishers, and festival/awards validation across Annecy, Sydney, Melbourne, Palm Springs, Shanghai, AACTA, the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, and the 2025 Lord Mayor's Business Awards. The studio is the only female-led and female-owned animation studio in Australia, an identity that aligns with growing buyer demand for diversity-led creative leadership in family content. Geographic expansion into Ireland in 2025 and ongoing slate development indicate an active scaling phase rather than a mature plateau.

Name

Like A Photon Creative

Legal name

Like a Photon Creative Pty Ltd

Website

https://likeaphoton.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Like A Photon Creative is a female-led, Brisbane-based independent animation studio producing original and commissioned animated feature films, TV series, and apps for global children's brands including Disney Junior, Sesame Workshop, and Universal Content Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animation Production Services

NAICS

Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Animation Pipeline, Asset & Render Services (MPADACAM)

Keywords

• Animated feature production
• Children's content production
• Preschool animation services
• Co-production animation studio
• Animation production services

Headquarters

HQ city

Brisbane

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Feature film slate co-production: Ground-breaking three-film slate deal with Universal Content Group for the Tales from Sanctuary City universe (Combat Wombat, Daisy Quokka, The Wishmas Tree), with three additional features in production. Revenue is generated through co-production financing and licensing of theatrical releases.
2. Commissioned TV series and segments: Production of commissioned children's content for major global brands including Disney Junior (Balloon Barnyard pre-school series) and Sesame Street USA (45th and 47th season segments). Revenue is generated via professional production fees for the commissioned work.
3. Independent feature film production: Co-production of independent feature films (e.g., Scarygirl co-produced with Highly Spirited) for worldwide theatrical release. Revenue is generated through co-production splits and distribution licensing.
4. Branded book and consumer app licensing: Licensing of original IP (e.g., Balloon Barnyard) for branded books with global publishing brands (Crayola, Macmillan, HarperCollins) and distribution of companion consumer apps (Kindergo, Balloon Barnyard Books) via app stores.
5. Direct-to-consumer app sales: Sale of interactive children's learning apps (Kindergo reached #1 Kids App in 30+ countries) via Apple App Store and Google Play Store through direct download purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Like A Photon Creative is an independent, female-led animation production studio that produces original and commissioned animated feature films, preschool TV series and segments, and multi-platform interactive apps for children. Every frame is produced in-house from its Brisbane offices (with a Dublin, Ireland expansion office), supporting end-to-end 2D/3D animation, live-action, and digital content delivery for global brands such as Disney Junior, Sesame Workshop, Universal Content Group, Crayola, Macmillan, and HarperCollins.

Product overview

Like A Photon Creative is a single-studio, multi-award-winning independent animation production company (Like a Photon Creative Pty Ltd) based in Brisbane, Australia (with a recently established Dublin, Ireland office). Rather than offering a single unified software platform, the studio delivers a portfolio of distinct productions spanning animated feature films (The Pout-Pout Fish, The Lost Tiger, The Sloth Lane, Scarygirl, Combat Wombat, Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back, Daisy Quokka, The Wishmas Tree, Jarli), preschool and TV series (Balloon Barnyard for Disney Junior, Sesame Street - 1 to 10 Hoedown, Sesame Street - S is for Storytelling, Crafty Kingdom, Zoomoo Groove), and multi-platform interactive apps (Kindergo, Balloon Barnyard Books). Its core franchise, the "Tales From Sanctuary City" cinematic universe with Universal Content Group, ties together Combat Wombat, Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back, The Wishmas Tree, Daisy Quokka, and The Sloth Lane, while Sesame Street and Balloon Barnyard are tied to the related Kindergo and Balloon Barnyard Books interactive products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Pout-Pout Fish Animated theatrical feature film telling the story of a pouty fish (voiced by Nick Offerman) and an energetic sea dragon who embark on a quest to find a legendary fish to save their homes.
• The Lost Tiger Animated feature film following Teo, a kangaroo-raised character who must save his homeland. Acquired by Sola Media for international sales and selected at Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2025.
• The Sloth Lane Animated feature film, part of the "Tales From Sanctuary City" franchise for worldwide cinematic release with Universal Content Group. Centers on a sloth family moving to the big city and clashing with a cheetah rival.
• Scarygirl Animated feature film co-produced with Highly Spirited. A young girl must overcome her fears to save her father from a dangerous scientist. Starring Anna Torv, Sam Neill, Tim Minchin, and Jillian Nguyen.
• Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back Animated feature film sequel in which wombat superhero Maggie Diggins must defeat an evil tech genius who traps the city in a metaverse simulation.
• Combat Wombat Original animated feature film about Maggie Diggins, a wombat who reluctantly becomes a city superhero. Starring Deborah Mailman and Ed Oxenbould.
• Daisy Quokka Animated feature film about an optimistic Quokka named Daisy (voiced by Angourie Rice) who aims to win the 'World's Scariest Animal' championship with help from a grouchy crocodile (Sam Neill).
• The Wishmas Tree Animated feature film about a young possum Kerry (Miranda Tapsell) whose wish for a white Wishmas freezes her hometown and who must journey into the wild to reverse the damage.
• Jarli Animated short film set in Outback Australia about a young girl who dreams of flying to the stars and exploring beyond the solar system.
• Balloon Barnyard Pre-school animated TV series produced for Disney Junior following balloon donkey characters Pip and Streak who solve problems and mysteries with their balloon friends.
• Sesame Street - 1 to 10 Hoedown Animated counting segment commissioned for Sesame Street's 45th season, featuring farmyard characters in a counting routine. Won a 2015 Davey Award.
• Sesame Street - S is for Storytelling Live-action and animation segment commissioned for Sesame Street's 47th season, designed for early childhood development and letter recognition.
• Kindergo app Immersive digital platform combining children's books, videos, and games for independent learning. Reached Number 1 Kids App in over 30 countries and was nominated for Best App at the 2019 KidScreen Awards.
• Balloon Barnyard Books app Interactive reading companion app tied to the Balloon Barnyard television series, with five book adventures designed to help children learn to read independently.
• Crafty Kingdom Animated series based on the YouTube hit "Charli's Crafty Kitchen," following princesses Charli and Ashlee as they bake, play, and create in their kingdom.
• Zoomoo Groove Animated series produced for Blue Ant Media in which ZooMoo island ranger Seth leads characters called Zoomers on musical journeys to find new homes across the island's habitats.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7 feature animations delivered since 2020
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Universal Content GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Ground-breaking three-film slate deal for the Tales from Sanctuary City universe (Combat Wombat, Daisy Quokka, The Wishmas Tree) for worldwide cinematic release. LAPC is currently producing the next three animated features on the Universal slate, along with the independent feature Scarygirl. Co-financing and worldwide distribution partnership at the core of LAPC's feature film strategy.
• Highly SpiritedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-Production partner on the independent feature film Scarygirl. Collaboration delivered an animated feature starring Jillian Nguyen, Tim Minchin, Remy Hii, Rob Collins, Deborah Mailman, Liv Hewson, Mark Coles Smith, Dylan Alcott, with Anna Torv and Sam Neill. Selected for Sydney Film Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival in 2023 and nominated for multiple 2024 AACTA Awards.
• Sola MediacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales agent representing LAPC's animated features. Sola Media boarded 'The Lost Tiger' and introduced it to buyers at the European Film Market (EFM); also presented 'The Sloth Lane' at the American Film Market (AFM). Sales agency relationship is key to worldwide distribution of LAPC's slate.
• CrayolacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal brand partnership for the development of family-focused animated films and related branded content. Crayola is referenced as one of the global brand partners LAPC produces original content in collaboration with.
• MacmillancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal publishing brand partnership for children's animated films and related branded content. Macmillan is referenced as one of the global brand partners LAPC produces original content in collaboration with.
• HarperCollinscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal publishing brand partnership for children's animated films and related branded content. HarperCollins is referenced as one of the global brand partners LAPC produces original content in collaboration with.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SLR Productions: Australian independent animation studio producing preschool IP including The Koala Brothers and Kangaroo Beach. Direct peer: small Australian studio with international preschool broadcast deals and multi-platform IP strategy.
• Guru Studio: Toronto-based animation studio known for True and the Rainbow Kingdom, Justin Time, and Pikwik Pack. Direct peer: mid-size indie animation studio with comparable feature and series output for tier-1 global kids' brands.
• Ludo Studio: Brisbane-based independent animation studio best known for the global hit Bluey. Closest direct peer: Australian indie animation studio with a global children's IP catalog, premium brand relationships, and comparable headcount profile.
• Cheeky Little Media: Australian children's animation studio producing preschool series and specials. Direct peer: small Australian indie studio focused on commissioned children's content for global streamers and broadcasters.
• Flying Bark Productions: Australian independent animation studio producing feature films, TV series, and game cinematics. Direct peer in the same Brisbane-based indie animation category with similar feature/TV dual model.
• Sticky Pictures: Australian children's content production company behind content like The Deep and Eddie's Lil' Homies. Direct peer: indie Australian studio producing original and commissioned children's content for global audiences.

Regional players

• Aardman Animations: UK-based independent animation studio behind Shaun the Sheep, Wallace & Gromit, and Chicken Run. Comparable model: independent, award-winning animation studio producing premium family features and series, primarily serving UK/European market with global distribution.

Broad incumbents

• 9 Story Media Group: Canadian animation studio and content distributor behind Blue's Clues, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Wild Kratts. Broad incumbent: established indie-to-scale animation studio with international co-production, distribution, and consumer products arms.
• WildBrain: Canadian entertainment company managing Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake, Inspector Gadget, and a large children's content library. Broad incumbent in children's IP with much larger scale and broader portfolio, comparable in terms of preschool/family content monetization.
• Zodiak Kids: European (Banijay Kids & Family) division producing and distributing children's entertainment including Totally Spies, Miraculous. Broad incumbent: large global kids' content portfolio with co-production and distribution scale LAPC aims to grow into.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LikeAPhoton

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 records

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 Like A Photon Creative