A Productions
A Productions is an independent Bristol-based animation studio producing award-winning children's content in 2D, 3D CGI, and live-action formats for major broadcasters and streamers including BBC, Sky Kids, Sesame Workshop, Netflix, and HBO Max.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersBristol, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What A Productions does
A Productions Ltd is a Bristol, UK-based independent animation studio founded in 1985 by Mark Taylor, producing award-winning children's content for television, film, and streaming platforms. The studio operates across 2D, 3D CGI, and live-action techniques using industry-standard tooling (Toon Boom Harmony, 3ds Max, Adobe Animate, After Effects, Moho), with a multi-discipline crew of 168 employees spread across two central Bristol sites. Its portfolio spans preschool series, specials, short-form content, idents, and commercials for clients including BBC/CBeebies, Sky Kids, Sesame Workshop, Netflix, HBO Max/Max, Cartoonito, and Aardman, with notable titles such as JoJo & Gran Gran, Bea's Block, My Friend Maisy, The Totems, The Monster at the End of This Story, and The Nutcracker starring Elmo & Tango.
The company runs a B2B service model secured through enterprise field sales — co-productions, commissions, and service contracts with major broadcasters and streamers — supplemented by a recently launched internal development arm that originates and owns original IP for licensing revenue. Pricing and contract terms are not publicly disclosed. Multi-year co-production relationships (e.g., My Friend Maisy with BBC Studios Kids & Family and Trustbridge; JoJo & Gran Gran; the Sesame Workshop slate) anchor recurring revenue, while awards (Kidscreen, RTS, BAFTA Children's, Cannes Gold Lion, Emmy nominations) and audience reach (14M+ iPlayer requests for JoJo & Gran Gran; 90M+ YouTube views for The Totems) support premium positioning.
Strategic trajectory includes the November 2025 buyback of Cyber Group Studios' majority stake, restoration to 100% independent ownership, and pipeline expansion into BBC's Ignite programme (The Underglow) and hybrid live-action/animation formats (Monster Makes). The firm deliberately scopes its AI usage to back-office process automation, preserving human-led creative decision-making as a stated competitive principle.
A Productions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- A Productions
- Legal name
- A Productions Ltd
- Website
- https://aproductions.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- A Productions is an independent Bristol-based animation studio producing award-winning children's content in 2D, 3D CGI, and live-action formats for major broadcasters and streamers including BBC, Sky Kids, Sesame Workshop, Netflix, and HBO Max.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
A Productions industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animation Production Services
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming) (MPADACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Kids & Preschool Animation Production (MPADACAJ), Live-Action Kids & Family Production (MPADABAF)
Keywords
Where A Productions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bristol
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
A Productions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Animation Production Services: Animation production services for TV, film, and streaming platforms including series production, specials, shorts, commercials, and channel idents. Revenue generated through co-production arrangements, commission work, and service contracts for major broadcasters and streamers.
- IP Development: Original IP development through the studio's new development arm, enabling A Productions to originate and own ideas from internal creatives
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
A Productions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
A Productions is an independent animation studio producing children's animated content for TV, film, and streaming platforms. The studio delivers full-service animation production across 2D, 3D CGI, and live-action formats including preschool series, TV specials, short-form content, commercials, and channel idents. The company also operates an IP development arm to originate and own original intellectual property alongside its service work for major broadcasters and streaming platforms such as BBC, Sky Kids, Sesame Workshop, Netflix, and HBO Max.
Product overview
A Productions is an independent animation studio based in Bristol, UK, founded in 1985, specializing in creating iconic, award-winning children's content for TV, film, and streaming platforms. The studio operates as a full-service production company offering animation services across multiple techniques (2D, 3D/CGI, live action, stop motion) and formats (series, specials, shorts, commercials). Their portfolio spans preschool education series (JoJo & Gran Gran, Bea's Block, Monster Makes), Sesame Workshop productions (The Nutcracker, Furry Friends Forever, The Monster at the End of this Story), BBC commissions (The Underglow, The Numtums), and streaming platform content (Netflix's Izzy's Koala World, Sky Kids' Pip and Posy Let's Learn, Max's Digital Girl). The studio collaborates with major broadcasters and intellectual property holders including CBeebies, BBC, Sesame Workshop, Sky Kids, Netflix, HBO Max, Cartoonito, and Nickelodeon, providing end-to-end animation production from concept through delivery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- My Friend Maisy A 52 x 5' 2D animated preschool series for Sky Kids, co-produced with BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions and Trustbridge Entertainment. Based on Lucy Cousins' bestselling Maisy books, bringing beloved characters to life for global audiences.
- Monster Makes A dual live action and animation series for CBeebies, hosted by Rebecca Keatley with the animated character Murphi. Promotes creativity and sustainability by encouraging children to reuse and recycle everyday materials.
- The Underglow A preschool series produced for BBC as part of the Ignite animation programme. Follows best friends Brewster and Riley as they explore a magical world of discovery and play, set within a vibrant and inclusive community.
- JoJo & Gran Gran The first UK preschool animation centering around a Black British family, produced for CBeebies. Features a five-year-old girl and her Saint Lucian grandmother, exploring themes of family, culture, and the passing of time. Won Broadcast Award for Best Pre-School Programme and Kidscreen Award for Best Mixed-Media Series.
- The Nutcracker starring Elmo & Tango A 30-minute animated seasonal special for Sesame Workshop and HBO Max. Elmo and his puppy Tango embark on a magical dream journey through the land of the Nutcracker with Sesame Street characters.
- Bea's Block A 40 x 11' preschool animated comedy series for Sesame Workshop, focusing on 5-year-old Bea and her friends Ty and Lexi as they model kindness through friendship and empathy in Blocktown.
- Digital Girl An adventure-comedy superhero series for kids (26 x 22'), set in a futuristic ecological city. Commissioned by BBC and pre-sold to Super RTL and Discovery Kids, produced in partnership with Cyber Group Studios.
- Pip and Posy Let's Learn A 26 x 5-minute educational series for Sky Kids (ages 3-5), produced by Magic Light Pictures based on books by Axel Scheffler. Combines 3D and 2D animation to teach early years curriculum concepts.
- Love Monster CBeebies series produced with Karrot Entertainment, following a monster navigating life, friendship and emotions as the only monster in a town of cute baby animals.
- Furry Friends Forever: Elmo & Tango's Mysterious Mysteries 40 x 5-minute short-form animations for Sesame Street (Seasons 53 & 54), following Elmo and his puppy Tango solving mysteries with music and fun facts.
- Furry Friends Forever: Elmo Gets a Puppy 30-minute animated special introducing Tango, Elmo's new puppy friend, produced for Sesame Workshop and HBO Max. A Productions styled and animated the special, working closely with the Sesame Workshop team.
- The Monster at the End of this Story Animated reimagining of Sesame Street's bestselling picture book, produced for HBO Max. Nominated for Emmy Awards for sound mixing and sound editing.
- The Numtums 52 x 11-minute CG series for CBeebies, redeveloped from original 2D series into character-led CG show to help preschoolers understand numbers.
- Frankenstein's Cat 30 x 11 minutes digital 2D animation for CBBC, produced with McKinnon & Saunders. Winner of Pulcinella award and BAFTA.
- Boo! 104 x 11 minutes CG animation for CBeebies with graphic breakouts. Nominated for BAFTA, RTS, Pulcinella and Broadcast awards.
- The Makery Children's art show for Sky Kids and NOW TV, produced by Terrific Television. A Productions provides animation in After Effects, 3ds Max and Moho.
- The Musical World of Mister Zoink Short-form series for Sesame Studios featuring musical characters. All animation handled at A Productions.
- Gilly and the Oodle Doodles Short-form content for Sesame Studios YouTube channel, exploring creativity and colours in a magical environment.
- Totems Short-form series launching Sesame Studios YouTube channel. Winner of 2017 RTS West of England Animation Award. Developed into long-form series Bea's Block for HBO Max.
- Izzy's Koala World Netflix show for which A Productions created animated graphics, idents, onscreen graphics and title sequence. Follows 11-year-old Izzy Bee rescuing and rewilding koalas.
Quantifiable outcome
- 14 million+ iPlayer requests for JoJo & Gran Gran
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use A Productions
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
A Productions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature1 record
A Productions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and supporting.
- Cyber Group StudioscoreIn January 2022, Cyber Group Studios acquired a majority ownership stake in A Productions. The partnership was formed to expand into new global markets, with both studios collaborating on developing groundbreaking new content. The partnership includes access to Cyber Group Studios' real-time animation technology and joint production of shows like Digital Girl.
- Cyber Group Studios (Divestment)minorA Productions returned to 100% independent ownership in November 2025, buying back the stake held by Cyber Group Studios. The studio now operates independently while maintaining its reputation and capabilities built during the partnership.
- BBC Studios Kids & Family ProductionscoreLong-standing co-production partner on multiple projects including JoJo & Gran Gran (multiple series), My Friend Maisy, and other preschool content for CBeebies and international distribution.
- Trustbridge EntertainmentcoreCo-production partner on My Friend Maisy preschool series alongside BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions.
- KarrotcoreLondon-based animation studio collaborating with A Productions on My Friend Maisy animation, combining expertise for the preschool series.
- GigglebugcoreFinnish studio co-producing The Underglow with A Productions for BBC's Ignite animation programme. The partnership brings together British and Nordic creative sensibilities.
- YLEsupportingFinnish national broadcasting company providing support for The Underglow production in partnership with Gigglebug and A Productions.
- Sesame WorkshopcoreLong-term production partner for Sesame Street content including The Nutcracker starring Elmo & Tango, The Monster at the End of This Story, Furry Friends Forever series, Bea's Block, and multiple short-form content.
- Terrific TelevisioncoreProduction company partner for Monster Makes and The Makery. Terrific Television produces these shows with animation services provided by A Productions.
- Sesame StudioscoreCreated and developed The Totems series and other short-form content for Sesame Studios YouTube channel, which has received 90+ million views.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
A Productions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Blue Zoo Animation Studio: London-based independent studio producing children's animated series (e.g., Love Monster before A Productions took it over, Q Pootle 5). Comparable in size and B2B service model targeting UK and international broadcasters, making it the closest direct head-to-head for preschool commissions.
- Cyber Group Studios: French children's animation studio (Gigantosaurus, Zak Storm) that held a majority stake in A Productions from January 2022 to November 2025. Closely comparable in children's service-plus-co-production model and broadcaster relationships across Europe and the US.
- Lupus Films: London-based animation studio behind The Snowman & The Snowdog, The Tiger's Apprentice, and Ethel & Ernest. Highly comparable in prestige children's animation focus, service-plus-co-production model, and UK broadcaster relationships, operating at a similar scale band to A Productions.
- Factory (Create): UK animation and creative studio producing children's content and short-form commissions for broadcasters. Operates in the same UK service-studio niche as A Productions, bidding on comparable preschool and kids' content work.
- Karrot Entertainment: London-based children's animation studio and named co-production partner on Love Monster and My Friend Maisy with A Productions. Direct competitor for the same preschool commission briefs and creative roster, with similar size and broadcaster relationships.
- McKinnon & Saunders: Puppetry and stop-motion animation specialist named as co-producer with A Productions on Frankenstein's Cat (BAFTA winner). Overlapping creator rosters and complementary techniques position them as both co-producer and direct competitor for premium UK children's commissions.
- Gigglebug: Finnish children's animation studio co-producing The Underglow with A Productions for BBC's Ignite programme. Similar size, preschool focus, and direct co-production relationship make it a directly comparable European indie animation peer.
Broad incumbents
- Magic Light Pictures: Larger UK producer of prestige children's animation including The Gruffalo, Stick Man, and Pip and Posy Let's Learn (co-produced with A Productions). Operates a wider portfolio across feature specials and series, but the same preschool commissioner relationships make it both a co-production partner and a broader market incumbent.
- Studio 100 Media: Major European children's entertainment group behind Maya the Bee, Heidi, and Blinky Bill. Operates a larger vertically integrated IP-to-merchandise model and competes for international preschool commissions, including those that A Productions has historically co-produced.
- Tiger Aspect (Endemol Shine): Established UK production company within the Endemol Shine group producing animated and live-action children's content including Charlie and Lola and Mr. Bean: The Animated Series. Larger portfolio incumbent competing for the same children's commissioning briefs A Productions targets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
A Productions social profiles
Digital presenceA Productions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
A Productions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
A Productions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
A Productions 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 A Productions
What does A Productions do?
A Productions is an independent animation studio producing children's animated content for TV, film, and streaming platforms. The studio delivers full-service animation production across 2D, 3D CGI, and live-action formats including preschool series, TV specials, short-form content, commercials, and channel idents. The company also operates an IP development arm to originate and own original intellectual property alongside its service work for major broadcasters and streaming platforms such as BBC, Sky Kids, Sesame Workshop, Netflix, and HBO Max.
Is A Productions a public or private company?
A Productions is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was A Productions founded?
A Productions was founded in 1985. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is A Productions based?
A Productions is headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does A Productions make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Animation Production Services are the primary driver. The others are IP Development.
Who are A Productions's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Blue Zoo Animation Studio, Cyber Group Studios, Lupus Films, Factory (Create), Karrot Entertainment, McKinnon & Saunders and Gigglebug. Broad incumbents are Magic Light Pictures, Studio 100 Media and Tiger Aspect (Endemol Shine).
Does A Productions have an API?
No public API is recorded for A Productions.
What industry is A Productions in?
A Productions's product category is Animation Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADACAG, Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming), with a secondary code of MPADACAJ, Kids & Preschool Animation Production. Its NAICS code is 51211 and its SIC code is 7812.