What Mad Entertainment does

Mad Entertainment s.p.a. is a Naples-based creative production company founded in 2010 by the Stella family (Luciano Stella, Maria Carolina Terzi, Carlo Stella, and Lorenza Stella), operating as a vertically integrated studio for animation, documentary, and fiction film production. The company operates across three content pillars — animation features and TV series (including L'Arte della Felicità, Gatta Cenerentola, Yaya e Lennie – The Walking Liberty, and Food Wizards), live-action fiction features and TV series (including Mario Martone's Nostalgia in competition at Cannes 2022 and Pesci Piccoli on Amazon Prime Video), and documentaries (including John Turturro's Passione, Crazy for Football, and Napoli Magica). Underlying technology centers on 2D and 3D computer graphics animation, visual effects, and traditional documentary/fiction production pipelines.

The company monetizes through one-time licensing of productions to broadcasters and distributors, supplemented by professional services revenue from VFX, commercial spots, and videoclip production for external clients. Its go-to-market relies on premiering content at international film festivals (Cannes, Venice, Locarno, Rome), earning industry awards (3 David di Donatello, 2 Nastro d'Argento, European Film Award for Best Animated Feature 2014), and securing co-production and distribution partnerships — most notably with Italian public broadcaster Rai across multiple productions since 2010, and more recently with Amazon Prime Video for streaming distribution. Target customers are enterprise buyers: public and private broadcasters, streaming platforms, theatrical distributors, museums, and brands commissioning branded content. The company serves general audiences via theatrical and broadcast releases, with growing focus on children's educational animation (Food Wizards) and adult animation series.

Name

Mad Entertainment

Legal name

MAD ENTERTAINMENT s.p.a.

Website

https://madentertainment.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mad Entertainment is a Naples-based Italian production company (founded 2010) producing animated features, documentaries, and fiction films for broadcasters like Rai, streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video, and international film festivals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film and Animation Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Motion Picture and Video Production (512110)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming) (MPADACAG)

Keywords

• Animation production
• Documentary production
• Film production services
• Visual effects services
• Television content production

Headquarters

HQ city

Naples

HQ country

Italy

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. Film and Animation Production: Production of animated features, series, documentaries, and fiction films for theatrical release, television broadcasting, and streaming platforms. Revenue generated through production deals, co-productions with broadcasters like Rai, and international distribution.
2. VFX and Animation Services: Visual effects and animation services provided to external clients including commercials, television programs, and film productions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Mad Entertainment is a Naples-based creative production factory that produces animated feature films and series, fiction films and series, and documentaries for theatrical release, television broadcasting, and streaming platforms. The company co-produces with broadcasters such as Rai and distributes via streaming platforms including Amazon Prime Video, and also offers VFX, commercial, and videoclip production services to external clients.

Product overview

MAD ENTERTAINMENT s.p.a. is a creative production factory founded in Naples in 2010, specializing in animation and live-action content for cinema and television. The company operates across three main content pillars: Animation (feature films and TV series), Fiction (feature films and TV series), and Documentaries. Key animated productions include 'L'Arte della Felicità' (2013), 'Gatta Cenerentola' (award-winning 2017 feature), 'Food Wizards' (2022 TV series), and 'Yaya e Lennie – The Walking Liberty' (2021). Fiction productions include Mario Martone's 'Nostalgia' (Cannes 2022) and 'Pesci Piccoli' (Amazon Prime Video 2023). Documentary work features 'Napoli Magica' (Torino Film Festival 2022) and John Turturro's 'Passione' (2010). The company also provides production services including VFX, commercials, and videoclip production for clients including Rai, Enel, and various music artists. Located at Piazza del Gesù nuovo 33, Naples.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• L'Arte della Felicità Animated feature film from 2013 directed by Alessandro Rak, telling the story of Sergio, a taxi driver in Naples confronting life's upheavals. Won the European Film Award for Best European Animated Feature Film in 2014 and the Venice Film Festival Arca Cinema Giovani Award in 2013.
• Gatta Cenerentola Animated feature film (86 minutes) set on a stationary ship in Naples port, offering a modern Cinderella story. Won multiple awards including David di Donatello for Best Producer and Best Digital Effects (2018) and the European Film Award consideration at Capri Hollywood.
• Yaya e Lennie – The Walking Liberty Animated feature film (98 minutes, 2021) directed by Alessandro Rak, set in a post-apocalyptic jungle where two free spirits fight to preserve their freedom against an oppressive institution.
• Rossosperanza Animated feature film in competition at the Locarno Film Festival 2023, set in 1990 Italy following children sent to a villa to become 'normal' who encounter an escaped tiger.
• Nostalgia Feature film directed by Mario Martone, in competition at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, following Felice's return to his birthplace Rione Sanità in Naples after 40 years.
• Pesci Piccoli TV series (2023) with 6 episodes, available on Amazon Prime Video, following office workers at a provincial branch of Tree Of Us dealing with workplace challenges.
• Food Wizards Animated TV series (2022) with 26 episodes of 11 minutes each, following three young Food Wizards who help children discover the magic of healthy eating through adventures.
• L'Arte della Felicità 2

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RaicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Long-standing production partnership with Italian public broadcaster Rai for television productions including documentaries, animated series, and TV specials. Multiple co-productions including L'Arte della Felicità (Rai 3), La Cantata dei Pastori (Rai 1), and various other productions.
• Rai CinemacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for theatrical films including Come Prima, produced in collaboration with Rosebud Entertainment Pictures and Alcatraz Films.
• Amazon Prime VideocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partnership for streaming series content including Pesci Piccoli (6 episodes, 2023) available on Amazon Prime Video.
• Rosebud Entertainment PicturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for the film Come Prima.
• Alcatraz FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for the film Come Prima.
• FIGC (Italian Football Federation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport provided for the production of Crazy For Football - Matti per il Calcio, a TV movie about psychiatric patients and football.
• Graffiti MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for videoclip productions including Il Sirtaki di Icaro and Gioia nel mondo for the Zecchino d'Oro series.
• Antoniano ProductionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for children's animation content including Zecchino d'Oro series.
• EnelminorOthersProduced CO2 neutral music spot for Enel, projected during Eros Ramazzotti's Noi World Tour 2013.
• MANN (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduced Spot Mann in 2016 for the National Archaeological Museum of Naples in collaboration with OBVIA.
• OBVIAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for the production of Spot Mann for MANN museum.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cattleya: Leading Italian independent film and TV production company producing scripted series and features for Italian broadcasters and global platforms. Comparable business model: production-deal-driven, multi-format (fiction and series), Rai/streamer relationships.
• Wildside: Italian production company producing high-end series and films for Italian and international buyers. Comparable as a production-deal-driven company with strong Rai and streamer relationships.
• Indigo Film: Naples-based Italian film and television production company. Comparable to Mad Entertainment as a Southern Italian production house producing prestige Italian cinema and TV series for the national market, often with Rai involvement.
• Cartoon Saloon: Irish animation studio producing auteur animated feature films (The Breadwinner, Wolfwalkers). Closely comparable as a small-to-mid-sized European animation studio focused on festival-grade, award-winning animated features rather than mass-market children's content.
• Fandango: Major Italian film production and distribution company producing arthouse and commercial Italian cinema. Directly comparable in producing Italian feature films for theatrical release and international festival circuit.
• Taodue (Cattleya group): Italian TV and film production company specializing in scripted series and TV movies for Italian broadcasters. Comparable in producing scripted fiction for Rai and operating a project-based production model.

Emerging players

• Lupus Films: UK-based independent animation studio producing animated specials and series (The Snowman and the Snowdog, Ethel & Ernest). Comparable as a small European animation house producing both TV specials and longer-form animated content.

Others

• Rai Cinema: Film production and distribution arm of Italian public broadcaster RAI. Currently a key co-production partner for Mad Entertainment (e.g., Come Prima) and a structural enabler/financier of Italian cinema, representing both a customer and an adjacent industry player.

Broad incumbents

• Mondo TV: Italian animation production and distribution group producing children's animated series and licensing globally. Comparable animation production capability, though operating at significantly larger scale and focused on children's/family IP rather than adult animation.

Regional players

• Lucky Red: Italian film distribution and production company specializing in Italian and European arthouse cinema. Comparable in handling Italian theatrical distribution and working with festival-circuit Italian productions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbAGrkybvEyTZa8x4Iwtp1Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/MADMoviesAnimationDocumentaries
• Instagraminstagram.com/_madentertainment_
• Xx.com/madmusicanimdoc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Mad Entertainment