Blue Spirit
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersAngoulême, France
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Blue Spirit firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Blue Spirit
- Legal name
- BLUE SPIRIT, SAS
- Website
- https://spirit-prod.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Blue Spirit industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animation Production Services
- NAICS
- Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)
- akta.pro primary industry
- 3D/CGI Animation Production (MPADACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Character & Creature Animation (MPADACAE), Outsourced Art/Audio Production Services (2D/3D, Animation, VFX, Audio/VO) (MPAFAKAM), Cloud & Distributed Real-Time Production (Remote ICVFX, Multi-site) (MPAHADAJ)
Keywords
Where Blue Spirit is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Angoulême
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Blue Spirit business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Animation Production: Blue Spirit produces animated series and feature films as a co-producer or production partner, generating revenue through broadcast licensing fees, theatrical distribution, and international sales
- Studio Services: Provides animation and technical services to external clients including CGI production, layout, animation, rendering and compositing services
- Broadcast Licensing: Licenses animated content to broadcasters including TF1, France Télévisions, Canal+, Netflix, Disney, and international television networks
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Blue Spirit product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Blue Spirit is a full-service animation studio that produces animated series and feature films for children and family audiences, and provides animation production services (CGI layout, animation, rendering, lighting, compositing) to external clients including Netflix, Warner Bros Animation, Marvel Studios, TF1, and France Télévisions. The studio operates across Paris, Angoulême, and Montréal with 300+ staff, producing more than 60 hours of programming annually in 2D, 3D CGI, and stop-motion techniques.
Product overview
Blue Spirit is a producer and full-service animation studio founded in 2004, operating across Paris, Angoulême, and Montreal with approximately 300 staff. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of animation products and studio services spanning both co-productions (where they hold ownership stakes and serve as producers) and studio services contracts (where they provide animation work for third-party productions). Key co-produced properties include Blue Eye Samurai (Netflix), Alice & Lewis, The Mysterious Cities of Gold, Arthur and the Children of the Round Table, and feature films like My Life as a Zucchini (César and Oscar-nominated). Studio services include production for Marvel's What If...?, Warner Bros' Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, and other clients. The company produces over 60 hours of animated programming annually across 2D, 3D, and stop-motion techniques. Productions target audiences from preschool (4-6 years) through family and adult animation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Blue Eye Samurai Netflix Adult Animation Original animated series consisting of 8 episodes of 45 minutes each, co-produced with Netflix featuring a samurai protagonist. Won 6 Annie Awards in 2024 including Best FX Animation.
- Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai Warner Bros Animation series with 2 seasons of 13 episodes of 22 minutes each, for which Blue Spirit provided full animation services including CG assets, layout, animation, FX, rendering, lighting, and compositing.
- WHAT IF…? Marvel Studios/Disney+ CG animated series of 10 episodes of 30 minutes each, where Blue Spirit provided CG assets fabrication and animation services.
- Alice & Lewis Original 3D animated series with 52 episodes of 11 minutes targeting 4–7 year-olds, featuring Alice and her rabbit friend Lewis in Wonderland adventures; Season 2 in production. Season 2 holds 44.5% market share among 4–10 year-olds on TF1 TFOU.
- The Mysterious Cities of Gold Heritage adventure co-production with 3 seasons of 78 episodes of 23 minutes each, featuring protagonists Esteban, Zia, and Tao searching for the mysterious cities of gold.
- Arthur and the Children of the Round Table HD-CGI animated series with 100 episodes of 11 minutes and 3 specials of 22 minutes targeting 6–10 year-olds, an epic comedy about the childhood of King Arthur; Season 2 available on Mycanal.
- My Life as a Zucchini (Ma vie de Courgette) Stop-motion feature film of 66 minutes directed by Claude Barras, which won 2 César Awards in 2017 (Best Animated Film and Best Adaptations) and was nominated for an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature. Over 1 million theatrical admissions in France.
- The Prince's Voyage (Le voyage du Prince) Animated feature film of 70 minutes directed by Jean-François Laguionie and Xavier Picard, which won the Honorary Crystal at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2019.
- The Painting (Le Tableau) Feature film of 76 minutes directed by Jean-François Laguionie, nominated for a César for Best Animated Film in 2012.
- Ernest & Célestine (film) Feature film of 80 minutes based on the children's book series by Gabrielle Vincent, co-produced with Folivari and Les Armateurs.
- Ernest & Célestine, The Collection 2D/3D animated series with 2 seasons of 52 episodes of 11 minutes each, based on the Ernest & Célestine children's book series.
- Splat & Seymour 3D animated series with 52 episodes of 11 minutes targeting 4–7 year-olds, based on the best-seller Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton; produced for TF1.
- Mille Bornes Challenge Action-adventure series of 52 episodes of 11 minutes for 6–8 year-olds, based on the classic French card game Mille Bornes.
- Gigantosaurus 3D animated series with 3 seasons of 156 episodes of 11 minutes, for which Blue Spirit provided animation studio services in partnership with Cyber Group Studios.
- Samsam Series with 3 seasons of 52 episodes of 11 minutes, for which Blue Spirit provided animation studio services in partnership with Folivari.
- Loopdidoo 3D animated preschool series with 5 seasons of 260 episodes of 7 minutes each and 2 specials, distributed across multiple international networks.
- Little Chicks (Les P'tites Poules) 3D animated series with 32 episodes of 11 minutes targeting 5–8 year-olds, based on the illustrated books Les P'tites Poules.
- The Secret of Kells Feature film of 75 minutes for which Blue Spirit provided 2D background, additional animation, and compositing services in partnership with Les Armateurs.
- Tom Sawyer Series with 1 season of 26 episodes of 26 minutes, for which Blue Spirit provided animation studio services in partnership with Cyber Group Studios.
- Pachamama Feature film of 72 minutes in HD 2D-CGI for which Blue Spirit provided studio services in partnership with Folivari.
- Studio Services Full-service animation production offering for external clients, including CG assets fabrication, CGI layout, CGI animation, rendering, lighting, compositing, pre-production 3D, layout 3D, and editing, delivered by Blue Spirit's 300+ staff across Paris, Angoulême, and Montréal.
Quantifiable outcome
- 6 Annie Awards won by Blue Eye Samurai in 2024 including Best FX Animation
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Blue Spirit
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Blue Spirit technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Blue Spirit partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- NetflixcoreBlue Spirit provides animation production services for Netflix Original anime series including Blue Eye Samurai. Netflix announced Blue Spirit as a key animation studio partner at Annecy 2023, with multiple seasons of co-produced content.
- Warner Bros AnimationcoreBlue Spirit serves as animation services provider for Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai series (2 seasons), produced for HBO Max/Max Original.
- Marvel StudioscoreBlue Spirit provided animation services for What If...? Disney+ series, working with Marvel Studios on this CG animated anthology.
- FolivaricoreLong-standing co-production partner on multiple series including Ernest & Célestine, Samsam, Arthur and the Children of the Round Table, and Gigantosaurus.
- Les ArmateurscoreFrench production company and co-production partner on films including The Secret of Kells, Ernest & Célestine, Ponpon, Runes, and Les Grandes Grandes Vacances.
- TF1coreMajor French broadcaster and co-production partner for series including Alice & Lewis, Mille Bornes Challenge, Splat & Seymour, and Kikoumba.
- France TélévisionsmajorFrench public broadcaster group partnering on multiple animated productions including The Mysterious Cities of Gold seasons.
- Canal+majorFrench pay-TV broadcaster and co-production partner for Arthur and the Children of the Round Table Season 2, OVNI series, and various other productions.
- DisneymajorDisney partners with Blue Spirit through Marvel Studios What If...? series and The Borrowers production with Disney involvement.
- Mercury FilmworksminorCanadian animation studio mentioned in Seraphim pipeline announcement, representing potential collaboration for high-end animation production.
- Newen StudioscoreBlue Spirit is a subsidiary of Newen Studios, part of the Groupe TF1. Newen Studios announced acquisition and strengthening of animation presence with Digital Banana and Brain Comet acquisitions.
- Cyber Group StudiosminorCo-production partner for Gigantosaurus, Mini Ninjas, and Tom Sawyer animated series.
- Gebeka FilmsminorFrench theatrical distributor for Blue Spirit films including My Life as a Zucchini and The Prince's Voyage.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Blue Spirit competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Xilam Animation: French independent animation studio producing original series (Oggy, Zig & Sharko) and feature films, with both IP ownership and studio services. Direct comparable in size, geography, and dual co-production/work-for-hire model.
- Gaumont Animation: Division of Gaumont producing animated series and films for kids and family audiences globally. Closely comparable as a French-headquartered animation producer competing for the same broadcaster and streaming commissions.
- Illumination Paris (ex-Illumination Mac Guff): Paris-based animation studio (formerly Illumination Mac Guff) producing CG feature films for Universal/Illumination. Highly comparable as a French 3D animation studio providing studio services and co-production on global IP.
- Ankama Animation: French animation and games studio producing series and feature films (Dofus, Wakfu). Comparable as a France-based independent animation producer with both co-productions and external services.
- Cyber Group Studios: French animation studio producing and co-producing children's series (Gigantosaurus, Mini Ninjas) for global broadcasters. Directly comparable as a co-production partner and French animation peer.
- Folivari: French animation production company (Ernest & Célestine, Gigantosaurus, Samsam) and a current Blue Spirit co-production partner. Directly comparable as a French animation co-producer on overlapping IP.
- Mercury Filmworks: Canadian animation studio collaborating with Blue Spirit on the Seraphim pipeline. Comparable as an Ottowa-based 2D animation house producing series for global streamers and broadcasters.
- Mikros Animation: Paris-based animation and VFX studio providing feature animation and CGI services to global studios. Comparable as a French animation services provider serving Hollywood and European productions.
Regional players
- Studio 4°C: Japanese animation studio producing high-end anime series and feature films. Comparable as a non-French animation production studio competing in the same premium adult/family animation category.
Emerging players
- Cartoon Saloon: Irish independent animation studio producing critically acclaimed feature films (Wolfwalkers, Song of the Sea). Comparable as a boutique European animation studio with award-winning feature film pedigree.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Blue Spirit social profiles
Digital presenceBlue Spirit compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Blue Spirit financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Blue Spirit leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles20 records
Blue Spirit subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Blue Spirit funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Blue Spirit 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 Blue Spirit
What does Blue Spirit do?
Blue Spirit is a full-service animation studio that produces animated series and feature films for children and family audiences, and provides animation production services (CGI layout, animation, rendering, lighting, compositing) to external clients including Netflix, Warner Bros Animation, Marvel Studios, TF1, and France Télévisions. The studio operates across Paris, Angoulême, and Montréal with 300+ staff, producing more than 60 hours of programming annually in 2D, 3D CGI, and stop-motion techniques.
Is Blue Spirit a public or private company?
Blue Spirit is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Blue Spirit founded?
Blue Spirit was founded in 2004. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Blue Spirit based?
Blue Spirit is headquartered in Angoulême, France, in the Europe region.
How does Blue Spirit make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Animation Production is the primary driver. The others are studio Services and broadcast Licensing.
Who are Blue Spirit's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Xilam Animation, Gaumont Animation, Illumination Paris (ex-Illumination Mac Guff), Ankama Animation, Cyber Group Studios, Folivari, Mercury Filmworks and Mikros Animation. Studio 4°C is listed as a regional player. Cartoon Saloon is listed as an emerging player.
Does Blue Spirit have an API?
No public API is recorded for Blue Spirit.
What industry is Blue Spirit in?
Blue Spirit's product category is Animation Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADACAB, 3D/CGI Animation Production, with a secondary code of MPADACAE, Character & Creature Animation. Its NAICS code is 51219 and its SIC code is 7812.