Cartobaleno
Cartobaleno is a privately held Italian 2D animation studio in Scarperia e San Piero, Tuscany, producing original animated TV series, feature films, and shorts for broadcasters and publishers, and offering animation, illustration, and promotional services to consumer brands across Europe.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersScarperia, Italy
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cartobaleno does
Cartobaleno SRL is a privately held Italian 2D animation studio headquartered in Scarperia e San Piero, province of Florence, Tuscany. Founded in 2001, the studio designs, develops, and produces animated content for children and family audiences while providing animation production services to third-party clients. Its portfolio spans 21 animated properties — including original TV series (Atchoo!, Mortina, Myth Club, Flag&Faly), co-productions (The Davincibles, The Qpiz, Le ricette di Arturo & Kiwi), TV specials (Benvenuti a Coccoloba), feature films (Prendiluna), and short films — alongside recurring work for major Italian broadcasters, publishers, and consumer brands. The studio operates with a four co-CEO leadership model combining animation direction, direction, executive production, and art direction, and employs between 11 and 50 staff.
Cartobaleno's core technology is built around 2D animation techniques — traditional 2D, paperless 2D, and cut-out animation — supported by internal capabilities in model pack development, character design, storyboarding, animation direction, and compositing. A portion of productions is certified under the EcoMuvi sustainability discipline. Production is geographically centered in Italy with documented co-production and funding relationships extending to Ireland, France, and Spain.
The studio monetizes through five primary streams: (1) original content production licensed to broadcasters and streaming platforms on royalty terms; (2) animation services for third-party production companies (pre-production, animation, post-production, model pack supervision); (3) publishing illustration services for children's book publishers (clean color, style guides); (4) promotional animation and book trailers for consumer brands and publishers; and (5) public funding co-financing through Creative Europe MEDIA, the Italian national film fund (Fondo per lo sviluppo degli investimenti nel cinema e nell'audiovisivo), Italian Tax Credit, PR FESR Toscana 2021-2027, and Screen Ireland. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is provided via B2B quotation. Customer segments are children's entertainment, publishing houses, and consumer brands. Distribution is achieved via direct sales to broadcasters, co-production partnerships with European studios, and event-driven business development at major international animation markets (Bologna, Annecy, MIPCOM, Cartoon Forum, Cartoons on the Bay, MIA Roma).
Cartobaleno firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cartobaleno
- Legal name
- Cartobaleno SRL
- Website
- https://cartobaleno.it
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cartobaleno is a privately held Italian 2D animation studio in Scarperia e San Piero, Tuscany, producing original animated TV series, feature films, and shorts for broadcasters and publishers, and offering animation, illustration, and promotional services to consumer brands across Europe.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cartobaleno industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animation Production Services
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Teleproduction and Other Postproduction Services (512191)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animation Production (2D/3D/Stop-Motion) (MPAAAMAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Kids & Preschool Animation Production (MPADACAJ), Outsourced Art/Audio Production Services (2D/3D, Animation, VFX, Audio/VO) (MPAFAKAM), Performance Creative & Ad Production (Dynamic/Iterative) (BPAFACAI)
Keywords
Where Cartobaleno is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Scarperia
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Cartobaleno business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Original Content Production: Development and production of proprietary animated TV series and films for licensing and distribution to broadcasters and streaming platforms
- Animation Services: Pre-production, animation, and post-production services for third-party clients including model pack creation, storyboarding, animation direction, and compositing
- Publishing Illustration: Illustration services for children's books and publishing houses including clean color work and graphic design
- Promotional Animation: Creation of promotional videos, book trailers, TV spots, and marketing content for brands and companies
- Public Funding and Grants: Co-financing through Creative Europe MEDIA, Italian national film fund (Fondo per lo sviluppo degli investimenti nel cinema e nell'audiovisivo), Tax Credit, and regional funds (PR FESR Toscana 2021-2027)
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Cartobaleno product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cartobaleno is a 2D animation studio that develops and produces original animated content (TV series, feature films, short films) for children's entertainment and provides animation production services to third-party clients. The studio offers end-to-end animation production including pre-production, model pack creation, storyboarding, animation direction, compositing, promotional video production, and publishing illustration. Its portfolio includes original IP such as Atchoo!, Mortina, The Davincibles, Le ricette di Arturo & Kiwi, and the feature film Prendiluna, produced with broadcasters RAI and Sky and international co-production partners.
Product overview
Cartobaleno is a 2D animation studio and production company based in Scarperia e San Piero, Florence, Italy. The company produces original animated content including TV series (Atchoo!, Mortina, The Davincibles, The Qpiz, Le ricette di Arturo & Kiwi, Flag&Faly), feature films (Prendiluna), and short films. They also offer animation production services across pre-production, animation, promotional content, and publishing illustration. Their portfolio includes projects targeting children ages 3-10 as well as family audiences. The company works with major Italian and international broadcasters (RAI, Sky), publishers (Mondadori, Giunti), and media companies. Their animation techniques include paperless 2D, traditional 2D, cut-out animation, and 2D-3D mixed productions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pre-production & Animation Services
Companies that use Cartobaleno
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Cartobaleno technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Cartobaleno partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Treehouse RepubliccoreCo-production partner for Mortina TV series (52x12', 2024), an animated adaptation of Barbara Cantini's book series published by Mondadori. Treehouse Republic handled Irish production aspects with support from Screen Ireland.
- Studio CampedellicoreLong-standing co-production partner for feature film Prendiluna and animated series including Atchoo! and Martin Got a Box.
- Samka ProductionsminorCo-production partner for Benvenuti a Coccoloba TV Special (24', 2023), in collaboration with Red Castle Mediaconsulting.
- DogHeadcoreProduction partner for The Game Catcher TV series (52x7', 2021-2023). Provided animation direction and model pack supervision services.
- Book on a TreeminorCo-production partner for FLAG&FALY animated series (52x11', 2025) targeting children ages 4-6.
- RAI FictioncoreMajor Italian public broadcaster and co-production partner for multiple animated series including Mortina, The Davincibles, Atchoo!, and Le ricette di Arturo & Kiwi.
- MondadoricoreMajor Italian publishing house. Publisher of Mortina book series that was adapted into animated series. Also client for book trailer animations.
- SkycoreMajor European satellite broadcaster referenced as a key client and broadcast partner.
- UniversalcoreMajor entertainment company referenced as a key client for animation production services.
- Sardine ProductionsminorCo-production partner for Sport Girlz animated series project (52x11', 2022).
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cartobaleno competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Studio Campedelli: Italian 2D animation studio that co-produced Prendiluna, Atchoo!, and Martin Got a Box with Cartobaleno. A long-standing co-production partner with comparable scale, children-focused 2D output, and similar Italian public-funding orientation.
- Cyber Group Studios: French independent animation studio specializing in children's CGI and 2D series with global distribution. Operates in the same boutique-to-mid-tier segment of European children's animation, with similar co-production and public-funding reliance.
- Mondo TV: Italian-listed animation production and distribution group with a portfolio including Heidi, YooHoo to the Rescue, and Sylvanian Families. Operates the same Italian animation cluster as Cartobaleno, spanning original IP ownership, co-productions, and global distribution.
- Rainbow S.r.l. Italian 2D/CGI animation studio behind Winx Club and 44 Cats; Cartobaleno has contributed animation services to Rainbow's Winx Club series (2008-2019), making Rainbow a natural direct peer in Italian children's animation with shared service and original-IP models.
- Sardine Productions: Independent Italian/European animation studio that co-produced Sport Girlz with Cartobaleno. Closely matched in scale and business model, focused on 2D children's series with co-financing structures.
- Treehouse Republic: Irish 2D animation studio that co-produced Mortina with Cartobaleno (supported by Screen Ireland). Operates in the same European co-production ecosystem targeting children's TV with a comparable boutique scale.
Broad incumbents
- WildBrain: Canadian children's entertainment company with global IP such as Strawberry Shortcake, Inspector Gadget, and Teletubbies. Competes with Cartobaleno for broadcaster commissions and co-production slots in the international kids' animation market.
- Gaumont Animation: Animation arm of major French studio Gaumont producing children's series and family features. Larger and broader than Cartobaleno, but competes in the same European animated series commissioning market for broadcasters.
- Studio 100: Belgian children's entertainment company (Maya the Bee, Heidi, Blinky Bill) with full vertical integration across animation, consumer products, and theme parks. Wider incumbent referenced on Cartobaleno's partner network; comparable children-animation focus but vastly larger scale.
- Zodiak Kids & Family (Banijay): European children's content arm of Banijay, co-produced The Qpiz and The Davincibles with Cartobaleno. A broader incumbent with deeper library, more territories, and significantly larger scale — comparable in children's IP focus but very different in size.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cartobaleno social profiles
Digital presenceCartobaleno financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cartobaleno leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Cartobaleno funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cartobaleno 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 Cartobaleno
What does Cartobaleno do?
Cartobaleno is a 2D animation studio that develops and produces original animated content (TV series, feature films, short films) for children's entertainment and provides animation production services to third-party clients. The studio offers end-to-end animation production including pre-production, model pack creation, storyboarding, animation direction, compositing, promotional video production, and publishing illustration. Its portfolio includes original IP such as Atchoo!, Mortina, The Davincibles, Le ricette di Arturo & Kiwi, and the feature film Prendiluna, produced with broadcasters RAI and Sky and international co-production partners.
Is Cartobaleno a public or private company?
Cartobaleno is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Cartobaleno founded?
Cartobaleno was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cartobaleno based?
Cartobaleno is headquartered in Scarperia, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Cartobaleno make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Original Content Production is the primary driver. The others are animation Services, publishing Illustration, promotional Animation and public Funding and Grants.
Who are Cartobaleno's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Studio Campedelli, Cyber Group Studios, Mondo TV, Rainbow S.r.l., Sardine Productions and Treehouse Republic. Broad incumbents are WildBrain, Gaumont Animation, Studio 100 and Zodiak Kids & Family (Banijay).
Does Cartobaleno have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cartobaleno.
What industry is Cartobaleno in?
Cartobaleno's product category is Animation Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAAMAD, Animation Production (2D/3D/Stop-Motion), with a secondary code of MPADACAJ, Kids & Preschool Animation Production. Its NAICS code is 51211 and its SIC code is 7812.