Sherbet

What Sherbet does

Sherbet is a privately held independent production company and animation studio founded in 1996 and headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The studio produces 2D and 3D animation, short films, documentaries, and television advertising campaigns, and is credited with producing the first full-length animated documentary for British television. Its work spans three core segments: TV advertising produced on behalf of major global advertising agencies for brand advertisers; original short films and documentaries commissioned by UK broadcasters including BBC and Channel 4; and 2D/3D animation services that adapt the work of established illustrators and designers.

The company operates with a small team of 1-10 employees under Managing Director and Executive Producer Jonathan Bairstow, who is also identified as a founder. Its technology base is built on 2D and 3D animation production capabilities and the distinctive creative styles of an expanding in-house director roster, rather than on proprietary software platforms. Sherbet monetizes primarily through project-based production fees (one-time licenses) for commercial campaigns and licensed animation content to broadcasters, with no publicly disclosed pricing or recurring-revenue contracts. Distribution flows through direct relationships with UK broadcasters, advertising agency partnerships (notably The Leith Agency for Irn-Bru work), and the international film festival circuit.

Sherbet's credibility is anchored by a BAFTA for Best Short Animation (for 'The Man With The Beautiful Eyes' in 2000), a BAFTA nomination for 'Camouflage' in 2002, multiple UK advertising awards for the 2007 Irn-Bru 'Phenomenal Xmas' campaign, and recognition at international festivals including Ottawa and Berlin. The company does not appear to have raised external funding, has no disclosed parent company, and shows no recent M&A, leadership changes, or product launches in the available data.

Name

Sherbet

Legal name

Sherbet

Website

https://sherbet.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sherbet is a London-based independent animation studio founded in 1996 that produces 2D and 3D animation, TV advertising campaigns, short films, and documentaries for global advertising agencies, UK broadcasters (BBC, Channel 4), and major brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animation and Film Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

2D (Traditional & Digital) Animation Production (MPADACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

3D Product/Explainer Animation (MPAHACAD), Animation Production (2D/3D/Stop-Motion) (MPAAAMAD)

Keywords

• Animation production services
• TV advertising campaigns
• Documentary film production
• 2D 3D animation studio
• Short film production

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

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. TV Advertising Production: Producing TV advertising campaigns for global advertising agencies on a project basis
2. Short Films and Documentaries: Producing short films and documentaries including the first full-length animated documentary for British television, broadcast on TV
3. Animation Licensing: Licensing animation content to broadcasters and other media outlets

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sherbet is an independent production company and animation studio that produces TV advertising campaigns for global advertising agencies, short films and documentaries (including the first full-length animated documentary for British television), and provides 2D and 3D animation services that adapt the work of established illustrators and designers for broadcast and commercial media.

Product overview

Sherbet is a BAFTA-winning independent production company and animation studio offering a unified portfolio of creative services. The core offerings include television advertising campaigns (produced through major global advertising agencies), short films (including BAFTA-winning animations), documentaries (including the first full-length animated documentary for British television), and 2D/3D animation services. The studio develops strong original styles and adapts the work of established illustrators and designers. Services span film, documentary, and commercial production across multiple media formats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Television Advertising Campaigns Production of TV advertising campaigns through major global advertising agencies, including animated and live-action commercials for brands such as Irn-Bru, Converse, Yorkshire Tea, Mastercard, and NASCAR.
• Short Films Award-winning short animated and live-action films, including BAFTA-winning productions such as The Man With The Beautiful Eyes and Camouflage, and experimental works broadcast on British television.
• Documentaries Documentary production including the first full-length animated documentary made for British television (Guantanamo Bay: The Hunger Strike for Amnesty International), covering social and political subjects.
• 2D Animation Two-dimensional animation services adapting established illustrators' and designers' styles for broadcast, advertising, and digital media applications.
• 3D Animation

Quantifiable outcome

• BAFTA for Best Short Animation (The Man With The Beautiful Eyes)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• BBCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor UK broadcaster for film and documentary projects including The Enemy Within, CINAGE, and Hamlet's Soliloquy
• Channel 4coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK broadcaster partner for The Man With The Beautiful Eyes and Monkey Dust productions
• The Leith AgencycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdvertising agency partner for Irn-Bru campaigns including The Snowman and Animals commercials
• Spanner FilmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDocumentary production company partner for Age of Stupid: War, Smash and Grab, and The Story of the Pink Panthers
• Tonto FilmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction partner for Da Vinci's Demons
• Film LondonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm organization providing funding and support for The Waking Dream production
• Ideas TapsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative platform supporting Arlene film production
• Arts Council England (ACE)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded Animate! Scheme for Camouflage production along with Channel 4 TV

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Regional players

• Buck: US-based design and animation studio producing commercials, branded content, and short films. Comparable service mix (animation for advertising) but primarily serves North American clients rather than competing directly in the UK.

Direct peers

• Nexus Studios: London animation and film studio producing commercials, short films, and branded content. Closely comparable in services (animated and live-action commercial production) and target clients (agencies and brands).
• Lupus Films: London-based animation production company behind 'The Snowman and the Snowdog' and other TV specials. Comparable as a UK animation boutique producing both commercials-adjacent and broadcaster-commissioned content.
• Blue Zoo Animation Studio: London-based independent animation studio producing commercials, broadcast content, and kids' programming. Comparable in service mix (animation production for advertising and TV) and UK-headquartered scale.
• Aardman Animations: BAFTA and Academy Award-winning UK animation studio producing commercials, short films, and features. Highly comparable as a UK-based animation studio serving broadcasters and global brands with a similar boutique creative reputation.
• Passion Pictures: London-based independent animation and production studio known for commercials and short films, including Oscar-winning work. Directly comparable in city, business model (independent production company), and creative-driven client roster.
• Hype: London animation and design studio producing commercials and branded content. Comparable in offering animated commercials for global brands and agencies from a UK boutique base.
• Studio AKA: London independent animation studio producing commercials, short films, and series content. Comparable as a BAFTA-recognized UK animation boutique with a similar mix of advertising and broadcast clients.

Broad incumbents

• Moving Picture Company (MPC): Global VFX and animation studio headquartered in London with major advertising and film work. Overlaps with Sherbet on animated commercial production but operates at much larger scale and scope.
• Framestore: Large London-based VFX and animation studio with film, advertising, and immersive divisions. Comparable in animation and commercial production capability but at significantly greater scale and broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wearesherbet
• Facebookfacebook.com/weareSherbet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sherbet
• Instagraminstagram.com/wearesherbet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Sherbet