Name

studio soi

Legal name

Studio Soi GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://studiosoi.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animation Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming) (MPADACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animated Feature Film Production (MPADACAH), Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio) (BPAFAAAF)

Keywords

• Animation production services
• Animated feature films
• Tv series animation
• Mixed media animation
• Commissioned animation

Headquarters

HQ city

Ludwigsburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Animation Production Services: Studio Soi generates revenue by producing animated content commissioned by clients. This includes feature films, TV series, short films, commercials, and station idents. The studio serves broadcasters (BBC, ZDF, RTL+), streaming platforms (Cartoon Network), production companies, advertising agencies, and corporate clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Studio Soi is an independent animation studio that produces commissioned animated content for broadcasters, streaming platforms, production companies, advertising agencies, and corporate clients. Deliverables include animated feature films, TV series, TV specials, short films, station idents, commercials, educational films, music clips, art installations, and animated tutorials, using CG, drawn animation, stop frame, mixed media, and live-action integration techniques.

Product overview

Studio Soi is an independent German animation studio founded in 2003, offering animation production services across multiple formats including feature films, TV series, TV specials, short films, commercials, idents, tutorials, and art installations. The studio works across various animation techniques including CG, drawn animation, stop frame, mixed media, and live-action integration. Their notable productions include the Gruffalo series (TV specials for BBC/ZDF), The Amazing World of Gumball (TV series for Cartoon Network), Rasmus Klump (TV series for ZDF), Pumuckl (live-action integrated animation for RTL+), Rico & Oskar (TV series), La Sirène (feature film), and numerous award-winning short films commissioned by broadcasters like ZDF, BBC, and commercial clients. The studio employs 20-80 people depending on project size and is based in Ludwigsburg, Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Animation Production Services (commissioned feature films, TV series, TV specials, shorts, commercials, idents, tutorials, educational films, art installations, and music clips) End-to-end commissioned animation production services covering concept development, storyboarding, rigging, 3D/2D animation, compositing, and final delivery across CG, drawn animation, stop frame, mixed media, and live-action integration. Delivered to broadcasters, streaming platforms, production companies, advertising agencies, and corporate clients.
• The Gruffalo A 27-minute animated TV special produced for BBC and ZDF in 2009, based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's bestselling children's picture book; uses a mixed-media approach combining CGI characters with miniature model sets.
• The Gruffalo's Child A 27-minute animated TV special produced for BBC and ZDF in 2011, the second installment in the Gruffalo Christmas specials series.
• Room on the Broom An animated TV special produced for BBC and ZDF in 2012, based on the Julia Donaldson/Axel Scheffler picture book about a witch welcoming travelers on her broomstick.
• The Amazing World of Gumball A 240-episode TV series (12 minutes each) produced for Cartoon Network from 2008 to 2018. Studio Soi set up the technical pipeline and CGI elements, later handling 2D inbetweening, rendering, and compositing. The series uses multiple animation styles including traditional animation, puppetry, CGI, stop motion, Flash, and live-action.
• Rasmus Klump A 26-episode TV series (12 minutes each) produced for ZDF from 2014 to 2018, based on the Scandinavian character created by Vilhelm and Carla Hansen in the 1950s. Carsten Bunte served as showrunner.
• Pumuckl A 13-episode TV series (6 minutes each) produced for NEUESUPER and RTL+ from 2020 to 2023, reviving the classic German character created by Ellis Kaut in the 1960s. Studio Soi provided 3D animation integrated into live-action footage, using a custom digital 3D rig.
• Rico & Oskar A 10-episode TV series (6 minutes each) produced for WDR and SAD ORIGAMI from 2020 to 2022, based on Andreas Steinhöfel's book series about two boys in Berlin.
• La Sirène A 90-minute animated feature film co-produced with Les Filmes d'Ici in 2023, set in Iran in 1980, co-produced with teams in France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. Studio Soi provided layouts, 3D models, textures, and animation.
• Torvald and the Fir Tree A 6.5-minute short film commissioned by ZDF in 2005, about the smallest logger in a village who decides to chop down the biggest Christmas tree; Studio Soi's first project.
• The Toto House A 5-minute short film commissioned by TOTO in 2011, promoting their sanitary ware products for the European market launch.
• Lucky Oli A 5-minute educational film commissioned by Deutsche Bahn in 2007, designed to prevent children from having accidents near railroad tracks.
• Street of Specialists A 5-minute art installation commissioned by McKinsey & Company in 2005, a contemplation on movement shown as a 3-screen installation at Humboldt University Berlin.
• Maggi Marienhof Commercials Four 15-second commercials produced for Publicis in 2010 for the German soap opera Marienhof presented by Maggi.
• ZEWA Commercial A 20-second TV commercial produced for Scholz & Friends in 2007, introducing bathroom tissues to the Russian market.
• Swipe Swipe A 4-minute music clip commissioned by WDR in 2019 about the impact of smartphones on families, aired as part of 'Sendung mit der Maus'.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Gruffalo: 10.08 million viewers on BBC1 premiere (43% audience rating), place 14 for the year 2009
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Les Filmes d'IcicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Les Filmes d'Ici co-produced the animated feature film La Sirène with Studio Soi. The film was co-produced with teams in France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. Premiered at Berlinale 2023. Studio Soi provided layouts, 3D models, textures, and animation.
• NEUESUPER GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020NEUESUPER, a Munich-based live-action production company, partnered with Studio Soi for the revival of the classic Pumuckl series. Studio Soi handled all animation production including the digital 3D rig development and integration into live-action footage. 13 episodes produced 2020-2023.
• Sad OrigamicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Sad Origami, Andreas Steinhöfel's production company, partnered with Studio Soi to direct and animate the Rico & Oskar animated series for German television. 10 episodes of 6 minutes each produced 2020-2022 for WDR.
• Filmakademie Baden-WürttembergsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Studio Soi founders came from Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. Several team members serve as visiting tutors at the academy. Studio is located next to the famed Institute of Animation in Ludwigsburg.
• MotionWorksminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010East German animation studio MotionWorks approached Studio Soi for concept work on the TV series Marco Polo. Studio Soi was involved in early story arcs, character and concept designs before parting ways after 4 months due to capacity constraints.
• Magic Light PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Magic Light Pictures co-produced The Gruffalo (2009), The Gruffalo's Child (2011), and Room on the Broom (2012) with Studio Soi. These productions were commissioned by BBC and ZDF and achieved millions of viewers.
• Cartoon Network Studios EuropecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2008Cartoon Network hired Studio Soi to create the teaser for The Amazing World of Gumball and later to produce parts of the series. Studio worked on 240 episodes from 2008-2018.
• BBCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2007BBC commissioned Studio Soi for The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child, and Room on the Broom productions. These achieved major viewership success with The Gruffalo reaching 10.08 million viewers.
• ZDFcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2003ZDF has commissioned numerous Studio Soi productions including short films for Siebenstein show, Rasmus Klump series, and various other productions since 2003.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Blue Zoo Animation Studio: UK-based boutique animation studio producing children's TV series (Q Pootle 5, Bottletop Bill) for BBC and CBeebies. Closely comparable size, broadcaster-client mix, and children's content focus.
• Sun Creature Studio: Danish boutique animation studio (Niko, Teslacam). Comparable in scale, European location, and mixed-media/CG capabilities, serving similar children's animation market.
• Cartoon Saloon: Irish independent animation studio with multiple Oscar nominations (Wolfwalkers, The Breadwinner, Song of the Sea). Directly comparable as a similarly-sized European boutique studio with feature film ambitions and award-driven prestige positioning.
• Studio AKA: London-based independent animation studio producing commercials, shorts, and TV series with comparable boutique scale and award-winning pedigree. Studio Soi co-founder Johannes Weiland previously worked at Studio AKA, reinforcing the direct comparability.
• Lupus Films: UK-based boutique animation studio known for The Snowman and the Snowdog and Ethel & Ernest. Closely comparable in scale, premium children's TV special focus, and BBC commission relationships.

Broad incumbents

• Xilam Animation: French animation studio (Oggy and the Cockroaches, Mr. Magoo). A broader incumbent producing children's series at greater scale, competing for similar European broadcaster commissions.
• Aardman Animations: Larger UK stop-motion and animation studio (Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep). A broader incumbent in the same European premium animation space, with deeper IP ownership and merchandising, but operates at significantly greater scale than Studio Soi.
• Cyber Group Studios: French animation production and distribution company (Gigantosaurus, Zorro). A larger European competitor operating across production and distribution with similar premium children's broadcaster clientele.

Emerging players

• Studio Ponoc: Japanese independent animation studio founded by former Studio Ghibli staff (Mary and the Witch's Flower, Modest Heroes). Comparable boutique scale and feature film ambitions, though geographically separate.

Others

• Magic Light Pictures: UK production company and direct co-production partner on Studio Soi's Gruffalo trilogy and Room on the Broom. Closely related through partnership rather than direct competition, but produces comparable children's animation content.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StudioSoi
• Facebookfacebook.com/StudioSoi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1314071/admin/feed/posts
• Instagraminstagram.com/studio.soi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 studio soi