Sardinha em Lata
Sardinha em Lata is a Lisbon-based animation studio producing animated feature films, series, short films, and commissioned institutional content using 2D, 3D, and stop-motion techniques for public broadcasters, EU institutions, and international co-production partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersLisbon, Portugal
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Sardinha em Lata does
Sardinha em Lata is a Lisbon-based animation film production studio founded in 2007, operating as a privately held Portuguese limited liability company (Sardinha em Lata, Lda.) with a fixed core team of approximately 20–25 professionals. The studio produces original animated feature films, television series, and short films, alongside commissioned advertising and institutional animation content for clients including the Portuguese public broadcaster RTP, the European Commission, Parques de Sintra, and EMEPC. Its technical foundation is multi-technique animation capability: 2D, 3D/CGI, stop-motion, cutout/paper cut-out, rotoscopia, mixed live-action/animation, volume animation, charcoal on paper, and paint-on-glass. The studio owns and operates a dedicated stop-motion filming facility in Lisbon with six sets, professional lighting, a motion control robot, and camera equipment (Canon RP, Xeen lenses), which is also rented to external productions.
The business model is a hybrid of three revenue streams: (1) commissioned animation production for institutional and commercial clients on a project-by-project basis with custom pricing determined by technique, duration, character count, and complexity; (2) original long-form animation co-productions with international partners across Portugal, Spain, France, Brazil, Mozambique, and Galicia, financed through national and regional film institutes (ICA, ICAA, ANCINE, CNC, Junta de Galicia), broadcaster pre-sales, and co-production treaties, with revenue accruing through licensing, royalties, and distribution rights; and (3) studio and equipment rental services offered to external filmmakers. Distribution of original works flows primarily through the international animation festival circuit (MONSTRA, CINANIMA, Annecy, Hiroshima, Krakow) followed by broadcaster and SVOD licensing (RTP, RTVE, TV3) and DVD.
The studio is led by founder and CEO Nuno Beato, with Alessandra Casado serving as Executive Producer. Sardinha em Lata maintains an extensive international co-production network and has accumulated 18 years of festival recognition, including awards at Hiroshima IAF, Krakow, AniFest, Erarta, CINANIMA, and Monstra. The company has no disclosed external investors, parent company, or funding rounds, operating as an independently financed production studio.
Sardinha em Lata firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sardinha em Lata
- Legal name
- Sardinha em Lata, Lda.
- Website
- https://sardinhaemlata.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sardinha em Lata is a Lisbon-based animation studio producing animated feature films, series, short films, and commissioned institutional content using 2D, 3D, and stop-motion techniques for public broadcasters, EU institutions, and international co-production partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sardinha em Lata industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animation Production Services
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219), Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (512199)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Stop-Motion & Hybrid Animation (MPAHACAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Short-Form Animation (Shorts, Web Series) (MPADACAI), Stop-Motion Animation Production (MPADACAC), Animation Production (2D/3D/Stop-Motion) (MPAAAMAD)
Keywords
Where Sardinha em Lata is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lisbon
- HQ country
- Portugal
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sardinha em Lata business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Commissioned Animation Production: The studio produces commissioned animation content for clients including broadcasters (RTP), institutional clients (European Commission, Parques de Sintra, EMEPC), and private companies. Revenue is generated per project through direct client contracts. Pricing varies by technique, number of characters, number of sets, film duration, and complexity.
- Original Feature Film and Series Co-Productions: Sardinha em Lata co-produces long-form animation content (feature films and TV series) with international partners (France, Spain, Brazil, Mozambique). These projects are typically funded through a combination of national film institute financing (ICA, ICAA, etc.), regional government support, broadcaster pre-purchases, and international co-production treaties.
- Studio and Equipment Rental: The studio rents its stop-motion filming studio (including sets), professional camera equipment (Canon RP, lenses), lighting (Fresnel, Dedolight, LED panels), and motion control rig to external production companies and filmmakers on a day-rate basis.
- Short Film Production (Festival/Distribution): The studio produces original short films (often with public funding from MC, ICA, RTP) as experimental laboratory work. These films generate revenue through festival selections, distribution rights, and broadcast licensing, while serving to develop techniques and provide opportunities for new authors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing — no standard tiers published |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Sardinha em Lata product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sardinha em Lata is a Lisbon-based animation production studio that creates original feature films, television series, short films, and commissioned advertising/institutional content. It works across multiple animation techniques including 2D, 3D/CGI, stop-motion, cutout, rotoscopia, and mixed live-action/animation, applying the technique best suited to each project. In addition to producing content, the studio rents out its dedicated stop-motion filming facilities and equipment (including a motion control robot) to external filmmakers and production companies.
Product overview
Sardinha em Lata is a Portuguese animation studio founded in 2007, operating as a unified production house rather than a software platform. The company produces animated feature films, television series, and short films both independently and in international co-production. It also creates commissioned advertising and institutional content for corporate and public clients. The studio offers animation production services (including 2D, 3D, and stop-motion techniques) and rents out its specialized stop-motion filming studio with professional equipment. The product portfolio encompasses the full animation value chain—from original IP development to post-production services—serving both the entertainment industry and institutional clients.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Feature Films (Longas-Metragens) Feature-length animated films produced independently or in international co-production, including 'Os Demónios do Meu Avô' (2022), 'Decorado' (2025), 'Ana, En Passant' (2025), 'Leonor e Benjamim' (2026), 'Kibwe', and 'Speransa'. Produced for theatrical release, broadcaster pre-purchase, and festival distribution; financed through national film institutes (ICA, ICAA, ANCINE), regional governments, and co-production treaties.
- Series (Séries) Animated television series produced for broadcasters and institutional clients, including 'O Diário de Alice', 'The Saskatoons', 'Ema & Gui', 'Os Informais', 'Pulga Atrás da Orelha', and 'CORDIS'. Series are co-produced with international partners and licensed to broadcasters such as RTP, RTVE, TV3, and StorFisk/Imira Entertainment.
- Short Films (Curtas-Metragens) Original animated short films produced independently or in co-production, including award-winning works such as 'Cândido', 'Desassossego', 'Viagem a Cabo Verde', 'O Sapateiro', 'Os Olhos do Farol', 'The Monkey', 'Mi Vida en Tus Manos', and 'Híseis'. These films generate festival exposure, distribution rights, and broadcast licensing while developing techniques and new authorship.
- Advertising and Institutional (Publicidade e Institucional) Commissioned advertising and institutional animation work for clients including Parques de Sintra, Web Summit, RTP, Young Dentists Portugal, EMEPC (SNIMar), and Jardim Botânico. Used for advertising campaigns, institutional communications, public awareness campaigns, documentary-style animation, and corporate storytelling.
- Animation Services (Serviços de Animação) Full-cycle animation production services including 2D animation, 3D animation, stop-motion, traditional animation, visual effects, compositing, and post-production. Provided to third-party film and television projects covering pre-production (scriptwriting, graphic design, storyboard) through production and post-production (editing, compositing, sound design).
- Studio Rental (Aluguer de Estúdio) Rental of the studio's specialized stop-motion and live-action filming facilities: 6 filming sets, Canon RP camera, Canon and Xeen lenses, Filmgear and Dedolight lighting, LED panels, motion control robot, chroma key backdrop, and DragonFrame-equipped workstation. Available to external production companies and filmmakers on a day-rate basis.
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple major festival awards including Grand Prix at Erarta (Russia), Best Documentary at AniFest (Czech Republic), Don Quixote Award at Krakow (Poland), Best Animation at CINANIMA and Monstra (Portugal)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Sardinha em Lata
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sardinha em Lata technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Sardinha em Lata partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)flagshipPrimary Portuguese public broadcaster and co-funder. RTP has commissioned and co-produced multiple original animations with Sardinha em Lata, including series ('Pulga Atrás da Orelha', 'O Diário de Alice') and is a recurring financing partner across the studio's short and feature film productions.
- Big PicturecorePortuguese audiovisual studio listed as a partner on 'Ema & Gui' (with investment from Big Picture) and appears in the studio's official partnerships. Co-production and creative collaboration partner.
- Pikkukala (Spain)coreSpanish animation studio based in Barcelona. Listed as a partner on Sardinha em Lata's partnerships page. Represents an established relationship with the Spanish animation ecosystem.
- Lightbox Animation Studios (Spain)coreSpanish animation studio. Listed as a partner. Involved as co-producer in 'O Diário de Alice' (alongside Gepetto Films, HAMPA, RTVE, Parrocha Studio) and 'The Monkey' short film.
- StorFisk (Barcelona, Spain)coreBarcelona-based animation studio. Listed as a partner. Co-production partner for 'Ema & Gui' (alongside RTP, TV3, ICA) and responsible for animation of 9 episodes of the 'Saari' series (produced by StorFisk, TV3, Imira Entertainment with Sardinha em Lata animation contribution).
- Midralgar (France)flagshipFrench animation production company. Frequent co-production partner on Sardinha em Lata's feature films and series, including 'Decorado' (with María y Arnold A.I.E., Abano Producións, UniKo, Glow), 'Speransa' (with Midralgar), 'Ana, En Passant' (with Apiário, Midralgar), and 'Old Dog'. A cornerstone international co-production relationship.
- Apiário (Brazil)flagshipBrazilian animation studio. Co-producer of 'Ana, En Passant' (alongside Sardinha em Lata and Midralgar, with financing from ICA, Ibermedia Next, Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region). Represents Sardinha em Lata's key South American co-production link.
- Gepetto Films (Brazil)coreBrazilian animation studio. Listed as a co-production partner in 'O Diário de Alice' (alongside Sardinha em Lata, RTP, Alice A.I.E., HAMPA, RTVE, Lightbox, Parrocha Studio) and other Brazil-linked productions.
- FX Animation Studios (Mozambique)flagshipMozambican animation studio. Lead producer of 'Kibwe' (CGI/3D, 97') with Sardinha em Lata as co-producer. Represents Sardinha em Lata's presence in African animation production and Portuguese-speaking international co-production network.
- Basque Films (Spain)coreSpanish animation production company from the Basque Country. Co-producer of 'Os Demónios do Meu Avô' (alongside Sardinha em Lata, Caretos Film, Midralgar). Active in the Galicia/Iberian co-production ecosystem.
- Caretos Film (Spain)coreSpanish animation production company from Galicia. Listed as a partner and co-producer of 'Os Demónios do Meu Avô'. Active co-production partner in the Iberian animation network.
- Marmitafilms (France)minorFrench animation production company. Listed as a partner on Sardinha em Lata's partnerships page, representing a connection within the European animation co-production ecosystem.
- IB Cinema (A Coruña, Spain)minorGalician audiovisual production company. Co-producer of 'Desassossego' and 'Os Olhos do Farol' with Sardinha em Lata. Represents a collaboration in the Galicia-Portugal animation network.
- Submarine (Netherlands)minorDutch animation production studio. Listed as a partner on Sardinha em Lata's partnerships page. Also involved as co-producer of 'Buñuel No Labirinto das Tartarugas'. Represents an international European co-production connection.
- Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Novas TecnologiasminorPortuguese private university. Listed as a partner, indicating an academic relationship potentially involving student placements, research collaboration, or academic project involvement.
- TVE (Televisión Española)coreSpanish public broadcaster (Televisión Española). Listed as a partner and co-producer of 'O Diário de Alice' alongside Sardinha em Lata, RTP, Alice A.I.E., HAMPA, Gepetto Films, Lightbox, Parrocha Studio.
- MONSTRA - Festival de Animação de LisboaminorLisbon Animation Festival. Sardinha em Lata maintains a long-standing relationship with MONSTRA, winning its Best Portuguese Short award multiple times and maintaining festival presence as a key Portuguese animation event.
- CINANIMA - Festival Internacional de Cinema de AnimaçãominorInternational Animation Film Festival in Espinho, Portugal. Sardinha em Lata is a regular award winner at CINANIMA and maintains institutional presence as a flagship Portuguese animation studio.
- CMMN - Centro Montessori de Montemor-o-NovominorMontessori school in Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal. Listed as a partner and credited as a supporter of multiple short film productions including 'Papel de Natal', 'Desassossego', 'Degelo', and others, providing organizational or venue support.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Sardinha em Lata competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cartoon Saloon: Irish animation studio specializing in hand-drawn and hybrid feature films (Wolfwalkers, The Breadwinner, Song of the Sea). Directly comparable in scale, technique versatility, festival awards profile, and reliance on European co-production financing structures.
- Gepetto Films: Brazilian animation studio listed as a co-production partner on O Diário de Alice. Comparable as a Lusophone animation production house operating across Brazil-Portugal-Spain co-productions, mirroring Sardinha em Lata's international footprint.
- Lightbox Animation Studios: Spanish animation studio co-producing O Diário de Alice and The Monkey with Sardinha em Lata. Comparable as a mid-sized Iberian animation production partner operating in the same co-production ecosystem with access to Spanish (ICAA) and Galician financing.
- Les Films d'ici: French production company active in animated feature and documentary co-productions. Comparable as a mid-sized European animation co-producer that leverages French CNC funding and international partnerships, similar to Sardinha em Lata's Midralgar-anchored French relationships.
- Pikkukala: Barcelona-based animation studio listed as an explicit partner of Sardinha em Lata. Comparable in scale and technique range, with similar positioning in Iberian and broader European co-productions of series and feature films.
- StorFisk: Barcelona-based animation studio co-producing Ema & Gui and Saari with Sardinha em Lata. Comparable in scale and technique range, with overlapping roles in European broadcaster pre-sales (TV3, RTP) and series co-financing.
- Midralgar: French animation production company and a flagship co-production partner of Sardinha em Lata. Comparable in scale, technique mix, and reliance on CNC + international co-financing for animated features such as Decorado and Ana, En Passant.
- Apiário: Brazilian animation studio co-producing Ana, En Passant alongside Sardinha em Lata and Midralgar. Comparable as a Lusophone animation house leveraging ANCINE and Ibermedia co-production financing, mirroring Sardinha em Lata's Brazil-linked pipeline.
Broad incumbents
- Xilam Animation: French animation studio producing 2D and 3D series plus feature films (Oggy, Mr. Magoo). Comparable as a European animation production house serving broadcasters and streaming platforms, though larger and more series-focused than Sardinha em Lata.
- Aardman Animations: Iconic UK stop-motion and animation studio behind Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep. Comparable as a multi-technique animation production house with strong festival pedigree, international co-productions, and a mix of original IP plus commissioned work — though at substantially larger scale and global brand recognition.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sardinha em Lata social profiles
Digital presenceSardinha em Lata financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sardinha em Lata leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Sardinha em Lata funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sardinha em Lata 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 Sardinha em Lata
What does Sardinha em Lata do?
Sardinha em Lata is a Lisbon-based animation production studio that creates original feature films, television series, short films, and commissioned advertising/institutional content. It works across multiple animation techniques including 2D, 3D/CGI, stop-motion, cutout, rotoscopia, and mixed live-action/animation, applying the technique best suited to each project. In addition to producing content, the studio rents out its dedicated stop-motion filming facilities and equipment (including a motion control robot) to external filmmakers and production companies.
Is Sardinha em Lata a public or private company?
Sardinha em Lata is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sardinha em Lata founded?
Sardinha em Lata was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sardinha em Lata based?
Sardinha em Lata is headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, in the Europe region.
How does Sardinha em Lata make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Commissioned Animation Production is the primary driver. The others are original Feature Film and Series Co-Productions, studio and Equipment Rental and short Film Production (Festival/Distribution).
Who are Sardinha em Lata's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cartoon Saloon, Gepetto Films, Lightbox Animation Studios, Les Films d'ici, Pikkukala, StorFisk, Midralgar and Apiário. Broad incumbents are Xilam Animation and Aardman Animations.
Does Sardinha em Lata have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sardinha em Lata.
What industry is Sardinha em Lata in?
Sardinha em Lata's product category is Animation Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHACAM, Stop-Motion & Hybrid Animation, with a secondary code of MPADACAI, Short-Form Animation (Shorts, Web Series). Its NAICS code is 51211 and its SIC code is 7812.