Blue Zoo
Blue Zoo is a London-based, creator-owned animation studio (founded 2000) producing commissioned 2D and 3D content for broadcasters (BBC, Disney Junior, StudioCanal), brands (LEGO, Clarks), and digital platforms, with multiple Emmy and BAFTA wins and B Corp certification.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Blue Zoo does
Blue Zoo is a London-based, creator-owned animation studio founded in 2000, operating under Blue Zoo Media Group Ltd. with a workforce of 51-100 employees at its Camden headquarters. The studio produces 2D and 3D animated content across four revenue streams: commissioned TV and film production for broadcasters (BBC, Disney Junior, StudioCanal), advertising content for brand owners (Clarks, LEGO), digital content growth and brand licensing via YouTube, social media, and mobile games, and original development through its ZooLab innovation hub. Active properties include Wonderblocks, Supertato, Mojo Swoptops, The Adventures of Paddington, Disney Lets Play, and LEGO City - No Limits, supported by co-development with Alphablocks Ltd. and ancillary digital extensions.
The studio monetises primarily through project-based B2B commissions with broadcasters, brands, and digital platforms, supplemented by licensing royalties from owned and co-developed character IP. Its go-to-market is sales-led, relying on direct enterprise client relationships and project pitches. Blue Zoo is the first major animation studio in the world to receive B Corporation certification, holds multiple Emmy, BAFTA, and Annie awards (including a BAFTA Special Award), and has been named a Broadcast Best Place to Work in TV for several consecutive years. The studio operates a sister location branded Brighton Zoo and publishes an annual Impact Report.
The business model is professional-services led (commissioned animation production) combined with a licensing-and-royalty layer (character IP, mobile games, brand distribution). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated per project. Co-founder Oli Hyatt received an MBE for his role in establishing AnimationUK and campaigning for animation tax reliefs, which provides a favourable operating backdrop for UK-based production. No external venture capital or private equity investment is evidenced in the available data, indicating organic, founder-controlled growth.
Blue Zoo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Blue Zoo
- Legal name
- Blue Zoo Media Group Ltd.
- Website
- https://blue-zoo.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Blue Zoo is a London-based, creator-owned animation studio (founded 2000) producing commissioned 2D and 3D content for broadcasters (BBC, Disney Junior, StudioCanal), brands (LEGO, Clarks), and digital platforms, with multiple Emmy and BAFTA wins and B Corp certification.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Blue Zoo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animation Production Services
- NAICS
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Character & Creature Animation (MPADACAE)
Keywords
Where Blue Zoo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Blue Zoo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- TV & Film Production: Creating animated episodic and feature film content for broadcasters such as BBC, Disney Junior, and StudioCanal
- Advertising: Creating branded animation content for commercial clients including Clarks and other brands
- Digital Content & Brand Licensing: Growing characterful brands through YouTube, social media, mobile games, licensing and distribution
- Development & Innovation: Creator-owned studio developing original content and exploring new animation technologies and formats
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Blue Zoo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Blue Zoo is a creator-owned animation studio that produces commissioned 2D and 3D animated content for broadcasters, streaming platforms, and brands, including TV series, films, advertising campaigns, and digital character brand extensions. It also grows characterful brands through co-development, mobile games, YouTube, social media, and licensing and distribution.
Product overview
Blue Zoo is an animation studio offering a portfolio of co-created animated TV series and films alongside a comprehensive suite of production services. The core product portfolio includes original and commissioned animated series such as Wonderblocks (BBC/Alphablocks), Mojo Swoptops (BBC), Supertato (BBC), The Adventures of Paddington (StudioCanal), Disney Lets Play (Disney Junior), and LEGO City – No Limits (LEGO), complemented by original shorts like Mamoon. Service offerings span TV & Film production, Advertising, Development/Co-creation, Digital Content Growth (YouTube, social media, mobile games), Brand Licensing & Distribution, Innovation/R&D, and ZooLab. The studio operates as a creator-owned studio and certified B Corp, creating content with 'genuine heart' that has earned multiple BAFTA and Emmy awards.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- TV & Film Animation Production Full-service 2D and 3D animation production for episodic TV series and films, delivered for broadcasters and streaming platforms such as BBC, Disney Junior, and StudioCanal.
- Advertising Animation Animation services for advertising campaigns, creating branded content, commercials, and character-led storytelling for clients including Clarks, LEGO, and RSPB.
- Development & Co-Creation Original IP creation and co-development services, helping to grow characterful brands through creative partnerships with broadcasters and brand owners.
- Digital Content Growth Digital audience growth services including YouTube content creation, social media strategy, and mobile game development to expand brand reach for character IP.
- Brand Licensing & Distribution Licensing and distribution services for character brands, enabling intellectual property expansion and commercial exploitation of animation properties.
- Innovation & R&D Experimental animation R&D exploring new techniques, formats, and creative approaches to animation production.
- ZooLab An innovation hub for exploring new animation technologies and creative methodologies within Blue Zoo.
- Wonderblocks An educational animated series created in partnership with BBC and Alphablocks Ltd., designed to help children learn through engaging character-driven storytelling.
- Mojo Swoptops An animated series produced for BBC featuring the character Mojo Swoptops, with accompanying digital apps and content across YouTube and social media platforms.
- Supertato An animated series produced for BBC featuring a superhero potato character, part of Blue Zoo's growing portfolio of characterful children's content.
- The Adventures of Paddington An animated series produced in partnership with StudioCanal, bringing the beloved Paddington Bear character to life through contemporary animation.
- Disney Lets Play An animated series produced for Disney Junior, creating playful content for young audiences in collaboration with Disney's brand portfolio.
- LEGO City - No Limits An animated series produced in partnership with LEGO, creating content that expands the LEGO City universe across multiple platforms.
Companies that use Blue Zoo
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Blue Zoo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Blue Zoo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BBCcoreBlue Zoo creates content for BBC including Wonderblocks (with Alphablocks Ltd.), Supertato, and Mojo Swoptops. BBC is a key broadcaster partner commissioning animated content.
- Disney JuniorcoreBlue Zoo produces Disney Lets Play for Disney Junior, a significant content partnership with a major entertainment brand.
- StudioCanalcoreBlue Zoo produced The Adventures of Paddington for StudioCanal, a major animated series partnership.
- LEGOcoreBlue Zoo creates LEGO City - No Limits animated content for LEGO, a significant entertainment brand partnership.
- ClarksminorBlue Zoo creates advertising content for Clarks including the 'There's No Better Feeling' campaign and PlayPrints.
- ACCESS:VFXminorBlue Zoo works closely with ACCESS:VFX along with ScreenSkills, NextGen Skills Academy, UK Screen Alliance and festivals, universities, colleges and schools to ensure a thriving, inclusive future for the animation industry.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Blue Zoo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat3 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Blue Zoo social profiles
Digital presenceBlue Zoo compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Blue Zoo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Blue Zoo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Blue Zoo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Blue Zoo 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 Zoo
What does Blue Zoo do?
Blue Zoo is a creator-owned animation studio that produces commissioned 2D and 3D animated content for broadcasters, streaming platforms, and brands, including TV series, films, advertising campaigns, and digital character brand extensions. It also grows characterful brands through co-development, mobile games, YouTube, social media, and licensing and distribution.
Is Blue Zoo a public or private company?
Blue Zoo is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Blue Zoo founded?
Blue Zoo was founded in 2000. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Blue Zoo based?
Blue Zoo is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Blue Zoo make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. TV & Film Production is the primary driver. The others are advertising, digital Content & Brand Licensing and development & Innovation.
Does Blue Zoo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Blue Zoo.
What industry is Blue Zoo in?
Blue Zoo's product category is Animation Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADACAE, Character & Creature Animation. Its NAICS code is 71 and its SIC code is 7812.