What CAOZ does

CAOZ is a privately held European 3D animation studio headquartered in Reykjavík, Iceland, founded in 2001. The studio produces animated feature films, television series, short films, commercials, visual effects, and mobile games for global audiences, with a primary end-user focus on children and family demographics. Its content portfolio includes the stereoscopic 3D feature film "Legends of Valhalla – Thor" (2012), the 52-episode CGI TV series "Elias: Rescue Team Adventures" (completed 2015), and the Academy Award-nominated animated short "Yes People" (2021), alongside several other award-winning short films.

The studio's core technology is 3D CGI animation production using industry-standard tools and proprietary technical innovations developed in-house. CAOZ earns revenue through three primary streams: licensing royalties and distribution partnerships for film and television content (notably via The Jim Henson Company's HIP licensing banner for the Elias franchise), professional services fees for commercials and visual effects work for external clients, and consumer app sales plus in-app purchases from mobile games (the Elias Water Party titles on iOS and Google Play). Its go-to-market relies on co-production partnerships with studios such as Norway's Animando, channel partnerships with global licensors like Jim Henson, festival-circuit award recognition for short-form content, and digital app store distribution for games. The studio's customer base comprises both B2B partners (distributors, broadcasters, commercial clients) and end consumers (children and families engaging with games and broadcast content).

Name

CAOZ

Legal name

CAOZ Games ehf

Website

https://caoz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CAOZ is a privately held 3D animation studio founded in 2001 in Reykjavík, Iceland, producing animated feature films, TV series, shorts, commercials, and mobile games for global children and family audiences through licensing partnerships and direct distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animation Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Software Publishers (51321)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Outsourced Art/Audio Production Services (2D/3D, Animation, VFX, Audio/VO) (MPAFAKAM), Mobile & F2P Game Studios (MPAFAAAB)

Keywords

• 3D animation production
• CGI animation services
• Animated feature films
• Children's television series
• Visual effects production

Headquarters

HQ city

Reykjavík

HQ country

Iceland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Film & TV Production: CAOZ produces animated feature films and TV series, earning revenue through production fees, licensing deals, and distribution partnerships. Key productions include feature films and TV series developed in-house or through co-production arrangements.
2. Commercials & Visual F/X Work: The studio creates commercials and visual effects work for external clients, generating project-based revenue.
3. Mobile Games: CAOZ develops and publishes mobile games based on their IP (Elias Water Party series), generating revenue through app sales and in-app purchases from iOS and Android app stores.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CAOZ is a European 3D animation studio that produces CGI-animated feature films, TV series, short films, commercials, and visual F/X work, primarily for children's and family audiences. The studio also develops and publishes mobile games based on its own Elias IP for iOS and Android app stores. Revenue is generated through production fees, licensing royalties, co-production partnerships, and in-app purchases.

Product overview

CAOZ is a leading European 3D animation studio since 2001 that produces films, TV series, commercials, and games. The company's portfolio includes completed works (Legends of Valhalla-Thor feature film, Elias: Rescue Team Adventures TV series, Yes People and Anna and the Moods shorts, The Lost Little Caterpillar and Kvak shorts) and projects in development (AnnA TV series, The 14th Santa feature film). Additionally, CAOZ has developed companion mobile games tied to the Elias franchise: Elias Water Party - Splash (action battle game) and Elias Water Party - Sail (exploration game). The company operates as a single unified creative studio rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture, delivering products across film, television, and interactive gaming formats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Elias: Rescue Team Adventures A TV series of 52 x 11' CGI-animated episodes featuring Elias, a brave little rescue boat who teams up with friends to save the day through child-sized adventure stories that inspire young children with confidence and courage. Distributed globally via The Jim Henson Company's HIP licensing banner.
• Legends of Valhalla - Thor A full-length CG adventure feature film set in Norse mythology universe, released in stereoscopic 3D. The story follows young blacksmith Thor as he discovers the Crusher hammer and must battle evil forces to save his friends and village.
• Yes People An animated short film following an eclectic mix of people in an apartment block facing everyday battles with work, school, and housework, with their relationships tested throughout the day. Nominated for the 2021 Oscar in Animated Short Film category.
• Anna and the Moods A short film written by Academy Award-nominated Icelandic writer Sjón about a girl named Anna Young who wakes up with a moody illness. Features music performed by the Brodsky Quartet and original score by Julian Komponist (composer of Wallace and Gromit).
• The Lost Little Caterpillar A short film about the adventures of a spell-bound princess who encounters various garden creatures including a hostile ladybird, friendly worm, buzzing bee, and vicious spider before being rescued from a sparrow.
• Kvak A short film about the life of a devoted hobbyist collector of duck whistles and the trials and tribulations he faces.
• Elias Water Party - Splash A mobile game where players battle with Elias and friends using water soaker toys across 21 game boards in Cosy Cove. Features character-specific powers, unlocking new locations and characters, suitable for ages 5 and up.
• Elias Water Party - Sail An exploration mobile game based on the Elias TV series where players sail and explore the world with Elias and his friends, visiting characters like Big Blinky. Features 14 characters, English and Norwegian language support, suitable for ages 3 and up.
• AnnA (TV Series) A TV series in development following young teenage girl Anna Young navigating the ups and downs of teenage life, blending childhood and adulthood through creative imagination and fairy-tale storytelling.
• The 14th Santa A feature film currently in development by CAOZ, with limited details available.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AnimandocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian animation studio Animando is CAOZ's co-production partner for the Elias: Rescue Team Adventures series. CAOZ is currently producing 52 x 11' CGI-animated episodes in partnership with Animando, released under The Jim Henson Company's HIP licensing banner.
• The Jim Henson CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Jim Henson Company distributes Elias: Rescue Team Adventures under their third party licensing banner HIP (Henson Independent Properties). This partnership provides global distribution reach for the 52-episode CGI-animated series.
• Nordic TD ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAOZ is a founding partner of the Nordic TD Forum, an industry collaboration focused on technical direction and pipeline development in animation.
• Association of Icelandic Film ProducersminorOthersCAOZ holds membership in the Association of Icelandic Film Producers, an industry body representing Icelandic film production companies.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Direct peers

• Blue Zoo Animation Studio: UK-based animation studio producing CGI-animated children's TV series. Comparable as a similarly-sized boutique studio with TV-original IP (e.g., Q Pootle 5, Digby Dragon) distributed internationally through major children's broadcasters and platforms.
• Nørlum Animation: Icelandic 3D CGI animation studio producing children's TV content. Closest geographic and product peer — both operate small Nordic teams building CGI children's properties, with similar client mix of broadcasters and international co-producers.
• Pukeko Pictures: New Zealand-based CGI children's animation studio behind series like The WotWots and Kiri and Lou. Comparable as an Oceania/Nordic boutique producer of CGI children's TV series distributed via global partners.
• Lupus Films: UK-based animation studio producing premium CGI-animated feature films and series for children (e.g., The Snowman and the Snowdog). Comparable as a mid-sized European studio combining short films, features and series work for family audiences.
• Wildseed Studios: Independent children's IP developer producing animated series and shorts. Comparable as a small studio focused on building original children's IP and extending it across formats (TV, digital, consumer products).
• Animando: Norwegian animation studio and CAOZ's direct co-production partner on Elias: Rescue Team Adventures. Both are Nordic boutique animation houses producing CGI series for children, sharing production workflows, IP rights and broadcaster relationships.
• Jellyfish Films: UK-based boutique animation studio producing CGI children's shows and shorts. Comparable scale and product positioning: family-friendly CGI series, awards recognition, and international distribution via broadcasters and on-demand platforms.

Broad incumbents

• Studio 100 Media: European children's entertainment company with major children's IP (Maya the Bee, Heidi). Comparable as a vertically-integrated European animation/kids studio with TV, film, and licensing arms — analogous to the path CAOZ is pursuing with Elias.
• Aardman Animations: Leading UK stop-motion animation studio (Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep). Comparable as a UK/European animation studio with major award pedigree (including Oscars) operating feature, series and shorts businesses across family audiences.
• Zodiak Kids: Banijay-owned global production and distribution company focused on children's content. Comparable in that it combines IP creation with global broadcasting and consumer products distribution — a model CAOZ is building toward via the Henson partnership.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caoz-ltd.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 CAOZ