Gao Shan Pictures
Gao Shan Pictures is a French animation studio and production company founded in 2014 in La Réunion, offering full-chain 2D and 3D animation services and co-productions for feature films, TV series, and shorts. It serves European and international production partners through multi-site operations across La Réunion, Angoulême, Annecy, and Mauritius.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersLe Tampon
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Gao Shan Pictures does
Gao Shan Pictures is a French animation studio and production company founded in 2014 in La Réunion by Arnauld Boulard, operating as a SASU. The company provides animation production services across the full production chain — from concept development through final animation manufacturing — covering both 2D (keyframe animation, rotoscoping, compositing) and 3D (modeling, rigging, surfacing, layout, animation) techniques. Its deliverables include feature films, TV series, and short films for French and international production partners.
The studio's business model is dual: (1) animation service production for third-party producers on a project-by-project, fee-based basis, and (2) co-production and original film production generating revenue through distribution deals, festival prizes, and rights sales. Its portfolio includes the Oscar-nominated and César-winning J'ai Perdu Mon Corps (2019), the Annecy Cristal winners Funan (2018) and Le Petit Nicolas (2022), and the Cannes selection Mars Express. The studio operates a multi-site footprint across La Réunion (headquarters, Saint Gilles les Bains), Angoulême, Annecy, and Mauritius (via subsidiary Gao Shan Animation Studio Maurice).
Gao Shan Pictures goes to market primarily through festival participation (Cannes, Annecy, Sundance), industry networking, and direct relationships with European production houses. It owns no distribution infrastructure, relying on partners such as Le Pacte, Arte, France Télévisions, and Canal+ Réunion for distribution. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; contracts are negotiated per project. The studio has no disclosed external funding rounds and appears bootstrapped under founder ownership.
Gao Shan Pictures firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gao Shan Pictures
- Legal name
- Gao Shan Pictures
- Website
- https://gaoshanpictures.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Gao Shan Pictures is a French animation studio and production company founded in 2014 in La Réunion, offering full-chain 2D and 3D animation services and co-productions for feature films, TV series, and shorts. It serves European and international production partners through multi-site operations across La Réunion, Angoulême, Annecy, and Mauritius.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gao Shan Pictures industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animation Production Services
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Virtual Art Department (VAD) & Environment/Digital Matte Painting (MPADAHAG)
Keywords
Where Gao Shan Pictures is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Le Tampon
Offices5 records
Markets served
Gao Shan Pictures business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Animation Production Services: Co-production and animation services for feature films, TV series, and short films. Revenue generated through production fees, co-production shares, and animation work contracts with partner production companies.
- Film Production: Original film production as lead or co-producer, generating revenue through distribution deals, festival prizes, and sales rights.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels2 records
Gao Shan Pictures product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gao Shan Pictures is a French animation studio providing 2D and 3D animation production services for feature films, TV series, and short films. The company manages the complete production chain from original concept development through final animation delivery, including modeling, rigging, surfacing, layout, animation, lighting, rendering, and compositing. It works with major French and international production companies on co-productions and animation service contracts, and also produces its own original content.
Product overview
Gao Shan Pictures is a French animation studio and production company founded in 2014 at La Réunion by Arnauld Boulard. The company operates as a single integrated studio offering animation production services for feature films, TV series, and short films. They master the full production chain from original concept creation to 2D and 3D animation fabrication. Their multi-site presence in La Réunion, Angoulême, Annecy, and Maurice provides access to a talent pool and production capacity. The studio's portfolio includes award-winning features such as 'J'ai Perdu Mon Corps' (Oscars-nominated, César winner), 'Funan' (Annecy Cristal winner), 'Le Petit Nicolas' (Cannes selection, Annecy Cristal), and 'Vilaine Fille' (César winner). They work with major French and international production partners including Xilam, Sacrebleu Productions, Onyx, and others. Services include animation production (2D and 3D), look development, 3D asset fabrication, layout, rigging, surfacing, lighting, rendering, compositing, and colorization. The studio also produces its own original content alongside service work for other productions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- I Lost My Body (J'ai Perdu Mon Corps) Animated feature film following a severed hand in search of its body, directed by Jérémy Clapin and produced by Xilam; Gao Shan Pictures produced the 3D animation for this award-winning film.
- Le Petit Nicolas Animated feature film based on the characters by Jean-Jacques Sempé and René Goscinny, directed by Amandine Fredon and Benjamin Massoubre, produced by Onyx Films and Bidibul Productions; Gao Shan Pictures and Shan Too manufactured most of the animation.
- Mars Express Animated sci-fi feature film directed by Jérémie Périn, produced by Everybody on Deck, in which Gao Shan Pictures handled all 3D assets including robots, mechas, and the Mars Express train.
- Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds (Sirocco et le Royaume des Courants d'Air) Animated children's feature directed by Benoît Chieux, produced by Sacrebleu Productions, about two sisters who discover a passageway to a fantastic world; Gao Shan made most of the 2D animation.
- Zombillénium Animated feature directed by Arthur de Pins and Alexis Ducord, produced by Maybe Movies; Gao Shan Pictures co-produced the film with a large portion of animation produced at its La Réunion studio.
- Yakari Animated feature directed by Xavier Giacometti, produced by Dargaud Media; Gao Shan Pictures handled look development, 3D asset fabrication, layout, animation, lighting, rendering, and compositing.
- White Fang (Croc Blanc) Animated feature directed by Alexandre Espigares, based on Jack London's novel, produced by Superprod; Gao Shan Pictures completed the keyframe animation.
- Funan Animated feature directed by Denis Do, produced by Les Films d'ici, about a mother's fight during the Khmer Rouge revolution to find her four-year-old son; Gao Shan Pictures co-produced and handled part of the animation.
- My Sunny Maad (Ma Famille Afghane) Animated feature directed by Michaela Pavlátová, produced by Sacrebleu Productions and Negativ Films; Gao Shan Pictures co-produced and handled part of the animation.
- They Shot the Piano Player Animated feature directed by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal, produced by Les Films d'ici Méditerranée; Gao Shan Pictures handled most of the 2D animation.
- Where is Anne Frank! (Où est Anne Frank!) Animated feature directed by Ari Folman, produced by BFFG and Samsa; Gao Shan Pictures produced part of the animation and backgrounds.
- Petit Vampire Animated feature directed by Joann Sfar, produced by On Entertainment and JS Magical Society; Gao Shan Pictures provided animation assistance and colorization.
- The Smurfs Season 1 (Les Schtroumpfs - Saison 1) 3D animated television series (52 episodes of 11 minutes each) produced by Dupuis Edition and Audiovisuel with Peyo Production; Gao Shan Pictures handled part of the animation.
- Wicked Girl (Vilaine Fille) Animated short film directed by Ayce Kartal, produced by Les Valseurs and co-produced by Gao Shan Pictures.
- Dans la Rivière Animated short film directed by Weijia Ma, produced by Les Valseurs; Gao Shan Pictures produced the animation.
- Pie Dan Lo Documentary animated short directed by Kim Yip Tong, produced by Gao Shan Pictures, Gao Shan Maurice, and WeFilm, about the 2020 Mauritius oil spill ecological disaster; premiered at Annecy 2024.
- Guaxuma Animated short film directed by Nara Normande, produced by Les Valseurs and Vilarejo Filmes; Gao Shan Pictures handled executive production in Réunion.
- La Vraie Vie Animated short film directed by Rosalie Loncin, co-produced by Sacrebleu Productions and Gao Shan Pictures; pre-sold to Arte.
- L'Oeil et la Terre Animated short film directed by Louis Tardivier, produced by Stank; Gao Shan Pictures handled executive production in Réunion.
- The Possum That Didn't 26-minute animated TV special directed by Paul O Muiris about a happy little possum whose smile is mistaken for a frown.
- La Vie 28-minute animated fiction directed by Pierre-Emmanuel Urcun, produced by Stank, about an astrophysicist managing laser drilling operations on Mars.
- Horizon Réussite Animated short film directed by Théophile Gibaud about a 40-year-old man who has never worked and takes over a bank.
- A Travers Animated short film directed by Marine Hervé, produced by Bagan Films, about a couple facing a medical termination of pregnancy.
- Dann Zardin Pepe Documentary directed by Mathieu Tavernier, produced by SaNoSi Productions, about a family house in Réunion at risk of demolition, exploring colonial heritage.
- Gouzou Ousa Ou Le? Animated short film directed by Romain Vacher, produced by Gao Shan Pictures with support from Région Réunion and Canal+ Réunion.
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple international festival awards including Cannes, Annecy, and Oscar nominations
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Gao Shan Pictures
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Gao Shan Pictures technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Gao Shan Pictures partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Xilam FilmscoreMajor French animation studio partnership. Gao Shan Pictures provided 3D animation for J'ai Perdu Mon Corps and partial animation for Lucy Lost.
- Sacrebleu ProductionscoreCo-production partnership for multiple projects including Sirocco et le Royaume des Courants d'Air (2D animation), Ma Famille Afghane (partial animation), and La Vraie Vie.
- Les Films d'icicoreCo-production partner for Funan (2018 Crystal winner at Annecy) and They Shot the Piano Player.
- Dargaud MediacoreCo-production partnership for Yakari feature film. Gao Shan Pictures handled look development, 3D assets fabrication, layout, animation, lighting, rendering, and compositing.
- Everybody on DeckmajorAnimation work partnership for Mars Express feature film. Gao Shan worked on all 3D assets including robots, mechas, and the Mars Express train.
- Les ValseurscoreLong-standing partnership for short film production including Vilaine Fille (César winner), Dans la Rivière (Oscar qualified), Guaxuma, and Horizon Réussite.
- Onyx Films / Bidibul ProductionsmajorProduction partnership for Le Petit Nicolas (Cannes selection and Annecy Crystal winner). Gao Shan Pictures and Shan Too manufactured the majority of the animation.
- Dupuis Edition / Peyo ProductionmajorAnimation work for Les Schtroumpfs (Smurfs) Season 1 TV series (52 episodes of 11 minutes each).
- Maybe MoviescoreCo-producer of Zombillénium with large portion of animation produced at La Réunion studio. Film was Cannes opening film and Annecy selection.
- Special Touch StudiosmajorCo-production partnership for Allah n'est pas obligé and La Forêt de Melle Tang.
- Je Suis Bien ContentmajorCo-production partner for Angelo dans la Forêt Mystérieuse with Winshluss and Alexis Ducord.
- SuperprodmajorProduction partnership for Croc Blanc feature film. Gao Shan Pictures handled keyframe animation.
- On Entertainment / JS Magical SocietymajorAnimation assistance and colorization for Petit Vampire by Joann Sfar.
- BFFG / SamsamajorAnimation and set production for Où est Anne Frank! by Ari Folman. Cannes hors-compétition selection.
- Among Les LuciolesmajorProduction partnership for Les Chiens ne font pas des chats by Alain Gagnol, currently in animation at Gao Shan studios.
- Silex FilmsmajorProduction partnership for In Waves by Phuong Mai Nguyen, animated and co-produced by Gao Shan Pictures.
- Cine3D / Need ProductionsminorCo-production partnership for Lou et le Secret du Glacier, currently in development.
- Zeilt ProductionsminorCo-production partner for Angelo dans la Forêt Mystérieuse.
- France TélévisionsmajorBroadcast partner including Réunion La 1ère for Pie Dan Lo and Canal+ Réunion for Gouzou Ousa Ou Le?.
- ArtemajorBroadcast partner with pre-purchase agreements for films such as La Vraie Vie.
- BobbypillsminorProducer for Jim Queen feature film with Gao Shan handling partial animation.
- StankminorProduction executive partnership for La Vie and L'Oeil et la Terre.
- Rubika RéunionminorEducational partnership. Gao Shan contributed to opening Rubika Réunion animation school in 2024.
- Festival International du Film de l'Océan Indien (FIFOI)minorCo-founded by Gao Shan Pictures' leadership team. Festival showcases creative work from the Indo-Oceanic region.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Gao Shan Pictures competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Aardman Animations: UK independent animation powerhouse (Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep). Larger incumbent operating across the same animation-production service and IP model that Gao Shan targets, with deeper commercial infrastructure.
- Illumination Mac Guff: Paris-based subsidiary of Illumination (Despicable Me, Sing). Formerly Mac Guff, a French 3D animation service studio now part of a global major — illustrates the scale-up path and competitive incumbent for Gao Shan's 3D service work.
Direct peers
- Xilam Animation: Major French animation studio (Oggy & the Cockroaches, Dofus, J'ai Perdu Mon Corps). Direct customer/co-producer of Gao Shan and operates the same 2D/3D service-and-original hybrid model targeting international audiences.
- Les Films d'ici: Paris-based auteur animation/documentary producer and core Gao Shan co-production partner (Funan, They Shot the Piano Player). Operates the same co-production + service model around international auteur features.
- Sacrebleu Productions: Paris-based French animation production company and recurring Gao Shan partner (Sirocco, Ma Famille Afghane). Specialized in auteur-driven 2D features with festival positioning, mirroring Gao Shan's slate.
- Cartoon Saloon: Irish Oscar-nominated animation studio (Wolfwalkers, The Breadwinner, Song of the Sea). Closest comparably-sized independent studio with the same auteur-driven, festival-validated, 2D-and-3D animation model.
- Laika: US stop-motion and animation studio (Coraline, Kubo). Independent feature-animation studio with similar craft-driven, festival-respected positioning and roughly comparable headcount range.
- Bidibul Productions: French-Belgian animation producer (Le Petit Nicolas). Recurring co-production partner of Gao Shan; operates a similar European indie feature-animation model targeting family audiences.
- Special Touch Studios: French animation production studio and Gao Shan co-production partner (Allah n'est pas obligé, La Forêt de Melle Tang). Comparable-sized French indie animation producer with a similar festival-driven slate.
Others
- Titra Film: French post-production and animation services studio. Adjacent ecosystem participant providing finishing, dubbing and digital intermediate services in the same European animation value chain as Gao Shan.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Gao Shan Pictures social profiles
Digital presenceGao Shan Pictures financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gao Shan Pictures leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Gao Shan Pictures subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Gao Shan Pictures funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gao Shan Pictures 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 Gao Shan Pictures
What does Gao Shan Pictures do?
Gao Shan Pictures is a French animation studio providing 2D and 3D animation production services for feature films, TV series, and short films. The company manages the complete production chain from original concept development through final animation delivery, including modeling, rigging, surfacing, layout, animation, lighting, rendering, and compositing. It works with major French and international production companies on co-productions and animation service contracts, and also produces its own original content.
Is Gao Shan Pictures a public or private company?
Gao Shan Pictures is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Gao Shan Pictures founded?
Gao Shan Pictures was founded in 2014. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Gao Shan Pictures based?
Gao Shan Pictures is headquartered in Le Tampon.
How does Gao Shan Pictures make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Animation Production Services are the primary driver. The others are film Production.
Who are Gao Shan Pictures's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Aardman Animations and Illumination Mac Guff. Direct peers are Xilam Animation, Les Films d'ici, Sacrebleu Productions, Cartoon Saloon, Laika, Bidibul Productions and Special Touch Studios. Titra Film is listed as an others.
Does Gao Shan Pictures have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gao Shan Pictures.
What industry is Gao Shan Pictures in?
Gao Shan Pictures's product category is Animation Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAHAG, Virtual Art Department (VAD) & Environment/Digital Matte Painting. Its NAICS code is 512110 and its SIC code is 7812.