Disnosc

What Disnosc does

Disnosc is a French boutique animation studio founded in 2020 in Biarritz, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, by brothers Nathan Otaño (Artistic and Technical Director, Gobelins class of 2017) and Fabrice Otaño (Producer and Studio Director). Operating from a converted family home in the Bibi Beaurivage district with a deliberately small team of 8 employees, the studio specializes in hand-drawn 2D animation executed in TVPaint, and runs an internally developed, eco-designed production pipeline supplemented by publicly released open-source TVPaint tools. Its editorial positioning targets realistic, cinematic animated films for young-adult and adult audiences — a comparatively underserved segment of the French animation market — rather than children's content.

The studio operates two interlocking business lines. First, it provides fee-for-service animation to external producers covering key animation, storyboard, visual development, rigging, posing, 3D modeling/animation, and motion design for films, series, documentaries, video game cinematics, VR experiences, and commercials; named clients include Gaumont, Skydance Animation, Ubisoft, Dontnod Entertainment, ARTE, France Télévisions, Netflix-distributed titles, La Cachette, Sun Creature, Folivari, Need Productions, WKND, and Praça Films. Second, it develops and co-produces its own intellectual property — including the Figures Bleues feature and its companion Figures Bleues Interactive VR experience, La Légende de Mordred children's series, Catartica, Malaspina, Lucioles, Dernier Message, Le peigne d'or de la Lamina, Buffet Paraíso, Lycéeens de guerre, Coup de Vieux, L'Étage des Bureaux, Subsistance, and IRIS — financed through French public mechanisms (CNC, Pictanovo, Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Europe Creative MEDIA), ARTE and France TV pre-purchases, and international co-production treaties.

Disnosc is privately held and founder-owned, with no disclosed external funding rounds or institutional investors. Pricing and revenue are not publicly disclosed. Distribution of its own productions runs through French and European public broadcasters, international streaming platforms (Netflix), film festivals (Cartoon Movie, FIPADOC, Sitges, Animac, Animation Dingle, among others), and gaming platforms for its video game work. The studio explicitly plans to scale to approximately 20 employees using complementary premises from its agglomeration community partnerships.

Name

Disnosc

Legal name

Disnosc

Website

https://disnosc.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Disnosc is a French boutique 2D hand-drawn animation studio in Biarritz providing animation services to studios and game publishers while developing original cinematic animated IP for adult audiences, financed through French public mechanisms and international co-productions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animation Services

NAICS

Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Immersive/Interactive Animation (AR/VR/Real-Time) (MPAHACAN)

Keywords

• 2D animation services
• Animated film production
• Storyboard and visual development
• Animation co-production
• TVPaint animation pipeline

Headquarters

HQ city

Biarritz

HQ country

France

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 Services (Prestations): Disnosc provides animation services including key animation, storyboard, visual development, rigging, posing, and 3D modeling/animation for clients such as Gaumont, Dontnod, Skydance, Ubisoft, Arte, France TV, and various international production companies.
2. Own Production Development: Disnosc develops and produces its own animated films, including feature films like 'Figures Bleues', series like 'La Légende de Mordred', and VR experiences. These are financed through French co-production mechanisms, regional aids, and international partnerships.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Disnosc provides hand-drawn 2D animation services (key animation, storyboard, visual development, rigging, posing, 3D modeling/animation) to external producers such as Gaumont, Dontnod, Skydance, Ubisoft, ARTE, and France TV. In parallel, the studio develops and co-produces its own original animated films, series, short films, and VR experiences, financed through French and European co-production funds.

Product overview

Disnosc is a French animation studio founded in 2020 in Biarritz, specializing in visual development, storyboarding, and hand-drawn 2D character animation. The studio operates on two main pillars: (1) Animation Prestations providing services to external producers including key animation, storyboarding, rigging, visual development, and motion design for films, series, documentaries, video game cinematics, VR experiences, and commercials; and (2) Original Productions developed and co-produced internally, including feature films (Figures Bleues), animated series (La Légende de Mordred, Lycéens de guerre, Coup de Vieux), short films (Catartica, Lucioles, Buffet ParaÍso), and immersive VR experiences (Figures Bleues Interactive). The studio employs an eco-designed and innovative production pipeline while maintaining artistic quality for adult and young adult audiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Animation Prestations (Client Services) Animation services provided to external producers including key animation, storyboarding, visual development, rigging, and motion design for films, series, documentaries, video game cinematics, and commercials. Clients include Gaumont, Dontnod, Skydance, Ubisoft, ARTE, France TV, and other international production companies.
• Figures Bleues Feature-length animated film in development by Nathan Otaño about a Black American ex-trumpeter turned jazz record store owner in Paris fighting to save his historic shop from corporate takeover, featuring parallel narratives with jazz legends.
• La Légende de Mordred Animated adventure series (9x22min) for children written and directed by Nathan Otaño, following a young boy who dreams of becoming a knight and explores French regional tales and medieval monuments.
• Figures Bleues Interactive Immersive virtual reality experience (40min) in development, co-created with David Calvet, complementing the Figures Bleues feature film by placing players inside a jazz vinyl record shop in Paris.
• C'est plus compliqué que ça Animated series (10x8min) for ARTE combining collage and 2D animation to debunk historical myths and legends with humor.
• Buffet Paraíso 8-minute animated short film in collaboration with Spanish studios Hampa Studio and WKND, featuring a dark fable about a buffet restaurant with unexpected consequences.
• Catartica 12-minute short film hybrid of live action and pixel art animation exploring themes of childhood dreams versus adult reality through parallel narratives.
• Malaspina 35-minute animated unit in development, an ecological and feminist fairy tale for families about a young horse-keeper rescuing her sister from an oppressive kingdom.
• Lucioles 10-minute historical animated short in development depicting the story of aviation pioneers including Bessie Coleman and the Caudron brothers.
• Dernier Message 12-minute romantic animated short in development about a young man sending voice messages to himself after a breakup as a form of digital self-therapy.
• Le peigne d'or de la Lamina 35-minute animated medium-length film in development for children (8-12 years), adapted from Basque mythology about a girl who befriends a Lamina mythological creature.
• Lycéens de guerre Documentary animated series (5x15min) in development about young people from Mont-de-Marsan mobilized in 1914 during World War I.
• Coup de Vieux Absurdist comedy animated TV series (12x8min) in development about two siblings who suddenly age to 70 years old during summer vacation.
• IRIS 15-minute animated short film produced with Praça Films (Portugal) about a man undergoing eye surgery who discovers beauty in his altered perception.
• L'Étage des Bureaux Absurd humor animated series (12x11min) in development satirizing office life and the meaninglessness of corporate work.

Quantifiable outcome

• France is the 3rd largest animation-producing country in the world, with Nouvelle-Aquitaine being the second most dynamic region.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Need Productions (BE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Melvile feature film, alongside Special Touch Studios (FR), Unité Centrale (CA), and Paul Thiltges Distributions (LUX).
• Special Touch Studios (FR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Melvile feature film adaptation of Romain Renard's graphic novels.
• ArtecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPre-purchased and broadcasts Melvile feature film; co-produces C'est plus compliqué que ça series.
• BachibouzoukcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of C'est plus compliqué que ça series for ARTE, with rigging and animation by Disnosc.
• Wave AudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of C'est plus compliqué que ça series for ARTE.
• Kestu FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Lycéens de guerre documentary series with Disnosc.
• Fig55 (CA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Figures Bleues Interactive VR experience with Nathan Otaño and David Calvet.
• Bellota FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer of Sorcières documentary for ARTE, with animated sequences by Disnosc.
• Praça Films (PT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortuguese producer of Iris short film with animation by Disnosc.
• Hampa Studio (ES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish studio co-producer of Buffet ParaÍso short film with WKND.
• WKND (ES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish studio co-producer of Buffet ParaÍso short film with Hampa Studio, broadcast by Movistar+.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bachibouzouk: French animation studio co-producing the ARTE series 'C'est plus compliqué que ça' with Disnosc. Similar size, scope, and French-public-broadcaster-funded animation business model.
• Folivari: French animation production company producing 'Ernest & Celestine' sequels and other 2D features. Disnosc has provided storyboard-assist services; Folivari is a directly comparable French 2D feature/series producer.
• Sun Creature Studio: Danish animation studio known for hand-crafted 2D/3D hybrid series and features (e.g., 'Flipp'). Disnosc has delivered key-animation work for Sun Creature; both compete in the premium European hand-drawn animation segment.
• Special Touch Studios: French animation studio that co-produces 'Melvile' with Disnosc. Comparable scope as a small French animation house developing original 2D features with international co-production partners.
• Cartoon Saloon: Irish studio renowned for hand-drawn feature films for adults ('Wolfwalkers', 'The Breadwinner'). Closest stylistic and audience analogue to Disnosc's cinephile-adult 2D animation positioning.
• Need Productions: Belgian animation producer co-producing 'Melvile' with Disnosc. Operates as a small European animation producer focused on auteur-driven 2D features — directly comparable business model.
• La Cachette Studio: French animation studio specializing in stylized 2D feature films and series (e.g., 'Ernest & Celestine'). Disnosc has provided key-animation/layout services to La Cachette, making it a closely comparable boutique French 2D animation studio.
• Hampa Studio: Spanish animation studio specializing in stylized 2D short films and series. Co-produced 'Buffet Paraíso' with Disnosc and WKND — a directly comparable boutique European animation studio.

Broad incumbents

• TeamTO: Largest French animation studio producing both CGI and 2D series/features. Operates broadly in the same ecosystem where Disnosc competes — a larger incumbent that defines the French 2D/3D animation landscape.
• Xilam Animation: Paris-based animation studio producing 2D and CGI series (e.g., 'Oggy and the Cockroaches'). Larger incumbent in the French animation industry with which Disnosc shares the Nouvelle-Aquitaine ecosystem and French broadcaster relationships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/disnosc
• Facebookfacebook.com/Disnosc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/disnosc
• Instagraminstagram.com/disnosc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Disnosc