DU COUP animation
DU COUP animation is a Quebec City-based traditional animation studio founded in 2018 that produces hand-drawn animated feature films, TV series, and video game cinematics for clients including Sabotage, Télé-Québec, and Tobo Media, delivered by a 15-person owner-operated team led by co-founders André Kadi and Marie-Michelle Laflamme.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersQuébec, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DU COUP animation does
DU COUP animation, formally DU COUP ANIMATION & PRODUCTION, is a Quebec City-based traditional animation studio founded in 2018. The 13-15 person team produces hand-drawn animation across four delivery formats: theatrical feature films, serialized television, video game cinematics, and short-form/branded content. The studio is co-owned and led by André Kadi (Co-founder, CEO and Director) and Marie-Michelle Laflamme (Co-owner, Artistic Director), with a bench of senior animators, storyboard artists, illustrators, a dedicated VFX/cinematics supervisor, and directors.
The studio's core technology stack is traditional animation production: character animation, storyboarding, background painting, compositing, and visual effects, executed without any documented AI/ML tooling. The product portfolio includes feature films (Hola Frida, 82 minutes, Feb 2025 theatrical release with Tobo Media and Haut et Court; Allah n'est pas obligé, 85 minutes, 2025 release with Special Touch Studios and Yzanakio; Dounia et la Princesse d'Alep, 73 minutes; Dounia le grand pays blanc, 54 minutes), television series (Dounia seasons 01-02 and Frida c'est moi for Télé-Québec), video game cinematics (Sabotage's Sea of Stars, Game Award Best Indie Game 2023; Throes of the Watchmaker; Path of Water for Dawn of Equinox; Yellow Brick Games' Eternal Strands), short films (Boîte à savon, 15 minutes), and shorter game trailers and awareness capsules.
The business model is B2B project-based animation production services. Revenue is generated through one-time production fees for custom animation engagements with game studios, film production companies, and television broadcasters, primarily within the Quebec-Canadian-French ecosystem. The go-to-market is sales-led, direct engagement with studios and production companies, supported by a top-of-funnel presence on YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and LinkedIn showcasing completed work. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; quotes are project-specific. The studio is bootstrapped and owner-operated with no disclosed external funding, no parent company, and no subsidiaries.
DU COUP animation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DU COUP animation
- Legal name
- DU COUP ANIMATION & PRODUCTION
- Website
- https://ducoupanimation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DU COUP animation is a Quebec City-based traditional animation studio founded in 2018 that produces hand-drawn animated feature films, TV series, and video game cinematics for clients including Sabotage, Télé-Québec, and Tobo Media, delivered by a 15-person owner-operated team led by co-founders André Kadi and Marie-Michelle Laflamme.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DU COUP animation 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)
- 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
- 2D Character Animation (MPAHACAA)
Keywords
Where DU COUP animation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Québec
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
DU COUP animation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Animation Production Services: Custom animation production for video game cinematics and animated films/long-métrages. Revenue generated through project-based production fees for clients including game studios and film production companies.
- Television Animation Production: Animated series production for television broadcast, including co-productions with Télé-Québec for series like Dounia and Frida.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
DU COUP animation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DU COUP animation is a Quebec-based animation studio providing full-service traditional animation production for hire, including hand-drawn animation, storyboarding, character animation, backgrounds, compositing, and visual effects. The studio produces animated feature films, television series, in-game cinematics, game trailers, and short films on a project basis for video game studios, animation and film production companies, and television broadcasters. Clients include Sabotage, Yellow Brick Games, Tobo Media, Haut et Court, Special Touch Studios, Parallaxes, and Télé-Québec.
Product overview
DU COUP animation is a Quebec-based animation studio offering traditional animation production services. The company operates as a single unified service rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its portfolio encompasses multiple production types including long feature films (HOLA FRIDA, ALLAH N'EST PAS OBLIGÉ, DOUNIA et la Princesse d'Alep, DOUNIA le grand pays blanc), TV series (DOUNIA Seasons 01-02, FRIDA C'EST MOI), video game cinematics (SEA OF STARS, THROES OF THE WATCHMAKER, ETERNAL STRANDS, PATH OF WATER), short films (BOÎTE À SAVON), game trailers (HAPPY BASTARDS), environmental awareness capsules (SAFE TO EAT), and various animation projects for clients such as Outerminds, Squido, and Paper Cult. The studio works with production partners including Tobo Media, Haut et Court, Special Touch Studios, and Parallaxes, and produces content for Télé-Québec.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- HOLA FRIDA Animated feature film (82 minutes) produced in collaboration with Tobo Media and Haut et Court, directed by Karine Vézina and André Kadi, released theatrically in February 2025.
- SEA OF STARS Traditional animation cinematics produced for Sabotage studio's indie video game Sea of Stars, which won the Game Award for Best Indie Game in 2023.
- THROES OF THE WATCHMAKER In-game cinematics animation produced for Sabotage studio's Throes of the Watchmaker game, scheduled for 2025 release.
- ALLAH N'EST PAS OBLIGÉ Animated feature film (85 minutes) produced with Special Touch Studios and Yzanakio, directed by Zaven Najjar, currently in production for 2025 release.
- DOUNIA et la Princesse d'Alep Animated feature film (73 minutes) produced by Tobo Media, directed by Marya Zarif and André Kadi.
- ETERNAL STRANDS In-game cinematics produced for Yellow Brick Games' Eternal Strands title.
- DOUNIA le grand pays blanc Animated feature film (54 minutes) co-produced by Tobo Media and Du Coup Production, directed by Marya Zarif and André Kadi.
- PATH OF WATER Cinematic animation produced for Sabotage's Dawn of Equinox, released in 2024.
- LA PETITE ET LE VIEUX 4-minute animation segment produced within a feature film for Parallaxes, directed by Patrice Sauvé, released in 2024.
- BOÎTE À SAVON 15-minute short film co-produced by Parallaxes and Du Coup Production, directed by Jimmy Pettigrew.
- HAPPY BASTARDS Game trailer animation produced for Clever Plays studio.
- FRIDA, C'EST MOI Animated television series (Season 01 of 6 episodes, 5 minutes each) produced by Tobo Media and Du Coup Production for Télé-Québec, based on books by Cara Carmina and Sophie Faucher.
- DOUNIA (Seasons 01 and 02) Animated television series with Season 01 (6x7 min plus 43-minute TV special) produced by Tobo Media for Télé-Québec, and Season 02 (7x7 min plus 52-minute TV special) co-produced with Du Coup Production for Télé-Québec.
- SAFE TO EAT Environmental awareness capsule produced for Frangin Production.
- PEWDIEPIE'S PIXELINGS Animation produced for Outerminds.
- NO MORE RAINBOWS Animation produced for Squido studio.
- BLOODROOTS Animation produced for Paper Cult studio.
Companies that use DU COUP animation
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
DU COUP animation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
DU COUP animation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Tobo MediacoreMajor co-production partner for multiple animated projects including Frida feature film, Dounia seasons 01 and 02, Dounia et la Princesse d'Alep, and DOUNIA le grand pays blanc. Co-producer with Du Coup Production on several productions for Télé-Québec broadcast.
- Haut et CourtcoreCo-producer for Frida feature film (82 minutes, theatrical release February 2025). French film production company.
- Télé-QuébeccoreQuebec television broadcaster and broadcast partner for Dounia animated series (seasons 01 and 02) and Frida c'est moi animated series.
- SabotagecoreVideo game studio client for traditional animation cinematics on Sea of Stars (won Game Award Best Indie Game 2023) and Throes of the Watchmaker (2025).
- Yellow Brick GamesminorVideo game studio client for in-game cinematics on Eternal Strands.
- Special Touch StudioscoreProduction partner for Allah n'est pas obligé feature film (85 minutes, 2025 release).
- YzanakiocoreProduction partner for Allah n'est pas obligé feature film.
- ParallaxesminorCo-production partner for La petite et le vieux (4-minute animation within feature film, 2024) and Boîte à savon short film (15 minutes, co-production with Du Coup Production).
- Clever PlaysminorVideo game studio client for game trailer animation for Happy Basterds.
- Frangin ProductionminorClient for environmental awareness capsule Safe to Eat.
- Paper CultminorVideo game studio client for Bloodroots game animation.
- OutermindsminorVideo game studio client for Pewdiepie's Pixelings animation.
- SquidominorVideo game studio client for No More Rainbows game animation.
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DU COUP animation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pipeline Studios: Ontario-based animation studio serving game and entertainment clients with 2D/3D animation services; directly overlaps with DU COUP's hybrid game/TV/film service model.
- Mercury Filmworks: Ottawa-based 2D animation studio producing high-end traditional and hybrid 2D for global clients (Tangled: The Series, Disney+), directly comparable to DU COUP's traditional 2D specialization.
- Bardel Entertainment: Vancouver-based animation services studio with credits on major animation feature and series work; comparable in offering animation production services across games, film, and TV.
- Powerhouse Animation Studios: Austin-based studio recognized for Castlevania and game-related animation; directly comparable on the game cinematic + serialized animation axis where DU COUP plays.
- Guru Studio: Toronto-based animation studio producing children's series and animation services (Justin Time, Paw Patrol, Pikwik Pack); comparable in Canadian animation services and TV series focus.
- House of Cool: Vancouver pre-production and animation studio with strong game cinematic and feature animation credits; comparable services profile to DU COUP across games and feature film.
- Yeti Farm Creative: Kelowna, BC-based animation studio producing 2D/3D animation for games, streaming, and TV clients—directly comparable to DU COUP's hybrid game/film/TV services model.
Broad incumbents
- Atomic Cartoons: Vancouver/Ottawa animation major producing series and features for global streamers; broader incumbent in the Canadian 2D/3D animation services space.
Regional players
- Synergy Animation: Quebec-based animation studio with feature film and series credits; closest geographic and language-market peer to DU COUP within the Quebec animation ecosystem.
- Huhu Studios: New Zealand 2D animation studio serving international clients (animation services and co-productions); comparable in 2D animation services model but operating in a different geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DU COUP animation social profiles
Digital presenceDU COUP animation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DU COUP animation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
DU COUP animation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DU COUP animation 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 DU COUP animation
What does DU COUP animation do?
DU COUP animation is a Quebec-based animation studio providing full-service traditional animation production for hire, including hand-drawn animation, storyboarding, character animation, backgrounds, compositing, and visual effects. The studio produces animated feature films, television series, in-game cinematics, game trailers, and short films on a project basis for video game studios, animation and film production companies, and television broadcasters. Clients include Sabotage, Yellow Brick Games, Tobo Media, Haut et Court, Special Touch Studios, Parallaxes, and Télé-Québec.
Is DU COUP animation a public or private company?
DU COUP animation is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was DU COUP animation founded?
DU COUP animation was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DU COUP animation based?
DU COUP animation is headquartered in Québec, Canada, in the North America region.
How does DU COUP animation make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Animation Production Services are the primary driver. The others are television Animation Production.
Who are DU COUP animation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pipeline Studios, Mercury Filmworks, Bardel Entertainment, Powerhouse Animation Studios, Guru Studio, House of Cool and Yeti Farm Creative. Atomic Cartoons is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Synergy Animation and Huhu Studios.
Does DU COUP animation have an API?
No public API is recorded for DU COUP animation.
What industry is DU COUP animation in?
DU COUP animation's product category is Animation Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADACAA, 2D (Traditional & Digital) Animation Production, with a secondary code of MPAHACAA, 2D Character Animation. Its NAICS code is 51211 and its SIC code is 7812.