GS Animation / Grupa Smacznego

What GS Animation / Grupa Smacznego does

GS Animation (Grupa Smacznego) is a Polish full-service animation studio founded in 2004 and headquartered in Gdańsk, operating as Gs Animation Sp. z o.o. Grupa Smacznego Sp. K. with a 26-person team led by three co-founders, Łukasz Kacprowicz (President), Robert Jaszczurowski (Vice President), and Marcin Wasilewski (Vice President). The studio produces original animated series, feature films, and short films covering preschool content (Basia, Mami Fatale, Mort and Millie, Historie Spod Podłogi), children's action/adventure (Grand Banda, Endover Groove, Netflix Original Kajko i Kokosz), and adult art-house animation (Rock Bottom, Annecy Official Selection 2024 and Goya Awards 2025 nominee).

The studio's core production pipeline runs on Toon Boom Harmony and includes a proprietary archival film colorization service used for Polish historical documentaries commissioned by TVP and Polsat. Beyond original IP, GS Animation operates a commissioned services business covering animated commercials (Orange Polska/Nju Mobile, LPP/Reserved, Miasto Gdańsk Supersorter), music videos, and game cinematics (Azure Mountain's Zid Journey), and runs the only certified Toon Boom Harmony training center in Poland plus 3D animation workshops under the Trzeci Wymiar program.

Revenue is generated through four streams: original IP licensing and royalties (Netflix, TV Puls, VOD, DVD), professional services for commissioned animation and colorization work, and training/workshops. Distribution is split across global streaming (Netflix), Polish broadcasters (TV Puls, TVP, Polsat), digital platforms (HooplaKidz, YouTube, Apple TV, IPLA), and DVD. Production is heavily supported by public co-financing from the Polish Film Institute (PISF), EU Creative Europe MEDIA, and the Ministry of Culture, complemented by international co-productions with partners in Iceland, Canada, the USA, Germany, and Spain.

Name

GS Animation / Grupa Smacznego

Legal name

Gs Animation Sp. z o.o. Grupa Smacznego Sp. K.

Website

https://g-s.pl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GS Animation (Grupa Smacznego) is a Polish full-service animation studio in Gdańsk that produces original animated series, feature films, and short films for broadcasters, streaming platforms, brands, and government clients, with a slate that includes the Netflix Original Kajko i Kokosz and the Goya-nominated feature Rock Bottom.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animation Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (512199), Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219), Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming) (MPADACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animated Feature Film Production (MPADACAH), Animation Production (2D/3D/Stop-Motion) (MPAAAMAD), 2D (Traditional & Digital) Animation Production (MPADACAA)

Keywords

• Animation production
• Animated series
• Feature film animation
• Digital colorization
• Animation training

Headquarters

HQ city

Gdańsk

HQ country

Poland

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. Original IP Production and Licensing: GS Animation creates original animated series and films (e.g., Basia, Mami Fatale, Mort and Millie), licensing them to broadcasters, streaming platforms (Netflix, TVPuls), and for DVD/VOD distribution.
2. Commissioned Animation Services: The studio produces commissioned work including animated commercials for brands (Nju Mobile/Orange, Reserved, Gdańsk city campaigns), music videos (Czesiociuch for Reserved Kids), and cinematics for video games (Zid Journey).
3. Digital Colorization Services: GS Animation provides colorization of archival film materials for documentary projects, including historical films for TVP and Polsat.
4. Animation Training Services: The studio offers professional training in Toon Boom Harmony (as the only certified training center in Poland) and 3D animation workshops (Third Dimension project), organized as weekend group sessions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GS Animation is a full-service Polish animation studio that produces original animated series and feature films (Basia, Mort and Millie, Mami Fatale, Rock Bottom, Kayko and Kokosh) and provides commissioned animation services covering the entire production pipeline from script and concept development through storyboarding, character design, animation, and post-production. Beyond content creation, the studio offers digital colorization of archival film materials, animated commercials and music videos for brands, cinematics for video games, and certified training in Toon Boom Harmony (the only such center in Poland).

Product overview

GS Animation (Grupa Smacznego) is a Polish animation studio founded in 2004, specializing in animated content production from project development through post-production. The studio operates as a full-service animation house offering both original productions and client services. Original productions include children's animated series (Basia, Mort and Millie, Mami Fatale, Grand Banda, Endover Groove, Under the Floor, The Very Hairy Alphabet, Kayko and Kokosh) and feature films (Rock Bottom, Mirabelle, Squeek!, Mami Fatale and the Great Cookbook, Until Death Unites Us, Basia and Doggy Summer). Client services encompass animated series production, digital colorization of archival film materials, animated commercials, and game cinematics. The studio also provides Toon Boom Harmony training as Poland's only certified training center and 3D animation workshops under the Trzeci Wymiar program. Productions are distributed via platforms including Netflix, TV Puls, and VOD services, with co-productions involving international partners like WildBrain, Eagle Eye Filmproduktion, and Compass Films Iceland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Basia (Animated Series) Original preschool animated series following a five-year-old with a strong personality and her plush friend Teddy through daily adventures; produced for broadcasters and streaming platforms.
• Basia i lato pod psem (Basia and Doggy Summer) Family adventure feature film where Basia befriends a dog named Azor during a seaside vacation and searches for a mistreated puppy.
• Bernard Short animated film about a lonely polar bear who tries to convince other animals he is not dangerous.
• Endover Groove Musical animated series where three teenage friends form a garage band and discover their instruments have magical powers.
• Grand Banda Animated series following energetic girl Lusia who, with help from retired super-agent neighbors, battles the Moustache Gang.
• Historie Spod Podłogi (Under the Floor) Preschool comedy series about two fluffy creatures living under the floor who explore the world with childlike curiosity.
• Mort and Millie Preschool animated series about a rookie Grim Sweeper and his millipede companion who help deceased animals fulfill their last wishes.
• Mami Fatale Animated series about the world's best cook living a slow life with her pets while fighting villains from the junk food gang.
• The Very Hairy Alphabet Educational animated series teaching the English alphabet, featuring a Yeti who accidentally devours his alphabet book.
• Póki śmierć nas nie połączy (Until Death Unites Us) Dark comedy feature film where Lady Death is sent to Earth to fix a soul-reaping mistake and discovers the joys of mortal existence.
• Rock Bottom Animated musical drama based on Robert Wyatt's album, depicting a tormented love story set in post-hippie 1970s culture.
• Wielka Księga Mami Fatale (Mami Fatale and the Great Cookbook) Culinary action-comedy where Mami Fatale and her grandson travel through time to save taste buds from a fast-food empire.
• Mirabelka (Mirabelle) Feature film telling the intertwined stories of Warsaw neighborhood residents through the perspective of a growing tree.
• Squeek! Animated family film about a twelve-year-old mouse named Maya who dreams of becoming an astronaut to find her father on the Moon.
• Oksytocyna (Oxytocin) Intimate short film about the first months of motherhood, exploring maternal burnout and the healing power of human connection.
• Lost Senses Short animated film inspired by Giorgio de Chirico, depicting an emotional rendezvous in an abstract world.
• Ormhildur The Brave Post-apocalyptic animated short about a young magic apprentice who discovers her magical powers while befriending mythical creatures.
• Annie Ben and Mango Animated series following three globetrotting friends who love adventures, travel, music, and making new friends; commissioned production for Studio YoBoHo.
• Boy and Dragon Hand-drawn animated series featuring a brave knight and his oafish pet Dragon on bizarre adventures in a notebook world; commissioned production for WildBrain.
• Caillou's New Adventures (Kajtuś) Animated series about a clever four-year-old learning about life, based on the popular book series by Canadian educators; commissioned production for WildBrain Spark Studios.
• Harry i Toto Early animated series teaching preschoolers about opposites through the adventures of Harry the hare and Toto the tortoise; produced for BBC Worldwide.
• Kajko i Kokosz (Kayko and Kokosh) Netflix Original animated series based on the cult Polish comic by Janusz Christa, featuring Slavic warriors defending their settlement; co-produced with EGoFILM.
• Wilq Animated series based on the popular Polish comic about a glum character living in Opole with comic book-style graphics; produced for TFP TV&Film Production.
• Digital Colorization Service - Niepodległość (Independence) Colorized documentary featuring archival film materials from 1914-1923 depicting Poland's path to independence in 1918; demonstrates GS Animation's archival colorization capability.
• Full-Service Animated Series Production Service Comprehensive full-service animation production covering every stage from script consultation through post-production, for clients producing animated series and films on a contract basis.
• Nju Mobile Animated TV Commercials Animated TV commercial series for Nju Mobile brand featuring the character Pipik; commissioned by Orange Polska.
• Supersorter Animated Campaign Animated public service announcements for Gdańsk city's waste segregation campaign, created from concept to post-production; commissioned by Miasto Gdańsk.
• Reserved Promotional Video Promotional video production including filming, compositing, and editing for Reserved brand spring collection; commissioned by LPP/Reserved.
• Czesiociuch Animated Music Video Animated music video for Reserved Kids label featuring music by Czesław Mozil; commissioned by LPP/Reserved.
• Zid Journey Game Cinematics Point-and-click adventure game cinematics and cutscenes featuring a young dinosaur, developed for PC via Steam by Azure Mountain.
• Toon Boom Harmony Training Weekend training courses for Toon Boom Harmony software at the only certified training center in Poland, with pricing varying by number of participants.
• Trzeci Wymiar (Third Dimension) Workshops 3D animation workshops for animation and gamedev professionals covering Blender, Unreal Engine, and industry expert exchange, with a conference component.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cartoon Forum 2016 Producer of the Year nomination among 900 animation producers from 30 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Running Rabbit FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Historie Spod Podłogi (Under the Floor) animated series - a co-production partnership for a non-dialogue comedy series for preschoolers.
• BluBlu StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Historie Spod Podłogi (Under the Floor) animated series.
• Sphere MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Mort and Millie animated series for preschoolers - a social-emotional comedy about Mort (Grim Sweeper) and his companion Millie.
• FlickerPixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Mort and Millie animated series.
• Eagle Eye FilmproduktionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of The Very Hairy Alphabet educational project - short animated films teaching English alphabet.
• KiKAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroadcasting partner for The Very Hairy Alphabet educational series.
• EGoFILMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer for Kajko i Kokosz Netflix Original animated series based on Janusz Christa's cult comic.
• TFP TV&Film ProductioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer for Wilq animated series (2019, 13 seasons) based on the comic book by Bartłomiej K. Łabuszewski.
• Studio YoBoHominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer for Annie Ben and Mango animated series (2015, 29 episodes) distributed on HooplaKidz, YouTube, Apple TV.
• Alba Sotorra Cinema ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Rock Bottom feature film (86 minutes, 2024) - Annecy Official Selection and Goya Awards 2025 nominee.
• Jaibo FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Rock Bottom feature film.
• Empatic ProductioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Rock Bottom feature film.
• Compass Films IcelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Ormhildur The Brave animated short - postapocalyptic fantasy comedy for ages 9-12.
• Azure MountainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper of Zid Journey game - GS Animation produces cinematics and cut-scenes for this point-and-click dinosaur adventure game on Steam/PC.
• PFXstudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContent partner for Third Dimension 3D animation workshops project.
• InvestGDAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Third Dimension 3D animation workshops project in Gdańsk.
• Stowarzyszenie Producentów Polskiej Animacji (SPPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGS Animation co-founder Robert Jaszczurowski serves on the SPPA board (was chairman for 5 years) - association supporting Polish animation producers.
• Polska Gildia ProducentówminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolish Producers Guild - industry association partnership.
• Krajowa Izba Producentów AudiowizualnychminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Chamber of Audiovisual Producers - industry association membership.
• Akademia Humanistyczno-Ekonomiczna w ŁodziminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership for animation education and development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Human Ark: Polish animation studio producing original children's series and feature films. Comparable in size, target audience (preschool/children), and revenue model (co-productions, broadcasters, streaming), serving similar Polish and international clients.
• Cartoon Saloon: Irish independent animation studio producing Academy Award-nominated feature films (Wolfwalkers, The Breadwinner). Highly comparable as an independent European animation studio with elite festival recognition, original feature film slate, and international co-production network.
• Sphere Media: Canadian animation and production company co-producing Mort and Millie with GS Animation. Comparable as a mid-size animation studio engaged in international co-productions of children's series for global broadcasters.
• Letko: Polish animation studio producing animated series, commercials, and feature films. Similar service offering (full-service animation), customer base (Polish and European broadcasters/brands), and operational scale to GS Animation.
• Animoon: Warsaw-based Polish animation studio specializing in children's animated series and short films with international festival track record. Directly comparable product offering, customer segment, and festival positioning.
• PFXstudio: Polish content partner collaborating with GS Animation on Third Dimension 3D animation workshops. Operates in adjacent Polish creative services space with comparable animation and training capabilities.
• EGoFILM: Polish animation production company and direct co-production partner on the Kajko i Kokosz Netflix Original series. Same segment (Polish animated series for global streamers) with closely overlapping capability and customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Xilam Animation: French independent animation studio producing and distributing original series (Oggy and the Cockroaches, Paddington). Comparable in original IP-driven children's animation model, though larger scale and publicly listed.
• WildBrain: Canadian entertainment company and major children's content producer/distributor (Peanuts, Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake). Active GS Animation client and co-producer (Caillou's New Adventures, Boy and Dragon); represents the buyer side of the same content market GS Animation serves.

Regional players

• Platige Image: Polish animation and VFX studio based in Warsaw producing commercials, feature films, and series (including Netflix content). Directly comparable as a fellow Polish animation house competing for similar co-production funding, talent, and international commissions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gs-animation-grupa-smacznego

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 GS Animation / Grupa Smacznego