What Punkrobot Animation Studio does

Punkrobot Animation Studio is a private, full-service animation studio headquartered in Santiago, Chile, founded in 2008 by four co-founders — Mari Soto-Aguilar, Antonia Herrera, Gabriel Osorio, and Pato Escala. The studio operates across three integrated lines of business: original content development (preschool series such as Flipos, Las Aventuras de Muelín y Perlita, Guitarra y Tambor, and Wow Lisa; plus short films including the Oscar-winning 'Historia de un oso' and feature film 'Brave Cat'); advertising and commercial animation services for brands and agencies (Bilz y Pap, Ocean Bank, Red Salud, Ripley/Toys R Us, Malpaso, LATAM Airlines, Gobierno de Chile); and production services leveraging partnerships with major international studios such as Lucasfilm and distribution through Disney+ and Netflix Latin America.

The studio's technical core spans 3D CGI, 2D animation, stop-motion, and a distinctive mixed-media technique that combines real handmade scale models scanned in 3D with CGI assets — exemplified by the 2025 feature 'Brave Cat' and the 'Don't Stop Motion' government campaign. The full production pipeline runs from concept art and storyboard through modeling, rigging, animation, lighting, render, compositing, and post-production sound. With approximately 34 employees and 15+ years operating, the studio has produced over 1,000 minutes of animation and accumulated 60+ international awards, anchored by the 2016 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film — the first Oscar for animation in Latin America.

The business model combines project-based professional services revenue (commercial animation contracts with brands and agencies) with longer-tail licensing and distribution revenue from owned original IP distributed through streaming (Netflix LATAM, Disney+) and broadcast channels. Go-to-market is primarily direct enterprise sales driven by portfolio visibility, award credentials, and high-profile collaborations (Lucasfilm/Disney+). The studio maintains a bilingual (Spanish/English) portfolio website and operates with quote-based project pricing. No external funding rounds or institutional investors are disclosed; ownership remains founder-controlled.

Name

Punkrobot Animation Studio

Legal name

PunkRobot Studio

Website

https://punkrobot.cl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Punkrobot Animation Studio is a Santiago, Chile-based independent animation studio (founded 2008, ~34 employees) producing original preschool series, feature films, and advertising campaigns using 3D CGI, 2D, and stop-motion techniques for international brands, streaming platforms, and entertainment studios.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animation Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming) (MPADACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animation Production (2D/3D/Stop-Motion) (MPAAAMAD), Character & Creature Animation (MPADACAE), 3D Product/Explainer Animation (MPAHACAD)

Keywords

• Animation production services
• 3D CGI animation
• Stop-motion animation
• Preschool content production
• Advertising animation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Santiago

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Animated Content Production: Produces animated content for television, advertising, and film on a project basis. Works with international brands and studios including Lucasfilm, Disney, and major consumer brands for advertising campaigns and original content series.
2. Original IP Development: Creates and owns original animated properties (Flipos, Guitarra y Tambor, Wow Lisa, Historia de un oso, Brave Cat) which may generate licensing, streaming, and broadcast revenue

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Punkrobot Animation Studio is a full-service animation production studio that creates animated content for television, advertising, and film using 3D CGI, 2D, stop-motion, and mixed media techniques. The studio produces original intellectual property (preschool series and short/feature films) and delivers project-based animation services for international brands, advertising agencies, and entertainment studios including Lucasfilm, Disney, Netflix, and major consumer brands.

Product overview

Punkrobot Animation Studio is a Chilean animation studio based in Santiago, founded in 2008 by Mari Soto-Aguilar, Antonia Herrera, Gabriel Osorio, and Pato Escala. The studio operates as a single unified production company offering animation services across three main areas: original content (preschool series and feature films), advertising/promotional animation, and production services. Their portfolio includes original preschool series (Flipos, Guitarra y Tambor, Wow Lisa), award-winning short films (Historia de un Oso which won the 2016 Oscar, In the Stars with Lucasfilms), a feature film (Brave Cat), and advertising campaigns for brands like Malpaso, Bilz y Pap, Ocean Bank, and Latam Airlines. The studio produces content in 2D, 3D CGI, stop-motion, and mixed techniques.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Guitarra y Tambor (Guitar & Drum) Preschool animated series celebrating diversity for children aged 3-6. Features musical instrument characters (Guitarra and Tambor) who teach self-esteem, empathy, friendship, and teamwork through everyday adventures. 78 episodes, 5 minutes each.
• Wow Lisa Preschool animated series about a curious six-year-old mouse named Lisa who loves collecting objects. Promotes observation of the world and sustainable living habits. 26 episodes, 7 minutes each.
• Flipos First animation project by Punkrobot. Preschool series featuring four friendly creatures exploring the universe. Teaches basic concepts like day-night, up-down through stories, songs and games. 13 chapters, 13 minutes each.
• Las Aventuras de Muelín y Perlita (The Adventures of Muelin and Perlita) Animated series following Muelín, an apprentice explorer, traveling with retired explorer Don Juico, his dog Colmillo, and friend Perlita. 26 episodes, 7 minutes each.
• Historia de un Oso (Bear Story) Oscar-winning 3D animated short film (10 minutes) inspired by the life of Gabriel Osorio's grandfather during Chilean political exile. Won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2016.
• Brave Cat 3D animated feature film (88 minutes) combining real handmade models scanned in 3D with CGI assets. Uses limited animation style blending CGI and classic stop-motion aesthetic. Family-oriented film inspired by Patagonia.
• In the Stars Original short film (15 minutes) based on the Star Wars universe, created in collaboration with Lucasfilms. Features Latin American cultural inspiration honoring Kawésqar, Aonikenk, and Selk'nam heritage. Currently streaming on Disney+.
• Advertising Campaign Production Services Animation services for advertising campaigns including concept art, storyboard, styleframes, 3D animation, and stop-motion production for various brands.
• Full-Service Animation Production Full-service animation studio offering services from concept to final animated result. Specializes in 3D CGI, stop-motion, and mixed techniques for television, advertising, and film.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60 international awards for Historia de un oso since 2014
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LucasfilmscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Co-developed 'In The Stars' - an original animated short film based on the Star Wars universe. The project combines Lucasfilms' resources with Punkrobot's Latin American cultural perspective. Currently streaming on Disney+.
• UDLA (Universidad de los Andes)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership supporting animation projects. UDLA served as academic partner for Historia de un oso and Guitarra y Tambor productions.
• Netflix Latin AmericacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBroadcast partner for Flipos animated series. Netflix Latin America distributed Flipos across the region after its premiere on Chilean television.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Zumbastico Studios: Chilean animation and content studio producing series and shorts for regional broadcast. Comparable as a Latin American (Chile-based) animation peer operating in the same market and competing for similar talent and clients.
• Ánima Estudios: Mexico-based animation studio and one of the largest in Latin America, producing feature films and series. Comparable as a Latin American animation studio operating in the same regional ecosystem with overlapping IP and advertising clients.

Broad incumbents

• Laika: US-based stop-motion animation studio producing feature films with proprietary techniques. Comparable through its emphasis on distinctive animation methods and feature/short film production, though at a much larger scale.
• Aardman Animations: UK-based animation studio specializing in stop-motion and clay animation. Comparable as a globally recognized animation house that combines original IP with advertising and commissioned content, though at significantly greater scale.

Direct peers

• Studio Ponoc: Japan-based independent animation studio producing feature films and series. Comparable as a boutique animation studio with original IP focus and global festival/streaming exposure.
• Cartoon Saloon: Irish independent animation studio renowned for hand-drawn feature films and Oscar nominations. Highly comparable to Punkrobot as a boutique, award-driven studio combining original IP with commissioned work.
• Passion Pictures: UK-based animation and production studio known for Oscar-winning shorts and mixed-media work. Comparable as a studio combining high-prestige original content with branded/advertising work using differentiated animation techniques.

Emerging players

• Tonko House: US/Japan-based independent animation studio focused on character-driven original content. Comparable as a small, artist-led studio producing both original IP and project-based animation work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GuitarraYTambor
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/punkrobot

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Punkrobot Animation Studio