Slingshot Productions

What Slingshot Productions does

Slingshot Productions is a Delaware-incorporated animation studio (Slingshot USA, LLC, founded September 14, 2021) that developed and produced full-length CGI animated feature films, with its core asset being the DAVID feature film and the Young DAVID prequel series. The studio relied on a globally distributed production model: 170+ crew members across 17 countries, anchored by a subsidiary relationship with Cape Town-based Sunrise Animation Studios, and a senior team that included contributors to Finding Nemo, Moana, Tangled, Big Hero 6, and Soul, plus Grammy-winning composers Jason Halbert and Jonas Myrin. Distribution was structured across streaming (Angel Studios, Minno Kids, Netflix) and a planned worldwide theatrical window.

The business model was asset-financed rather than product-revenue-driven. Slingshot raised approximately $25 million from more than 11,000 retail investors via Regulation A+, Regulation D, and Regulation CF crowdfunding offerings, with tiered investor perks ranging from $100 to $500,000. The $60.9M feature-film budget was funded via this capital, and Slingshot's primary monetization event was the $77,917,160 sale of the DAVID and Young DAVID intellectual property to Giant Slayer Media LLC (a joint venture between 2521 Entertainment and Angel Studios) in 2024/2025. Investor returns (initial capital plus 9.9%) totaling over $74.5M have already been distributed through nearly 14,000 e-checks.

Following the IP sale, Slingshot is in liquidation: revenue-generating assets have been divested, ongoing operations consist of residual investor distributions and wind-up, and the LLC is to be formally dissolved after the final distribution. The underlying talent base (Sunrise Animation Studios, Cunningham family leadership) effectively continues inside Giant Slayer Media's release and distribution infrastructure, with the December 19, 2025 theatrical release of the DAVID feature film representing the commercial realization of the asset.

Name

Slingshot Productions

Legal name

Slingshot USA, LLC

Website

https://slingshot-productions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Slingshot Productions was a Delaware LLC (founded 2021) that developed and produced CGI animated feature films, most notably the DAVID film and Young DAVID series, financed via Regulation A+/D/CF crowdfunding and sold to Giant Slayer Media LLC for $77.9M before entering liquidation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animated Film Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Motion Picture and Video Production (512110)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming) (MPADACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Short-Form Animation (Shorts, Web Series) (MPADACAI)

Keywords

• Animated film production
• CGI animation studio
• Faith-based entertainment
• Family animated content
• Feature film distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. IP Sale Proceeds: The company sold the DAVID and Young DAVID intellectual property to Giant Slayer Media LLC for $77,917,160. Proceeds are being distributed to investors as capital returns.
2. Investor Distributions: Investors receive distributions from IP sale proceeds equal to their initial investment plus 9.9% return. Over $74.5 million in distributions have been made to date.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Slingshot Productions is an animation studio that creates, produces, distributes, markets, finances, and monetizes full-length animated movies and series. Its two primary projects are the Young DAVID 5-episode animated series (released November 2023 to March 2024) and the DAVID feature film (planned for worldwide theatrical release in 2025). The company produced a 2017 demo clip as a proof of concept and operated a production crew of 170+ people across 17 countries.

Product overview

Slingshot Productions is an animation studio that creates, produces, distributes, and monetizes full-length animated films. The company operates two primary products: the Young DAVID series (a 5-episode short series released 2023-2024) and the DAVID feature film (a major theatrical animated movie). The Young DAVID series serves as a strategic prequel to build awareness for the feature film. A demo clip was created in 2017 as proof of concept. The company also has an investor-facing platform for managing shareholder information and distributions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DAVID Feature Film A major animated feature film based on the biblical story of David, depicting his journey from shepherd boy to king, featuring his encounters with Goliath, King Saul, and his own destiny. Produced with a worldwide crew of over 170 people across 17 countries and intended for worldwide theatrical release.
• Young DAVID Series A 5-episode animated series exploring David's youth shortly before Samuel anoints him as the next King of Israel. Each episode is approximately 5 minutes long and explores a facet of David's character as revealed in the biblical text. Released as a strategic prequel to build awareness and market the DAVID feature film.
• Demo Clip A proof-of-concept demo clip created in 2017 to showcase the envisioned film quality and animation capabilities. It is a completed standalone project separate from the DAVID movie and Young DAVID series.

Quantifiable outcome

• IP sold for $77,917,160 to ensure global theatrical release and investor returns
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and supporting.

• Giant Slayer Media LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture between 2521 Entertainment LLC and Angel Studios Inc that acquired the DAVID and Young DAVID intellectual property for $77,917,160. Responsible for global theatrical release and distribution of the film.
• 2521 EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-acquirer of the DAVID and Young DAVID IP alongside Angel Studios through the Giant Slayer Media LLC joint venture. Has established marketing infrastructure for theatrical releases.
• Angel StudioscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStreaming platform partner for Young DAVID series and co-acquirer of the DAVID IP. Committed to honoring investor perks including credits. Provides theatrical release and distribution infrastructure.
• Sunrise Animation StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnimation studio in Cape Town, South Africa founded by Phil Cunningham. Built over two decades, it is the production hub for the DAVID movie and Young David series. Brent Dawes was Creative Lead for two decades.
• Minno KidsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStreaming platform that distributed the Young DAVID series (5 episodes released November 2023 to March 2024).
• KoreTransfersupportingTechnology or IntegrationOfficial shareholder registry used by Slingshot USA to issue Form 1099 and manage investor records and distributions.
• DeluxesupportingTechnology or IntegrationPayment processing partner that issues electronic checks (e-Checks) to investors for dividend and distribution payments.
• Twilio, Inc.supportingTechnology or IntegrationSMS communication platform used by Slingshot USA to send investor updates and distribution notifications. Operates in compliance with U.S. privacy and telecom standards.
• CognitoFormssupportingTechnology or IntegrationSecure encrypted platform used to collect investor payment, tax, and verification details for final distributions and tax documentation.
• 5&2 StudiosminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChristian entertainment company that was initially offered the opportunity to acquire the DAVID IP but declined. Not involved in the final transaction.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Pixar Animation Studios: Premier CGI animation studio. Slingshot explicitly cites Pixar-quality benchmarks and has alumni contributors from Finding Nemo, Soul, and other Pixar films — making it the primary quality benchmark peer in the CGI animated feature category.
• Sony Pictures Animation: Produces CGI animated feature films (Spider-Verse, Hotel Transylvania). Operates in the same animated feature production category and competes for global theatrical distribution slots and family audience mindshare.
• DreamWorks Animation: Major CGI animated feature film studio producing franchise-level family entertainment. Slingshot's world-class talent team (including alumni from DreamWorks productions) directly competes in the same CGI feature-film category at a much smaller scale.
• Illumination Entertainment: Universal's animated film studio (Despicable Me, Sing, The Secret Life of Pets). Competes directly with Slingshot in CGI family feature films targeting mass-market audiences at the global box office.
• Walt Disney Animation Studios: Disney's flagship animation studio producing tentpole CGI features (Moana, Big Hero 6, Tangled). Slingshot's team includes direct alumni, positioning Disney Animation as both a talent source and primary competitor for theatrical animated family audiences.
• Lionsgate (faith-friendly slate): Independent studio with a faith-friendly slate and history of low-budget theatrical successes targeting Christian audiences. Comparable as a distribution and content competitor in the same faith-based film space.

Direct peers

• Angel Studios: Angel Studios is the distributor and co-acquirer of Slingshot's DAVID IP through the Giant Slayer Media LLC JV. It directly parallels Slingshot's faith-friendly content positioning and theatrical distribution model (Sound of Freedom), making it the closest comparable.
• 2521 Entertainment: Co-acquirer of the DAVID IP through Giant Slayer Media LLC and a faith-based content producer/distributor. Direct strategic partner and the most operationally aligned peer, with overlapping mission and audience focus.

Regional players

• Affirm Films (Sony): Sony's faith-based film label. Comparable as a specialized distribution channel for inspirational and Christian-themed theatrical releases, overlapping with Slingshot's audience targeting strategy.
• Minno Kids: Faith-based children's streaming platform that distributed Young DAVID. Comparable as a niche distribution channel for Christian/family animated content, though operating in streaming rather than production.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCB5_stIeRad4LQtaKHXkbvQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheDavidMovie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/slingshotusa
• Instagraminstagram.com/thedavidmovieofficial
• TikToktiktok.com/@thedavidmovie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 Slingshot Productions