Thuristar
Thuristar is a Belgian animation production company and creative studio founded in 2008 that develops, finances, and produces original animated series, short films, and specials for children and family audiences, distributing through tier-1 broadcasters and global sales agents.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersGhent, Belgium
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Thuristar does
Thuristar BVBA is a Belgian animation production company and creative studio founded in 2008 in Ghent, headquartered in Sint-Amandsberg. The company develops, finances, and produces original animated content for film, television, and streaming platforms, targeting preschool (3–6 years) and older kids (7–11 years) audiences across children and family entertainment. Its portfolio centers on a slate of proprietary IP: the Mush-Mush and the Mushables preschool series (S1 and S2), the Luce and the Rock short film and companion series, Goat Girl, My Knight and Me, A Lamb's Stew, and the 850 Meters short film. The company operates a multi-territory co-production model, typically partnering with La Cabane Productions (Belgian-French co-producer), specialist sales agents (CAKE Entertainment, Miyu Distribution, Miam! Distribution), and public broadcasters (VRT-Ketnet, RTBF, France Télévisions, Canal+), with output distributed through Warner Bros Discovery (Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, Boomerang, HBO Max) and other international broadcast partners.
The technical stack combines 3D CGI and 2D animation, with Mush-Mush Season 2 produced using Unreal Engine (the first long-form European series using this pipeline), Luce and the Rock series on Toonboom Harmony, and A Lamb's Stew on Blender with 2D sequences. The studio is small (1–10 employees) and founder-led, with the four co-founders (Joeri Christiaen, Perrine Gauthier, Frederik Segers, Manu Garijo) providing creative, financial, and international distribution expertise. Revenue is generated through co-production financing (drawing on European public funds such as the Flanders Audiovisual Fund and CNC), broadcast licensing fees, international sales via distribution partners, and ancillary licensing (e.g., Luce and the Rock's 100,000 cinema admissions in France via Les Films du Préau). Multiple productions have received high-credibility industry recognition, including an International Emmy Kids nomination, the Japan Foundation President's Prize, and a Berlinale Special Mention.
The go-to-market is event-driven and partner-channel driven: Thuristar pitches projects at animation industry events such as Cartoon Forum, Cartoon Springboard, and Annecy to attract co-production partners and buyers, and it leverages festival traction (over 200 festival selections for Luce and the Rock) to secure international distribution. Operating status is active, with four projects in production or development as of 2025 (Mush-Mush S2 in distribution, Luce and the Rock series, Goat Girl, A Lamb's Stew) and an expanding primary footprint across EMEA, the US, and parts of Asia Pacific.
Thuristar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Thuristar
- Legal name
- Thuristar BVBA
- Website
- https://thuristar.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Thuristar is a Belgian animation production company and creative studio founded in 2008 that develops, finances, and produces original animated series, short films, and specials for children and family audiences, distributing through tier-1 broadcasters and global sales agents.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Thuristar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animation Production Services
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Short-Form Animation (Shorts, Web Series) (MPADACAI)
Keywords
Where Thuristar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ghent
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Thuristar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Animated Content Production & Licensing: Thuristar develops, finances, and produces animated content for film, TV, and streaming platforms. Revenue is generated through co-production agreements, broadcast licensing fees, international sales, and distribution deals with partners such as CAKE Entertainment and Miyu Distribution.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels3 records
Thuristar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Thuristar is an independent animation production studio that creates original animated children's television series, short films, and feature-length animated films. The company develops and produces broadcast-ready CGI animation content intended for international co-production with broadcasters and distribution partners.
Product overview
Thuristar is a Belgian animation production company and creative studio that develops, finances, and produces animated content for film, TV, and streaming platforms. Their portfolio consists of original animated productions including short films (850 Meters, Luce and the Rock) and TV series (Mush-Mush and the Mushables Season 1 & 2, Luce and the Rock series, Goat Girl, My Knight and Me, A Lamb's Stew). The company focuses on storytelling, visual look development, and music composition. Productions span various formats: short films (13-15 minutes), specials (22-30 minutes), and TV series (26-52 episodes of 7-12 minutes each). Their content targets audiences ranging from preschool (3-6 years) to family and children's entertainment (up to 11 years). Distribution spans global platforms including Cartoon Network, HBO Max, Canal+, VRT-Ketnet, and others across 150+ countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mush-Mush and the Mushables Season 1 First season of an animated children's television series produced by Thuristar for international broadcast.
- Mush-Mush and the Mushables Season 2 Second season of an animated children's television series produced by Thuristar for international broadcast.
- Luce and the Rock Animated short film produced by Thuristar.
- Luce and the Rock – The Series Animated television series based on the Luce and the Rock short film, produced by Thuristar.
- Goat Girl Animated short film produced by Thuristar.
- A Lamb's Stew Animated short film produced by Thuristar.
- My Knight and Me Animated children's television series produced by Thuristar.
- 850 Meters Feature-length animated film produced by Thuristar.
Quantifiable outcome
- Mush-Mush and the Mushables airing in 150+ countries including Cartoon Network, HBO Max, Canal+, VRT-Ketnet
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Thuristar
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Thuristar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Thuristar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CAKE Entertainment (Luce in the Lovely Land)coreInternational distribution partnership for Luce in the Lovely Land series (first series by Britt Raes, in development with France Télévisions).
- Daily Madness ProductionscoreLead producer of Goat Girl with Thuristar as Belgian coproducer.
- France TélévisionscoreFrench public broadcaster broadcasting Luce and the Rock short film and co-producer of Luce and the Rock series.
- La Cabane ProductionscoreMajor co-production partner on multiple projects including Mush-Mush and the Mushables (both seasons), Luce and the Rock, and A Lamb's Stew. La Cabane is a Belgian-French animation production company with shared creative leadership.
- CAKE Entertainment / Cake DistributioncoreInternational sales agent and distributor for Mush-Mush and the Mushables series, My Knight and Me, and A Lamb's Stew. Handles global distribution and sales across multiple territories.
- Miyu DistributioncoreInternational distributor for Luce and the Rock short film, handling worldwide sales and distribution.
- Miam! DistributioncoreInternational sales distributor for Goat Girl series.
- VRT-KetnetcoreFlemish public broadcaster and co-producer of multiple Thuristar projects including Mush-Mush, Luce and the Rock, Goat Girl.
- RTBFcoreFrench-speaking Belgian public broadcaster and co-producer of multiple projects.
- Warner Bros DiscoverycoreMajor broadcast and streaming partner airing Mush-Mush and the Mushables on Cartoonito, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, and HBO Max across 100+ EMEA territories and US. Also co-producer of Mush-Mush Season 2.
- Canal+ GroupcoreFrench pay-TV broadcaster and co-producer of Mush-Mush (Season 1 & 2) airing on Canal+ Family and Piwi+. Also broadcasting partner for 850 Meters and My Knight and Me.
- MIAM AnimationcoreAnimation studio and co-producer of Goat Girl.
- LunanimeminorCo-producer of 850 Meters short film.
- Cube Creativeminor3D animation studio for Mush-Mush and the Mushables.
- Shards CGIminor3D studio handling assets, layout, lighting, and compositing for Mush-Mush Season 2.
- ADV Studios et Borderline Filmsminor3D animation studios for Mush-Mush Season 2.
- Les Films du PréauminorFrench theatrical distributor of 'Vive le vent d'hiver!' program which includes Luce and the Rock; reached 100,000 cinema admissions.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Thuristar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Cube Creative: Czech 3D animation studio that served as the 3D animation partner for Mush-Mush and the Mushables. A smaller emerging player providing outsourced production services in the European children's animation space.
- Daily Madness Productions: Belgian animation studio leading production of Goat Girl as Thuristar's co-producer. A smaller, emerging player in the same Belgian animation ecosystem with a comparable focus on 2D kids animation.
- MIAM Animation: French animation studio co-producing Goat Girl with Thuristar. A smaller emerging player in the European children's 2D animation space with a similar co-production-driven business model.
Broad incumbents
- Xilam Animation: Paris-based publicly listed animation studio behind Oggy and the Cockroaches, Dofus, and preschool properties (Paprika). Comparable European children's animation producer with a similar co-production and global distribution approach.
- Cyber Group Studios: Major French independent animation studio producing preschool and children's series (Gigantosaurus, Zorro the Chronicles) with similar European public broadcaster co-production model. Larger scale and broader IP catalog than Thuristar.
- Studio 100: Belgian animation and entertainment powerhouse behind global brands like Maya the Bee, Heidi, and Blinky Bill. A much larger incumbent in the same Belgian animation ecosystem with significantly broader IP portfolio and global reach.
Direct peers
- La Cabane Productions: Belgian-French animation production company that is Thuristar's closest co-production partner on Mush-Mush (both seasons), Luce and the Rock, and A Lamb's Stew. Operates in the same preschool/children's animation niche with shared creative leadership.
- TeamTO: French animation studio that co-produced My Knight and Me with Thuristar (2012-2016). TeamTO is one of Europe's largest independent animation studios with a similar children/family focus and comparable European co-production model, making it the most directly comparable peer.
Regional players
- Walking the Dog: Belgian animation studio producing adult-skewing and family animation (including work with European broadcasters). Shares the Belgian animation ecosystem and European co-production financing model with Thuristar.
- nWave Pictures: Belgian animation studio and 3D feature-film producer (The Jungle Bunch, Deep) operating from the same Belgian ecosystem as Thuristar. Comparable scale and family/kids focus, with a stronger 3D feature film heritage.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Thuristar social profiles
Digital presenceThuristar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Thuristar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Thuristar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Thuristar 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 Thuristar
What does Thuristar do?
Thuristar is an independent animation production studio that creates original animated children's television series, short films, and feature-length animated films. The company develops and produces broadcast-ready CGI animation content intended for international co-production with broadcasters and distribution partners.
Is Thuristar a public or private company?
Thuristar is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Thuristar founded?
Thuristar was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Thuristar based?
Thuristar is headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does Thuristar make money?
One revenue line is on record: animated Content Production & Licensing.
Who are Thuristar's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Cube Creative, Daily Madness Productions and MIAM Animation. Broad incumbents are Xilam Animation, Cyber Group Studios and Studio 100. Direct peers are La Cabane Productions and TeamTO. Regional players are Walking the Dog and nWave Pictures.
Does Thuristar have an API?
No public API is recorded for Thuristar.
What industry is Thuristar in?
Thuristar's product category is Animation Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADACAI, Short-Form Animation (Shorts, Web Series). Its NAICS code is 51211 and its SIC code is 7812.