Akkord Film Produktion Gmbh

What Akkord Film Produktion Gmbh does

Akkord Film Produktion GmbH is a Berlin-based, founder-owned German animation and film production company founded in 2001 by Dirk Beinhold. The company develops and produces animated feature films and 2D/CGI TV series targeted at families with children aged roughly 4-11, drawing substantially on adapted children's book intellectual property. Its active franchise portfolio includes the Rabbit Academy universe (three feature films and a 52-episode TV series premiering March 2026 on KiKA), The Elfkins franchise (two feature films, with The Super Elfkins released theatrically on Christmas Eve 2024), the Petronella Applewitch TV series (39 episodes), and Raven the Little Rascal feature films, supplemented by selected live-action titles such as Ben Hur and Dear Enemy.

The company's core technology is animation production (2D and CGI/3D), executed in-house through its Berlin headquarters and a dedicated Hamburg animation studio expanded in 2013. Akkord operates as a co-production-driven model, partnering with European animation studios (arx anima in Vienna, SERU Animation and 2 Minutes in France, FormArt in Hungary) for creative and production capacity, and securing financing through German regional and national film funds (MFG, nordmedia, MBB), the EU's MEDIA Creative Europe program, broadcaster commissions and pre-sales from public broadcasters (SWR, NDR, ZDF, KiKA, ORF), and distribution agreements with theatrical distributors (Tobis, LEONINE) and world sales agents (Sola Media, Beta Film, Global Screen). Revenue is generated through co-production equity, distribution revenue shares, theatrical and home-entertainment sales, and international licensing — a project-by-project, subsidy-supported financing model with no public pricing.

The GTM motion is project-based: develop IP from book properties, attach broadcaster and fund financing, co-produce with international animation partners, and license internationally through world sales agents. Akkord monetizes content across theatrical release, free-TV broadcast, streaming platforms (Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, Sky, MagentaTV), physical home entertainment, and increasingly adjacent media such as audio adventures and book tie-ins with publisher Thienemann-Esslinger. With approximately 12-13 employees, the company maintains a lean creative-producer structure under dual-CEO leadership (Dirk Beinhold as owner/CEO and Valentin Greulich as co-CEO since 2021), and its leadership is integrated into European industry bodies (Vice-Chairman of Animation in Europe, board of the German Film Academy and German Producers Alliance).

Name

Akkord Film Produktion Gmbh

Legal name

Akkord Film Produktion GmbH

Website

https://akkord.film

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Akkord Film Produktion GmbH is a Berlin-based independent animation producer founded in 2001 that develops and co-produces CGI and 2D animated feature films and TV series, primarily for German and European family audiences aged 4-11, financed through broadcaster commissions, film subsidies, and international co-productions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animated Film and Television Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Animated Feature Film Production (MPADACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming) (MPADACAG), Scripted Feature Film Production (Live-Action) (MPADABAA)

Keywords

• Animated feature films
• Animated television series
• Film co-production
• Children's content production
• Animation production services

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin-müggelheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Film and TV Production: Revenue is generated through co-production partnerships, broadcaster commissions and pre-sales, film funding subsidies, theatrical distribution revenue shares, home entertainment sales, and international licensing. The company acts as producer/co-producer on projects with shared financing models.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Akkord Film Produktion GmbH develops and produces animated feature films and TV series, both independently and as part of German and international co-productions. The company's portfolio is centered on family-oriented animated properties based on established children's book IP, including the Rabbit Academy franchise (multiple feature films and a 52-episode TV series), The Elfkins, Raven the Little Rascal, and Petronella Applewitch, produced through 2D and CGI animation pipelines and delivered for theatrical, broadcast, home entertainment, and streaming windows.

Product overview

Akkord Film Produktion GmbH is a German film and animation production company that develops and produces feature films and TV series with a focus on animated productions. The company operates both as a single-production entity and through international co-productions. Its portfolio includes animated family entertainment brands (RABBIT ACADEMY series, THE ELFKINS franchise, RAVEN THE LITTLE RASCAL series, PETRONELLA APPLEWITCH series) as well as live-action features and mini-series (AFTERWARDS, BEN HUR, DEAR ENEMY, L'AVION). The animation products range from 2D-animated TV series (11-12 min episodes) to CG-animated feature films (76-78 min), primarily targeting families with children aged 4-11 years old.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RABBIT ACADEMY – THE SERIES 2D-animated TV series (52 episodes x 11 minutes) targeting families with 6-10-year-old children. Three street-smart city rabbits end up in a magical boarding school, creating an entertaining culture clash between modern city kids and traditional forest dwellers.
• RABBIT SCHOOL – GUARDIANS OF THE GOLDEN EGG CG-animated feature film (76 minutes) targeting families with 6-11-year-olds. A juvenile shoplifter rabbit gets trapped in an old-fashioned boarding school and learns Easter Rabbits' secret skills while battling foxes.
• GUARDIAN RABBITS – THE SECRET OF THE GOLDEN EGG CGI feature film (approximately 76 minutes) produced as a German-Austrian co-production. When Emmi is declared guardian of the magical Golden Egg, badgers break into the school and Emmi and friends must protect it and uncover a secret.
• THE ELFKINS – BAKING A DIFFERENCE CG-animated feature film (approximately 78 minutes) about the legendary gnomes of Cologne who help humans with chores. Helvi returns to find her talent and meets baker Theo.
• THE SUPER ELFKINS CGI animated feature film (76 minutes) where Helvi discovers a technologically advanced Elfkin gang. Friendship with Bo may reconcile two clans after 250 years.
• PETRONELLA APPLEWITCH – SERIES 2D-animated TV series (39 episodes x 11 minutes) based on the book series by Sabine Städing. Witch Petronella's magical garden world with twins Lea and Luis shrunk to miniature size.
• RAVEN THE LITTLE RASCAL – HUNT FOR THE LOST TREASURE 2D-animated feature film (73 minutes) where Raven and friends compete against beavers in a treasure hunt, solving riddles and navigating dangers.
• RAVEN THE LITTLE RASCAL Animated feature film about teamwork, acceptance, and finding one's calling. Little Raven and friends take part in an exciting race through the forest.
• DEAR ENEMY German-French-Albanian co-production feature film (85 minutes) set in Albania 1943. During German occupation, a young man befriends a German officer while hiding partisans, an Italian soldier, and a Jewish watchmaker.
• L'AVION – THE PLANE Feature film (2005) where, after a father's death, his toy plane reveals magic powers and becomes a companion to his son.
• AFTERWARDS Feature film (2008) based on Guillaume Musso's bestseller about a lawyer who meets a doctor claiming to sense when people are about to die.
• BEN HUR (Mini-series) 2x90 minute event mini-series produced on 35mm and based on Lew Wallace's bestseller. A young Jewish prince seeks revenge after being wrongly imprisoned.
• RABBIT ACADEMY – MISSION EGGPOSSIBLE CGI feature film (approximately 76 minutes), the second theatrical instalment in the Rabbit Academy franchise, produced as a German-Austrian co-production.
• DIE HEINZELS 2 – NEUE MÜTZEN, NEUE MISSION Second instalment in The Elfkins franchise featuring the second big adventure of Helvi & Co., released on Blu-ray, DVD and streaming platforms.

Named customers8 records

Segments2 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

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SERU AnimationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022French animation studio serving as co-producer on Rabbit Academy TV series and Guardian Rabbits feature film. Key creative and production partner for multiple Akkord Film animated projects.
• 2 MinutescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022French animation studio co-producing Rabbit Academy TV series. 2 Minutes brings animation production expertise to the partnership for children's animated content.
• FormArt (Hungary)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Hungarian production company serving as co-producer for Rabbit Academy TV series. Also supported by Hungarian Film Incentive funding.
• arx animacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVienna-based animation studio co-producing Rabbit Academy Mission Eggpossible, The Super Elfkins, and Guardian Rabbits feature films. Key CGI animation production partner.
• Sola MediacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorld sales agent representing Akkord Film productions including Rabbit School franchise and The Super Elfkins for international distribution.
• Beta FilmcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorld sales agent handling international distribution for Raven the Little Rascal franchise productions.
• Global ScreencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorld sales agent for Petronella Applewitch and Rabbit Academy TV series international distribution.
• Global ConstellationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational distributor for Rabbit Academy series, handling distribution from Sola Media's MGB Booth at European Film Market.
• LEONINE DistributioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman distributor handling home entertainment (DVD, Blu-ray), streaming, and theatrical distribution for Rabbit School films and co-productions.
• Tobis FilmcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman theatrical distributor for The Elfkins franchise, releasing The Super Elfkins in German-speaking territories on Christmas Eve 2024.
• SWR (Südwestrundfunk)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman public broadcaster co-producing Rabbit School and Rabbit Academy productions, providing funding and broadcast slots.
• NDR (Norddeutscher Rundfunk)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman public broadcaster co-producing Rabbit School and Rabbit Academy productions.
• KiKAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman children's TV channel broadcasting Rabbit Academy series premiere in March 2026, with daily broadcasts at 6pm.
• ZDFcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman public broadcaster co-producing and broadcasting The Elfkins films and Petronella Applewitch series.
• Thienemann-Esslinger VerlagcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman children's book publisher publishing Rabbit Academy books and original Raven the Little Rascal and Petronella Applewitch book series that inspired Akkord Film productions.
• ORF (Austrian Broadcasting Corporation)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustrian public broadcaster co-producing Rabbit Academy Mission Eggpossible and broadcasting The Super Elfkins.
• Tatami FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production company for Raven the Little Rascal - Hunt for the Lost Treasure feature film.
• Virgin LandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production company for Rabbit School - Guardians of the Golden Egg feature film.
• German Producers AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association for German film producers; Akkord Film is an active member contributing to the European animation industry.
• German Film AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrestigious German film industry organization; Akkord Film CEO Dirk Beinhold serves on the board.
• Animation in EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean federation of animation producers organizations; Akkord Film CEO Dirk Beinhold serves as Vice-Chairman.
• AG AnimationsfilmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman animation film association; Akkord Film is an active member contributing to the European animation industry.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ambient Entertainment: German animation studio known for Lotte films and other family features. Directly comparable to Akkord as a German-headquartered producer of animated family features targeting German broadcasters and international co-production partners.
• Letterbox Filmproduktion: German independent film producer with experience in family/children's features and international co-productions. Comparable to Akkord in scale, regional focus on DACH and European co-production financing model.
• Hahn Film: German CGI animation studio producing family features and series, including international co-productions. Closely aligned with Akkord in scale, technology stack (CGI/3D), and target audience of children 4-11.
• Ulysses Filmproduktion: Berlin-based independent film producer with a portfolio spanning children's/family features and international co-productions. Comparable to Akkord in Berlin-headquartered family feature production with public-broadcaster relationships.
• Cartoon Film GmbH: German animation production company producing both 2D and CGI animated features and series for children. Directly comparable to Akkord in medium-sized German animation production with similar broadcast and theatrical distribution models.
• Trick Kompany Filmproduktion: Independent German animation production company with a long track record of animated family features (e.g., The Seventh Dwarf, Back to Gaya). Comparable to Akkord in producing theatrical CGI animated features for the German-speaking market and beyond.
• Studio 100 Animation: One of Europe's leading children's animation production houses (Maya the Bee, Heidi, Blinky Bill). Directly comparable to Akkord in producing multi-platform children's animation franchises targeting the 4-11 age band, with both theatrical and TV distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Constantin Film: Germany's largest independent film production-distribution group, operating across genres including family/children's films and animation. Compared to Akkord as a broader, significantly larger incumbent with in-house distribution and broader IP portfolio.
• Illumination: Global CGI animation studio (Despicable Me, Sing, The Secret Life of Pets) and one of the world's leading producers of theatrical family animation. Compares to Akkord as a family animation producer but at vastly larger scale and global distribution reach, representing the structural competitive benchmark for the children's animation category.
• Beta Film: Major German-based world sales and co-production company operating as both a partner (handling Raven the Little Rascal for Akkord) and a competitor in international animated family series distribution. Comparable to Akkord as a major European animation pipeline participant at meaningfully larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/akkordfilmproduktion
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/akkord-film-produktion-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Akkord Film Produktion Gmbh