ESCOLA JOSO
Escola Joso is a Barcelona-based private art school founded in 1985 that trains individual students in comic, illustration, animation, and concept art via in-person and online programs, with 15,000+ alumni placed at major publishers and game studios.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersBarcelona, Spain
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What ESCOLA JOSO does
Escola Joso is a Barcelona-based private art school founded in 1985 that delivers specialized education in comic creation, illustration, animation, concept art, and broader visual arts. It serves aspiring and working creative professionals through a catalog that includes professional degrees, master's programs, intensive courses, general courses, and children's programs. The school operates from two physical campuses in Barcelona's Eixample district (Córsega and Marina streets) and extends its reach through Joso+, a live-streaming online platform that broadcasts classes to remote students. The institution has produced more than 15,000 alumni over four decades, with graduates placed at major publishers and game/entertainment studios including Ubisoft, Respawn Entertainment, Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Devolver Digital, Webtoon, Massive Monster Studios, and Movistar+.
The business model is tuition-based B2C: revenue is generated from course fees across the program catalog, with pricing not publicly disclosed. Distribution is dual-channel (in-person across two campuses plus online via Joso+), and the school sustains a partner ecosystem that includes portfolio review sessions with industry employers (e.g., Penguin Random House), cross-border creative residencies (with La Maison des Auteurs and Institut français), European consortium membership (Comics Beyond, FICOMIC), and tooling relationships (Wacom, plus publishers Norma Editorial, Planeta Còmic). The school is privately held and founder-operated; no external funding rounds, headcount figures, or financial disclosures are available.
Recent strategic activity in 2025–2026 has emphasized product and geographic expansion: the launch of La Joso Proyecta (a showcase initiative), new online courses on Joso+, the Becas Finestres x Joso scholarship program with Fundació Finestres, the Comics Beyond European project, and the Barcelona–Angoulême residency. No AI/ML capabilities, mobile apps, or proprietary software products are disclosed in the available material.
ESCOLA JOSO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ESCOLA JOSO
- Legal name
- Escola Joso
- Website
- https://escolajoso.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Escola Joso is a Barcelona-based private art school founded in 1985 that trains individual students in comic, illustration, animation, and concept art via in-person and online programs, with 15,000+ alumni placed at major publishers and game studios.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where ESCOLA JOSO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Barcelona
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
ESCOLA JOSO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Course Tuition and Enrollment Fees: Revenue generated from student enrollment fees for professional degree programs (Art Grafic, Illustration, Concept Art, Animation 2D, Children's Illustration), general courses (Comic, Manga, Digital Illustration), intensive courses, and children's courses. Also includes summer course fees and online course tuition.
- Scholarship and Financial Aid Programs: Partnership with Fundació Finestres through Impuls al Còmic program providing 100% scholarships for Art Grafic degree. Administered as grants to students rather than direct revenue.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels11 records
ESCOLA JOSO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Escola Joso is a Barcelona-based private art school that delivers in-person and live-online training in comic creation, illustration, animation, concept art, and children's illustration. Its catalog spans multi-year professional degrees, master's programs, Saturday general courses, intensive workshops, and children's classes, supported by a faculty of active industry professionals and a live-streaming online platform (Joso+).
Product overview
Escola Joso is a Barcelona-based educational institution offering professional degrees and courses in comic, illustration, animation, concept art, and visual arts. The school provides a comprehensive range of programs including professional degrees (Art Grafic, Illustration) and master's programs (Concept Art, Animation 2D/3D, Children's Illustration); general courses (Comic, Manga, Digital Illustration); intensive workshops (3D Modeling with Blender, Procreate, Comic Scriptwriting, Tattoo Drawing, Life Drawing); children's manga courses; and an extensive catalog of online offerings through Joso+ platform. The institution also features Animation Career Lab for professional coaching. With over 40 years of history and more than 15,000 alumni, the school positions itself as a European reference in comic and visual arts education.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Joso+: Online learning platform offering live online courses in comic, manga, illustration, and related visual arts disciplines.
Products and services
- Grado Profesional en Art Grafic Four-year professional degree program training drawing professionals for the image, entertainment, and communication industries. Requires an access test/portfolio review and is available in-person in Barcelona and online.
- Grado Profesional en Ilustración Three-year professional degree introducing illustration techniques and specializations with a focus on drawing fundamentals and professional sector knowledge.
- Master Profesional en Concept Art One-year master program training illustrators in professional concept art language for film and video games.
- Master Profesional en Animación 2D Professional master's in Acting 2D and 3D animation designed for film, television, advertising, and video game markets.
- Master Profesional en Ilustración Infantil Nine-month professional master's covering techniques for children's illustration with both technical-practical and emotional aspects, focusing on picture books.
- Animation Career Lab Intensive coaching program for animation professionals to build reels and participate in real industry projects with industry visibility and connections.
- Curso de Cómic Three-year Saturday comic course teaching comic language fundamentals and artistic capabilities through weekly work analysis.
- Curso de Manga Three-year Saturday manga course covering the creative and narrative process of Japanese manga with adaptation to various objectives.
- Ilustración Digital para Cómic o Manga Digital illustration course teaching color fundamentals and professional use of Adobe Photoshop and Clip Studio Paint for comic and manga.
- Iniciación al Dibujo Entry-level intensive drawing course for aspiring artists looking to develop drawing as both personal expression and professional career.
- Modelado 3D con Blender Intensive 3D modeling course using Blender software popular in the video game and visual effects industries.
- Ilustración Digital con Procreate Intensive digital illustration course using Procreate, covering tools, shortcuts, and custom brush creation.
- Guión para Cómic Intensive comic scriptwriting course exploring creative writing for comics and comparative analysis with cinema and TV series.
- Dibujo para Tattoos Intensive tattoo drawing course for tattoo professionals seeking to improve their drawing skills from sketch to final ink work.
- Dibujo de Modelo del Natural Life drawing course with live model sessions to develop observation and artistic representation skills.
- Acting en el Dibujo Intensive acting course focused on human body movement for character creation using theater and body expression tools.
- Cómic Manga infantil Children's manga comic course for ages 8-13 teaching drawing through the comic universe with fantasy and adventure themes.
- Joso+ Online Courses Live online courses covering comic, manga, illustration, Procreate, storytelling, Webtoon creation, and more, with real-time instructor feedback via video platform. Accessible globally to international students.
- Summer Courses Four-week summer intensive courses in July covering illustration, comic, manga, digital techniques, character design, and life drawing. Available in-person and online, including children's summer tracks.
Quantifiable outcome
- 15,000+ students trained who became established professionals in the comics, illustration and animation industries across Spain, Europe and North America
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use ESCOLA JOSO
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
ESCOLA JOSO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature1 record
ESCOLA JOSO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Comics Beyond (European Project)coreEuropean project for the creation and circulation of comic artists' work. Escola Joso collaborates as a partner hosting activities including visits from industry professionals like Pascal Mériaux, director of the Amiens Comic Festival. Project aims to support professional development and international exchange for comic creators.
- Penguin Random House Grupo EditorialsupportingMajor international publishing group conducts annual portfolio review sessions at Escola Joso, with editors interviewing students from final-year professional courses (Art Grafic, Illustration, Children's Illustration) to identify emerging talent.
- Fundació FinestrescorePartnership through the Impuls al Còmic program providing 100% scholarships covering the Art Grafic professional degree (Art, Design and Narrative). Scholarships target Catalonia residents who have completed ESO and passed Escola Joso's access tests. Fundació Finestres also organizes masterclasses with industry professionals like David Aja at the school.
- FICOMIC / Manga BarcelonasupportingPartnership with the Manga Barcelona comic convention. Escola Joso collaborates with FICOMIC and the Japanese consulate on the Japan International Manga Awards exhibition. School community attends and participates in the annual manga event.
- Ubisoft BarcelonasupportingVideo game developer invited students from Concept Art and Animation professional courses to visit their facilities and receive portfolio reviews from Ubisoft professionals. Initiative aimed at fostering diversity in the gaming industry.
- FICOMICcoreSpanish comic publishers association (FICOMIC) collaborates with Escola Joso on the Barcelona-Angoulême residency scholarship program for emerging comic talents. Joso serves as the primary Spanish host location for French artists during the first two years of the program, with the program opening to Spanish artists from 2026.
- La Maison des Auteurs de AngoulêmecorePrestigious French comics creation center at Cité internationale de la bande dessinée et de l'image partners with Escola Joso on the Barcelona-Angoulême residency scholarship. Provides 3-month residencies in Angoulême for Spanish/France-based emerging comic artists starting 2026.
- Institut français de EspañasupportingFrench cultural institute in Spain co-supports the Barcelona-Angoulême residency scholarship program, promoting cultural exchange between French and Spanish comic industries.
- WacomsupportingDigital drawing tablet manufacturer listed as a school sponsor, providing equipment support for students.
- Norma EditorialsupportingMajor Spanish comic publisher, with alumni publishing works through this publisher including Carles Dalmau's Soma and Josep Maria Polls' Remington 1885.
- Planeta CómicsupportingSpanish comic publishing imprint, with former student Miriam Bonastre's El Príncipe de la Calamidad published through Planeta Manga.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ESCOLA JOSO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rubika: French private school specializing in animation, video game, and digital arts. Targets the same professional animators and concept artists feeding European studios.
- Gnomon School of Visual Arts: Los Angeles-based school specializing in concept art, VFX, character design, and entertainment art. Highly comparable curriculum focus on concept art and animation, targeting the same entertainment industry employers.
- ESDIP (Escuela Superior de Dibujo Profesional): Madrid-based private art school offering professional degrees and workshops in illustration, comics, and visual arts. Closest Spain-based direct competitor with similar target audience and course model.
- Escola Llotja: Historic Barcelona art school offering long-cycle programs in drawing, illustration, and applied arts. Operates in the same city and competes for aspiring Barcelona-based artists.
Broad incumbents
- School of Visual Arts (SVA): NYC-based broad arts college offering illustration, animation, and comic-focused programs. A larger established incumbent with overlapping disciplines but a much broader portfolio beyond visual arts.
- Vancouver Film School: Canadian entertainment-arts school with programs in animation, concept art, and game design. Overlaps with Escola Joso's professional and master's tracks serving the same entertainment industry talent pipeline.
- Central Saint Martins (UAL): London art school under University of the Arts London with programs in illustration, graphic design, and fine art. Wider portfolio but competing for top international creative talent.
- ESMA (École Supérieure des Métiers Artistiques): French multi-campus school offering programs in 3D animation, video game art, and illustration. Comparable curriculum mix for animation and concept art with similar private for-profit positioning.
Regional players
- Escola Massana: Barcelona municipal art school offering longer-cycle programs in design, illustration, and applied arts. Competes for the same Barcelona-based enrollment pool in adjacent creative disciplines.
- Barreira Arte y Diseño: Valencia-based private art school offering professional degrees in illustration, comic, and graphic design. Competes in the same Spanish regional market for aspiring professional artists.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ESCOLA JOSO social profiles
Digital presenceESCOLA JOSO compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
ESCOLA JOSO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ESCOLA JOSO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
ESCOLA JOSO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ESCOLA JOSO 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 ESCOLA JOSO
What does ESCOLA JOSO do?
Escola Joso is a Barcelona-based private art school that delivers in-person and live-online training in comic creation, illustration, animation, concept art, and children's illustration. Its catalog spans multi-year professional degrees, master's programs, Saturday general courses, intensive workshops, and children's classes, supported by a faculty of active industry professionals and a live-streaming online platform (Joso+).
Is ESCOLA JOSO a public or private company?
ESCOLA JOSO is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ESCOLA JOSO founded?
ESCOLA JOSO was founded in 1985.
Where is ESCOLA JOSO based?
ESCOLA JOSO is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does ESCOLA JOSO make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Course Tuition and Enrollment Fees are the primary driver. The others are scholarship and Financial Aid Programs.
Who are ESCOLA JOSO's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rubika, Gnomon School of Visual Arts, ESDIP (Escuela Superior de Dibujo Profesional) and Escola Llotja. Broad incumbents are School of Visual Arts (SVA), Vancouver Film School, Central Saint Martins (UAL) and ESMA (École Supérieure des Métiers Artistiques). Regional players are Escola Massana and Barreira Arte y Diseño.
Does ESCOLA JOSO have an API?
No public API is recorded for ESCOLA JOSO.