THE BEAST MAKERS
The Beast Makers is a France-based VFX animation studio founded in 2017 that provides character and creature rigging, animation, and Ziva muscle simulation services alongside proprietary Maya plugins for film, TV, game, and advertising clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersLattes, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What THE BEAST MAKERS does
The Beast Makers is a France-based VFX animation studio founded in 2017 and headquartered in Lattes (Montpellier region), specializing in character and creature rigging, animation, and proprietary tooling for visual effects and animated productions. Its technical stack is built on Autodesk Maya with C++ and Python development, centered on three proprietary products: BEAST 1.0 Live Adaptative Rigging System (LARS), a real-time adaptive modular rigging system enabling live WYSIWYG retakes; TBM2D, a 2D texture facial rig plugin; and TBM Sticky Deformer, a multi-threaded Maya deformer. The studio also delivers Ziva Dynamics-based muscle rigging and simulation services and develops custom pipeline tools in Python and C++.
The company's revenue model is hybrid, combining professional services (character design, rigging, animation, R&D, supervision delivered on-site or at its studio) with one-time software plugin licensing via Gumroad and modest paid training offerings (€500 for 2-day workshops, €300 for 1-hour feedback sessions, €500 for 2-day deep evaluations). Its primary customer segment is animation and VFX studios producing feature films, TV series, and commercials; secondary segments include game developers (e.g., Ubisoft/Massive Entertainment) and individual animation professionals. Notable enterprise clients include Ubisoft/Massive Entertainment, Studio 100, Mikros Image, EuropaCorp, Technicolor London, Mathematic Studio, and SWISS International AB, with credited work on Star Wars Outlaws (Nix), KiNG, Vic Le Vicking, and the Monster in Paris.
THE BEAST MAKERS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- THE BEAST MAKERS
- Legal name
- The Beast Makers
- Website
- https://thebeastmakers.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Beast Makers is a France-based VFX animation studio founded in 2017 that provides character and creature rigging, animation, and Ziva muscle simulation services alongside proprietary Maya plugins for film, TV, game, and advertising clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
THE BEAST MAKERS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animation & VFX Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- 2D/3D Rigging & Character Setup (MPAHACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Character & Creature Animation (MPADACAE), VFX Production & Supervision (2D/3D, Compositing, FX, CG) (MPADAHAA), Outsourced Art/Audio Production Services (2D/3D, Animation, VFX, Audio/VO) (MPAFAKAM)
Keywords
Where THE BEAST MAKERS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lattes
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
THE BEAST MAKERS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- VFX Animation Services: Character design, creature modeling, rigging, animation, and VFX supervision services delivered at client studios or on-site. Covers full production pipeline from pre-production to final delivery.
- Training & Workshops: Online rigging workshops, expertise sessions, and deep evaluation services. Priced at 500 EUR for 2-day workshops and 300 EUR for 1-hour feedback sessions.
- Software Plugin Licensing: TBM2D Maya plugin and TBM Sticky Deformer distributed via Gumroad store. Free trial available for TBM2D v0.2 (30 days).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Rigging Workshop - 2-day intensive training |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Rigging expertise feedback/advice - 1 hour session |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Rigging expertise deep evaluation - 2 days |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Demo TBM 2D - Plugin demonstration |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | TBM 2D Texture Plugin - 30-day free trial |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Character Rigging Basics - Fundamentals course |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
THE BEAST MAKERS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Beast Makers delivers character and creature rigging, animation, modeling, and VFX supervision services for animation, film, and game studios. In parallel, the studio develops and sells proprietary Autodesk Maya plugins (TBM 2D, TBM Sticky Deformer) and an in-house adaptive rigging system (BEAST 1.0 LARS), distributed via Gumroad. Services are delivered on-site or at the TBM studio in Lattes, France.
Product overview
The Beast Makers is a VFX Animation Studio based in France offering a portfolio of proprietary software tools and professional services for the animation and visual effects industry. Their software products include TBM 2D (a 2D texture animation plugin for Autodesk Maya), BEAST 1.0 LARS (a real-time adaptive modular rigging system), and TBM Sticky Deformer (a Maya deformer plugin). Their service offerings span character/creature design, rigging, animation, Ziva muscle simulation, R&D using Python/C++, and technical supervision. The company was founded in 2017 by Christophe Petit and has contributed to productions including Star Wars Outlaws, KiNG movie, and various commercials.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- BEAST 1.0 Live Adaptative Rigging System (LARS): In-house adaptive modular rigging software system that allows live adaptation of character proportions and WYSIWYG rigging retakes.
- TBM2D
- TBM Sticky Deformer
Products and services
- TBM 2D Texture Plugin for Autodesk Maya A 2D texture animation plugin for Autodesk Maya that enables animated textured facial rigs in seconds, supporting drag-and-drop of facial rigs or parts with controls for color, thickness, transparency, alpha, and layer parameters. Distributed via Gumroad with a 30-day free trial.
- TBM Sticky Deformer Multi-threaded Maya deformer plugin featuring multiple handles in one node, slide and push deformation modes, smooth falloff with radial or surface options, and custom orientation override hooks. Used for shot fixing, facial deformations, and rotoscopy matching.
- BEAST 1.0 Live Adaptative Rigging System (LARS) In-house real-time adaptive modular rigging system with WYSIWYG capabilities, enabling live proportion adaptation and retakes on character rigs. Modules are saved as Maya scenes for easy debugging. Built with C++ plugins and Python.
- Character Design Services Characters and creatures modeling, texturing, shading, and LookDev services for feature films, TV series, commercials, and games. Delivered at the TBM studio in Lattes, France or on-site at client locations.
- Rigging Services Rig creation, rigging and FX, muscle systems using Ziva, animation services including animatics, previz, layout, animation direction, and storyboarding for animation and VFX productions.
- R&D Services Custom pipeline development using Python and C++, including in-house tool and plugin development for animation and VFX pipelines.
- Supervision Services Technical supervision across CG, VFX, on-set, pipeline, and character domains for animation and VFX productions.
- Ziva Rig/Simulation Services Muscle rigging and simulation services using Ziva Dynamics for hyperrealistic creature anatomy. Service tiers include muscle rig and simulation, full animation (rig and animate), and complete production service (model, rig, animate, simulate).
- Rigging Workshop Online two-day intensive training workshop covering high-end rigging and deformation solutions, delivered via Zoom. Priced at 500 EUR per session.
- Rigging Expertise Services One-on-one rigging feedback, advice, and deep evaluation services for animation professionals. Includes a 1-hour feedback session at 300 EUR and a 2-day deep evaluation at 500 EUR, with NDA option.
Quantifiable outcome
- No retakes on KiNG facial rig since first delivery
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use THE BEAST MAKERS
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
THE BEAST MAKERS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature5 records
THE BEAST MAKERS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and historical.
- Ubisoft / Massive EntertainmentcoreCharacter rigging for Nix, the companion character in Star Wars Outlaws video game. Two-year involvement in the project. Special thanks to Ubisoft Montpellier.
- Mathematic StudiocoreCollaboration on KiNG lion cub feature film project. TBM provided facial rigging, body rig supervision, and Ziva muscle simulation for 148 shots. Animation team included Rémi Gamiette, Anton Blake, Florent Perrin, Eric Prébendé, and Emmanuelle Graduel. Facial shapes modeled by Nicolas Morel.
- Bloom PicturescoreClose collaboration on Nutro pet food commercials. TBM provided character rigging and animation on dog character. Collaboration also involved Illogics partner.
- PSYOP + Golden WolfcoreUsed TBM2D 1.0 plugin for Supercell game advertising campaign. PSYOP and Golden Wolf teams produced the creative work using Beast Makers tools.
- Ziva DynamicscoreTechnology provider for advanced muscle rigging and simulation. TBM offers Ziva Rigging & Simulation services as a core offering including muscle rig/simulation, animation service, and full production service.
- Studio 100coreRigging work for Vic Le Vicking animated movie including facial rigging on ~100 characters and body rigging on 17 main characters.
- Mikros ImagecoreMultiple rigging projects including Asterix DDD (pre-production facial rigging and animation tools), Canal+ commercials (rigging & animation), and Winamax animations (trex and tiger characters).
- MacGuffLignehistoricalEarly proof of concept for BEAST LARS was developed at MacGuffLigne during animation test for 'Comment j'ai mange mon pere' animated film.
- Dwarf Animation StudiohistoricalChristophe Petit joined Dwarf Animation Studio as rigging supervisor before founding The Beast Makers. BEAST LARS was further developed there for Pirata & Capitano TV Series and Mon Chichi TV Series.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
THE BEAST MAKERS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MacGuffLigne: Paris-based animation studio where BEAST LARS had its early proof of concept and where founder Christophe Petit worked. Comparable because MacGuffLigne historically hired TBM talent and shares TBM's Paris/France animation ecosystem.
- Rigging Dojo: Online rigging school offering workshops, mentoring, and masterclasses led by senior rigging artists. Comparable because Rigging Dojo competes directly with TBM's paid rigging workshops and expertise sessions in the same target persona of professional rigging artists.
- iAnimate: Online animation training platform with workshops taught by industry animators. Comparable because iAnimate overlaps with TBM's training/workshop revenue stream and shares the same professional-animator customer persona.
- Animation Mentor: Established online animation school offering character animation courses and workshops. Comparable because Animation Mentor competes in the same paid-training market for animation/rigging professionals that TBM serves.
- Mikros Image: Paris-based animation and VFX studio providing rigging, animation, and creature services across feature film and commercials. Comparable because TBM has performed rigging work directly for Mikros on projects including Asterix, Canal+ commercials, and Winamax characters.
- Dwarf Animation Studio: French animation studio where founder Christophe Petit served as rigging supervisor and where BEAST LARS was further developed on Pirata & Capitano and Mon Chichi TV series. Comparable as a former employer/partner sharing pipeline heritage with TBM.
Broad incumbents
- Industrial Light & Magic (ILM): Lucasfilm-owned VFX leader with large rigging and creature departments. Comparable as a broad incumbent in feature-film creature animation where TBM's services and proprietary tools (BEAST LARS, Ziva expertise) could be sold or licensed.
- Framestore: Global VFX and animation studio with in-house creature rigging teams on major feature films. Comparable as a broad incumbent in creature/animation VFX — TBM operates in the same production ecosystem and could compete for or supply talent on similar projects.
- Ziva Dynamics: Developer of Ziva muscle/tissue simulation tools used in creature VFX. Comparable because Ziva Dynamics is both TBM's technology partner and a broader incumbent whose tools underpin TBM's core creature rigging service line.
Emerging players
- SideFX (Houdini): Developer of Houdini, a DCC widely used in creature/FX and increasingly in rigging. Comparable as an adjacent tooling vendor whose platform competes with Maya in the rigging/animation ecosystem where TBM's plugins and services operate.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
THE BEAST MAKERS social profiles
Digital presenceTHE BEAST MAKERS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
THE BEAST MAKERS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
THE BEAST MAKERS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
THE BEAST MAKERS 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 THE BEAST MAKERS
What does THE BEAST MAKERS do?
The Beast Makers delivers character and creature rigging, animation, modeling, and VFX supervision services for animation, film, and game studios. In parallel, the studio develops and sells proprietary Autodesk Maya plugins (TBM 2D, TBM Sticky Deformer) and an in-house adaptive rigging system (BEAST 1.0 LARS), distributed via Gumroad. Services are delivered on-site or at the TBM studio in Lattes, France.
Is THE BEAST MAKERS a public or private company?
THE BEAST MAKERS is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was THE BEAST MAKERS founded?
THE BEAST MAKERS was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is THE BEAST MAKERS based?
THE BEAST MAKERS is headquartered in Lattes, France, in the Europe region.
How does THE BEAST MAKERS make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. VFX Animation Services are the primary driver. The others are training & Workshops and software Plugin Licensing.
Who are THE BEAST MAKERS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MacGuffLigne, Rigging Dojo, iAnimate, Animation Mentor, Mikros Image and Dwarf Animation Studio. Broad incumbents are Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Framestore and Ziva Dynamics. SideFX (Houdini) is listed as an emerging player.
Does THE BEAST MAKERS have an API?
No public API is recorded for THE BEAST MAKERS.
What industry is THE BEAST MAKERS in?
THE BEAST MAKERS's product category is Animation & VFX Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHACAE, 2D/3D Rigging & Character Setup, with a secondary code of MPADACAE, Character & Creature Animation.