Catalyst Pictures LTD

What Catalyst Pictures LTD does

Catalyst Pictures LTD is a privately held UK creative production studio founded in 1985 in Dobcross, Oldham, with a headcount of 1-10. The company produces animation, mobile and web applications, e-learning content, and games, serving agency and direct enterprise clients across broadcasting/education (BBC), healthcare (Johnson & Johnson, NHS, SpecSavers), financial services (Deloitte, Credit Suisse, Prudential, MetLife), consumer brands (Mars, Kellogg's, Warburtons), and government (DCMS). Notable deliverables include BAFTA-nominated The Transporters, the autism-focused Space Place series, enterprise 3D visualisations (Deloitte University campus, Warburtons factory), training games (J&J nursing, Prudential risk, MetLife coaching), and consumer mobile games (Pipedown, Celebrity Tiles).

Name

Catalyst Pictures LTD

Legal name

Catalyst Pictures LTD

Website

https://catalystpics.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Catalyst Pictures LTD is a small UK creative studio (founded 1985, 1-10 staff) producing animation, mobile apps, e-learning games, and WebXR content for enterprise clients including BBC, Deloitte, Johnson & Johnson, and major financial institutions, with an autism-education branded product, Space Place.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animation and Digital Content Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121), Graphic Design Services (541430), Software Publishers (5132)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAAAMAD

Animation Production (2D/3D/Stop-Motion)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Advertising, Marketing & PR Services/Production Services for Advertising (Commercial Production, Post)

SECONDARYMPAHACAD

3D Product/Explainer Animation

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Media Technology & Services (Post-Production, VFX, Animation, Streaming Infrastructure)/Animation & Motion Graphics (2D/3D)

SECONDARYMPAAAMAC

VFX & Motion Graphics (CGI, Compositing, 2D/3D)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Advertising, Marketing & PR Services/Production Services for Advertising (Commercial Production, Post)

SECONDARYBPAFAIAD

Motion Graphics & Animation

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Content Marketing & Production (Copy, Video, Design)

Keywords

• Animation production services
• Mobile app development
• E-learning content creation
• Interactive web development
• Games and immersive media

Headquarters

HQ city

Oldham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Animation and Video Production: Project-based production of animated content including TV commercials, promotional videos, and animated series for clients. Pricing appears quote-based as evidenced by Space Place activity pack sales.
2. Mobile App Development: Development of apps for web, iOS, and Android platforms, including the LightwaveRF smart home control app and educational games.
3. Game Development and Sales: Development and sale of mobile games including Pipedown (with freemium model - first 10 levels free, levels 11-50 paid) and Celebrity Tiles (free with in-app purchases).
4. Educational Content Sales: Sale of educational products including the Space Place activity pack featuring DVD with 12 episodes, 3D game, and card sets for UK educational establishments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Catalyst Pictures is a UK animation and digital content studio that produces animated series, mobile apps, web and e-learning experiences, and games for agencies and direct corporate clients. The company also develops and owns branded educational properties such as The Space Place and The Transporters, which it licenses and distributes through app stores, television, and direct sales.

Product overview

Catalyst Pictures LTD operates as a creative production studio founded in 1985, offering a portfolio of services including animation (drawn, 3D, stop-frame), mobile app development (iOS and Android), web development, e-learning solutions, and games development. Their primary branded product is The Space Place, an animated TV series for children with autism. Services are provided to agency and direct clients including BBC, Johnson and Johnson, Mars Corporation, and Kellogg's.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Animation production services Bespoke 3D and Flash animation work produced for agencies and direct corporate clients, including children's series and branded content for BBC, Johnson & Johnson, Deloitte, Mars, Kellogg's, and the NHS.
• Mobile app development Custom iOS and Android application development for corporate clients and consumer products, including The Space Place companion app and standalone mobile games such as Pipedown and Celebrity Tiles.
• Web development and e-learning content HTML5, Flash, Silverlight, and WebXR-based web experiences and e-learning courses developed for corporate and public-sector clients, including immersive VR course work built with THREE.js.
• Games development Interactive game development for mobile platforms and clients, including published titles Pipedown and Celebrity Tiles distributed via app stores, and Unity 3D-based interactive experiences for corporate clients.
• The Space Place Standalone branded educational property aimed at helping children, particularly those with autism, learn social and life skills through animated content and accompanying digital materials.
• The Transporters Standalone branded educational animated property developed for children with autism, recognised with a BAFTA nomination.

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• UdemyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2020Catalyst is developing a WebXR with THREE.js course for Udemy, teaching developers to add VR and AR experiences to web pages. This partnership positions Catalyst as an educator in emerging webXR technology.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mighty Giant: Bristol-based animation and motion graphics studio for advertising and broadcast. Closely comparable to Catalyst on motion graphics, 3D, and animation-for-advertising service offerings.
• Jellyfish Pictures: UK VFX and animation house serving advertising, film, and episodic clients. Comparable on animation/VFX for commercial briefs and emerging tech (real-time, XR) production work.
• Nexus Studios: London-based animation and interactive studio producing commercials, branded content, and immersive experiences. Directly comparable service mix to Catalyst — animation for agencies, mobile/web interactive work, and emerging XR projects.
• Blue Zoo Animation Studio: London-based animation studio producing children's TV, commercials, and app-adjacent content. Overlaps with Catalyst on multi-platform children's content and agency-led animation commissions.
• Unit9: Production studio creating interactive experiences, mobile apps, and immersive content for brands. Comparable to Catalyst on agency-led interactive, mobile, and emerging-technology production.
• Passion Pictures: Award-winning UK production company spanning animation, commercials, and documentary. Comparable on animation production services for brand and broadcast clients; larger scale but operates in the same competitive set.

Emerging players

• Studio Liddell: London-based animation and interactive content studio producing mixed-reality, mobile, and animation projects. Comparable on mobile/web interactive work and emerging XR direction Catalyst is pursuing.

Broad incumbents

• Aardman Animations: Iconic UK animation studio (Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep). Comparable on animation production and client breadth across advertising, education, and broadcast, though materially larger and more diversified than Catalyst.
• Framestore: Major UK VFX, animation, and immersive content studio with offices in advertising, episodic, and experiential divisions. Overlaps with Catalyst on animation-for-advertising and VR/AR; far larger and more diversified.

Regional players

• Windmill Lane Pictures: Dublin-based production and animation house serving advertising and entertainment clients. Comparable on animation-for-clients service mix; geographically focused on Ireland/UK, similar to Catalyst's UK-centric base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Catalyst-Pictures-Ltd/168502294323?v=box_3
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catalyst-pictures-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Catalyst Pictures LTD