The cartoon production industry in Europe is a vibrant tapestry of creativity and innovation. This sector includes animation studios, production houses, and content creators who produce engaging animated films, series, and educational content. From traditional 2D animation to state-of-the-art CGI, companies are inventing new styles to captivate audiences of all ages. The rise of streaming platforms has opened up more avenues for animated works, allowing creators to reach global audiences. Additionally, the incorporation of technology like AI is shaping workflows in exciting ways, leading to unique storytelling opportunities and interactive experiences for viewers.


The top cartoon production investors in Europe include a mix of corporate giants and nimble venture capital firms. Based in cities like Amsterdam, London, and Paris, these investors vary in size and sector focus. They range from established corporations, like Endemol Shine Group, to venture firms such as Kima Ventures. With investments made in 2024 varying significantly, these players demonstrate a strong interest in supporting growth within the animating sector. Together, they provide the crucial funding that propels creative ideas into production, fostering a thriving environment for animated storytelling.


Top 12 Cartoon Production Investors in Europe


1. Kima Ventures

  • Website: kimaventures.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 50
  • LinkedIn: kima-ventures

Kima Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage startups across various sectors, backing two startups per week with financial support and mentorship. Kima Ventures has been involved in several notable transactions in the cartoon production context, including their investment in Kukua, which raised $2.5 million to support the development of an animated television series aimed at children. They also invested in Animaj, which raised over $5 million, and Mini Studio, which is likely involved in animation production. Their recent investments in companies like Flagcat and Sekai Studio further indicate their active role in the animation and entertainment sectors, reinforcing their relevance as an investor in cartoon production.


2. Endemol Shine Group

  • Website: banijay.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2015
  • Headcount: 5001-10000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: endemolshine

Endemol Shine Group, a subsidiary of Banijay Entertainment S.A., is a prominent television production and distribution company based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Founded in 2015, the group has rapidly expanded its reach and capabilities, boasting over 130 production labels and a vast catalogue of more than 200,000 hours of programming. Notably, Endemol Shine Group has made significant strides in the animation sector, acquiring Monello Productions, a French animation studio, in April 2021, which allows them to enhance their creative offerings in animated content. Furthermore, in September 2024, Banijay Kids & Family acquired a majority stake in Procidis, known for its educational entertainment brand Hello Maestro, further emphasizing their commitment to producing quality content for children. These strategic acquisitions highlight Endemol Shine Group's dedication to diversifying its portfolio and strengthening its position in the kids' edutainment and animation markets.


3. Bgf

  • Website: bgf.co.uk
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2011
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 53
  • LinkedIn: bgfinvestments

BGF Investment Management Limited is a venture capital firm founded in 2011, based in London, England. The firm focuses on providing growth funding and value creation support to small and mid-sized businesses in the UK and Ireland. BGF addresses the funding gap in the market through minority investments and extensive support services. Notably, BGF has invested in Snipple Animation Studios, which raised over $8 million in a venture round, and Milk VFX, which received £2 million to expand its operations and enhance its capabilities in visual effects for film and television. These transactions highlight BGF's engagement with the animation and visual effects sectors, reinforcing its role as a supporter of businesses that contribute to cartoon production.


4. Hiro Capital

  • Website: hiro.capital
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2019
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 5
  • LinkedIn: hirocapital

Hiro Capital is a venture capital firm based in London, England, founded in 2019. The firm specializes in investing in innovative companies within the gaming, esports, and technology sectors. They provide funding, strategic insights, and networking opportunities to help startups grow and succeed. Notably, Hiro Capital has participated in significant funding rounds for companies that intersect with the cartoon production industry. For instance, they led a funding round for Skybound Entertainment, which is known for its animated series and comic book adaptations. Additionally, their investment in Telltale Games, which creates narrative-driven games with animated storytelling, highlights their engagement in projects that blend gaming and animation. Their focus on building the future of games, digital sports, and metaverse technologies positions them as a key player in industries that often collaborate with or influence cartoon production.


5. Enterprise Ireland


Enterprise Ireland is a public entity that serves as the Irish government's enterprise development agency, founded in 1998. It supports Irish businesses at all stages of their growth journey by providing funding, advisory services, and market access assistance. The agency focuses on helping companies scale and compete internationally across various industries, including technology and manufacturing. Notably, Enterprise Ireland has made significant investments in the cartoon production sector, including a venture round for Cartoon Saloon in 2017 and a seed round for StoryToys in 2011, both of which highlight their commitment to supporting creative industries. Additionally, they have invested in other media-related companies like Marker Video and Wavebreak Media, further showcasing their engagement in the broader media and animation landscape.


6. Almi

  • Website: almi.se
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 1994
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Number of deals in 2024: 7
  • LinkedIn: almi-ab

Almi AB is a financial services company based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 1994. It specializes in providing loans, risk capital, and business development support to small and medium-sized enterprises. Almi aims to enhance the growth and competitiveness of these businesses by offering tailored financial solutions and guidance. Among their notable transactions, Almi invested in Plotagon, which raised $3 million in 2015 and is known for its animation technology that allows users to create animated stories. They also invested in VOYD, which raised $504,250 in a seed round in 2016, indicating their interest in innovative digital content. These transactions highlight Almi's engagement in the creative sector, making them a potential player in the cartoon production landscape.


7. Mediawan

  • Website: mediawan.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 2015
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: mediawan-corporate

Mediawan S.A. is a corporate investor based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, specializing in media production and audiovisual content. Founded in 2015, Mediawan has quickly established itself as a significant player in the industry, producing, distributing, and publishing a diverse range of content, including scripted and non-scripted productions, documentaries, and animations. In 2023, Mediawan acquired Wildseed Studios, enhancing its capabilities in animation and children's content. Furthermore, the acquisition of a majority stake in Submarine, a company recognized for its animated works such as Netflix's 'Apollo 10 1⁄2: A Space Age Childhood', underscores Mediawan's strategic focus on animation. Their acquisition of Côte Ouest and plans to expand into the African market also reflect their ambition to diversify content offerings, including local adaptations and animated productions. With a network of production labels and a commitment to high-quality content, Mediawan is well-positioned to engage audiences across various platforms, including broadcasters and streaming services.


8. Publicis Groupe

  • Website: publicisgroupe.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 1926
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 7
  • LinkedIn: publicis-groupe

Publicis Groupe is a leading advertising agency and marketing consultancy based in Paris, Île-De-France, France. Founded in 1926, the company has grown to employ over 10,000 people and serves a diverse range of industries by enhancing brand visibility and engaging target audiences. Notably, Publicis Groupe has made strategic acquisitions to bolster its production capabilities, including the acquisition of Harbor Picture Company in 2017, which allows them to enhance in-house production through their unit Prodigious. In 2024, they further expanded their portfolio by acquiring Picture Motion, indicating a commitment to content production. These transactions highlight Publicis Groupe's interest in the production landscape, which may encompass various media forms, including cartoons.


9. THQ Nordic


THQ Nordic is a corporate investor based in Vienna, Austria, founded in 2011. As a video game publisher and developer, THQ Nordic has built a diverse portfolio of video games across various platforms, catering to gamers and enthusiasts with engaging experiences. The company has made several strategic acquisitions to enhance its capabilities, including the acquisition of metricminds in February 2022, a German animation studio known for its work in motion capture. This acquisition highlights THQ Nordic's interest in animation, which is integral to cartoon production. Additionally, THQ Nordic has acquired other studios such as Purple Lamp Studios and Black Forest Games, further expanding its development resources and creative potential.


10. LocalGlobe

  • Website: localglobe.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2019
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 15
  • LinkedIn: localglobe

LocalGlobe is a venture capital firm based in London, England, founded in 2019. The firm partners with exceptional founders and companies at various stages of growth, from pre-seed to scale-up and public markets. LocalGlobe provides venture capital funding and investment management services, focusing on supporting startups in navigating their growth challenges. Among their notable transactions, they invested in Papercup, a British AI dubbing startup that raised $20 million in a Series A funding round. This investment highlights LocalGlobe's interest in technology that enhances media production, which is relevant to the cartoon production industry. Additionally, they have backed other media-related ventures, such as Meet Cute, a romantic-comedy podcast series, indicating a broader interest in creative content production.


11. Crowdcube

  • Website: crowdcube.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: crowdcube-limited

Crowdcube is a London-based crowdfunding platform founded in 2010 that enables businesses to raise capital through equity investments. It connects startups and SMEs with potential investors, facilitating the funding process. The platform promotes diversity and inclusion within its workforce while providing investment management services to its clients. In recent years, Crowdcube has facilitated several notable transactions, including Fourth Wall, which raised $1,060,297 in December 2021, and Wake The Tiger, which raised $995,946 in May 2022. These projects indicate Crowdcube's involvement in creative sectors, potentially including cartoon production, as they support innovative and artistic ventures.


12. myCANAL

  • Website: mycanal.fr
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Lacour-D'Arcenay, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France
  • Founded year: 1984
  • Headcount: 501-1000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: mycanal

myCANAL, a streaming service provider founded in 1984, operates primarily in the French market and offers a diverse range of entertainment content, including films, series, and live sports. In recent years, myCANAL has made strategic acquisitions to enhance its original content development. Notably, in July 2019, they acquired ROK, a Nigerian Nollywood studio, which could potentially expand their content offerings to include animated works. In March 2024, they acquired a stake in Marodi TV, a leading series production company in West Africa, further strengthening their presence in Francophone Africa. These transactions indicate myCANAL's commitment to diversifying its content portfolio, which may include animated series or films in the future.



Cartoon Production Insights: Key Investors in Europe


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
Kima VenturesParis, Île-De-France, France1-10201050
Endemol Shine GroupAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands5001-1000020152
BgfLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-200201153
Hiro CapitalLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)1-1020195
Enterprise IrelandDublin, Dublin, Ireland501-1000199848
AlmiStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden201-50019947
MediawanParis, Île-De-France, France1001-500020152
Publicis GroupeParis, Île-De-France, France10001+19267
THQ NordicVienna, Vienna, Austria501-100020110
LocalGlobeLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)11-50201915
CrowdcubeLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-20020103
myCANALLacour-D'Arcenay, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France501-100019843


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