By combining artificial intelligence and digital distribution, Animaj wants to build the next major youth franchises from Youtube, Tiktok, Spotify or Roblox, and no longer from TV channels or cinemas. Its method, industrialize animation via production using a owner AI, accelerate the conversion of intellectual properties under-exploited into global brands, and capture the audience where it is, at the speed of the algorithm.
“” What interests us is not to create another studio. It is to rethink the model, from the script to the diffusion, by integrating AI wherever it creates real value for our artists »Explains Sixte de Vauplane, co -founder and CEO of Animaj.
The group is based on internal technology that reduces production times up to 85 %. This infrastructure allows creative teams to continuously produce content in format adapted to each platform, whether it is a long series, a YouTube capsule or music for children broadcast on Spotify. This choice of an optimized technological pipeline does not aim for a cost economy but an editorial scalability, capable of competing with the logics of the global audience.
In less than three years, Animaj has established itself as the First European youth actor on YouTubewith more than 22 billion views per year And 242 million unique users each month. Its marks portfolio, which includes the emblematic Pocoyois today present on more than 100 platforms worldwide, including Netflix, Video, Disney+ or Spotify.
The model aims at the omnipresence of characters on all familiar supports of young audiences: premium series, mobile games, interactive formats or derivative products. A “total franchise” strategy to which American studios have already been delivered, but which the French SCALE-UP wants to reinterpret, starting from a digital-first DNA and often independent creators.
“” There is an incredible pool of intellectual properties and youth content carried by independent studios or creators, often under-exploited. Via a modern and innovative approach, based on the desire to go and touch children wherever they are, we want to give them the means to exist worldwide, without losing their identity »Underlines Grégory Dray, co -founder and Chief Business Officer.
This strategy has just convinced new investors. Animaj announces a 75 million euros (debt combination and equity) in B seriesled by Harborview Equity Partners And Bpifrance Large Venturewith the participation of JP Morgan,, Bootstrap,, Left Lane,, Xange,, Daphni And Marquee Ventures. This funding will strengthen the technological effort around AI, structure a team dedicated to the United States, and to pursue a targeted licensed acquisition policy with high potential.
Founded in 2022 in Paris by Sixte de Vauplane And Grégory Dray (former leader of Google/Youtube), Animaj is a Digital-Native media group dedicated to children and families. The company transforms emblematic youth brands into global franchises through a strategy combining artificial intelligence, modular production, and multiplatform diffusion. The company employs teams in Paris, London and Madrid, and claims world leadership on YouTube Kids with 242 million unique users per month. This series B relates to total funding to more than 175 million eurosdebt included.
