French startup Animaj, which specializes in AI-powered children’s content, has raised €75 million to accelerate its international expansion and scale its proprietary animation tools. Known for acquiring the popular brand Pocoyo in 2023, the company plans to invest further in artificial intelligence, acquire new IPs, and strengthen its presence in the U.S. market.
French startup Animaj, which acquired the popular Spanish children’s animation brand Pocoyo in 2023 and uses artificial intelligence (AI) to produce kids’ content, announced on Wednesday that it has raised €75 million to accelerate its growth.
The fundraising round was led by Bpifrance, France’s public investment bank, and HarbourView Equity Partners, a US-based investment firm. It comes 18 months after a previous €100 million round, the company said in a statement.
The fresh capital will help Animaj expand its AI-driven production tools, acquire new brands, and grow its presence in the US market, where it plans to build a dedicated team.
Founded in 2022 by entrepreneur Sixte de Vauplane and Gregory Dray, a former YouTube executive, the company says it aims to build “the next generation of youth entertainment franchises” across platforms where young audiences are most active — YouTube, TikTok, Netflix, Spotify, Roblox, or Disney+.
At the core of its model: a proprietary AI tool that, according to the company, can cut production time by up to 85%, enabling rapid adaptation of content for different platforms.
“We don’t use AI in the creative phase,” de Vauplane told AFP. “We have artists and creatives who imagine the stories and draw the storyboards.” AI models are then used to transform sketches and drafts into animated content, he explained.
“And at the end of the pipeline, we still have humans — craftspeople — who do the final touch-ups,” he added, claiming that AI can enhance creativity by freeing up time and reducing costs.
This also enables the production of tailored content for different countries and platforms, he noted.
Animaj, which is currently delivering Season 5 of Pocoyo for streaming platforms, is also developing podcasts and a feature film for theatrical release.
The company also owns the children’s music brand HeyKids, and claims to be “Europe’s leading kids’ entertainment player on YouTube, with over 22 billion views per year and 242 million unique monthly users.”
Now reportedly profitable, Animaj employs around 60 people across Paris, Madrid and London, and is preparing to acquire two additional animation brands, de Vauplane said.
With AFP
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