Italian-based VFX company Riva Studios has acquired Paris-based TeamTO, saving the French animation studio from bankruptcy. Riva Studios members like Marco Balsamo, Jay Oliva, and Tara Sibel Demren will be leading the new dynamic team as TeamTO approaches their 20th anniversary in 2025. The acquisition was officially approved by the Tribunal de Commerce de Paris (Commercial Court of Paris).
Under this new leadership team, TeamTO will continue delivering content, including Sony Pictures Television’s The Creature Cases as well as original hits Jade Armor and Angelo Rules. Additionally, they will focus on developing new original franchises, including: Junichiro Jackson, Akiras’ Flying Wheelchair, Yellow Cello, Cradle: Unsouled, Era: The Legend Of Lugh, and Spain-based table top games company Corvus Belli’ Infinity: Paradise Lost.
The studio will continue operating from Valence and Paris, retaining the majority of its staff to ensure a seamless transition on all current and upcoming series and films. TeamTO’s founders Guillaume Hellouin and Corinne Kouper will continue as executive advisors while also serving as executive producers on current and upcoming projects. They will work closely with the new leadership team to ensure seamless collaboration on all productions.
“TeamTO set a world-class standard for animation and this is a pivotal moment for the studio. Under this new direction, we’re not just continuing the studio’s legacy—we’re building a stronger, more ambitious company that’s ready to elevate that standard and redefine what’s possible. With our team’s vast experience, passion, and bold vision for the future, we’re ready to break new ground and shape the future of the industry that we all love,” said Balsamo.
“Opportunities like this are rare and I couldn’t be more excited to help lead TeamTO into a new era. In today’s evolving animation landscape, this is a golden opportunity to expand the studio into uncharted territories that will push creative boundaries through innovative visual styles and immersive stories that will inspire audiences around the world,” Oliva shared.
Hellouin added, “We couldn’t be happier as we know this leadership team will honor our two decades of creative excellence with a visionary plan that will ensure TeamTO’s success for another twenty years and beyond.”
Founded in 2005 by Guillaume Hellouin, Corinne Kouper and Caroline Souris, TeamTO is a Paris-based studio focusing on original content, creative partnerships, and bringing global stories to life. TeamTO’s productions air on channels across the globe from Netflix, Cartoon Network and YouTube and others. The company’s two French studios with over 500 artists are based in Paris and Valence. The company also has offices in Beijing and Los Angeles.
