Lightbox Animation Studios
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 2008
- Employees
- 11-50
- Offices
- 1
About Lightbox Animation Studios
Lightbox Animation Studios is an independent Spanish 3D animation and audiovisual production company based in Madrid. Founded in May 2008 by animation director Enrique Gato Borregán and film producer Nicolás Matji, it originally operated as Lightbox Entertainment. Its work spans animated feature films, television, short films and commercial projects, combining original productions and co-productions with animation services for other producers.
The company grew out of Gato’s earlier CGI shorts featuring the explorer Tadeo Jones. Its debut feature, Tad, the Lost Explorer (2012), established the character as the foundation of a continuing theatrical franchise. Subsequent installments include Tad the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas (2017), Tad, the Lost Explorer and the Emerald Tablet (2022), and Tad and the Magic Lamp, released in August 2026. Alongside this series, Lightbox produced the space adventure Capture the Flag (2015).
Production capabilities
Lightbox supports the full animation production process, from scriptwriting, storyboarding and visual development through asset creation, animation and final image delivery. Its artists work across character and environment design, modeling, surfacing, texturing, rigging and technical direction. Further capabilities include character effects, hair and cloth simulation, motion capture cleanup, digital matte painting, lighting, shading and compositing.
Its production offering accommodates both complete animated features and selected contributions within larger productions. This allows the studio to combine its own family entertainment projects with international service assignments and shorter commercial work, drawing on creative and technical disciplines across the CGI pipeline.
Beyond its own feature productions, the studio has supplied additional animation for The King of Kings (2025) and animation or visual production services for Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie (2024). Commercial contributions include sets and props modeling and texturing for Chick-fil-A’s The Stories of Evergreen Hills: The Snow Globe. Its shorter-format work also includes the educational television series Descubre con Tadeo and the animated short La mano de Nefertiti.
More about Lightbox Animation Studios
Production methods
The studio describes a hybrid model combining on-site direction and supervision with remote artists across Spain and Europe. Its core team expands with project-based artists during production cycles. Proprietary pipeline development uses Python alongside Maya, ShotGrid, Arnold and Redshift.
Film recognition and distribution
- Tad, the Lost Explorer received three Goya Awards in 2013: Best Animated Film, Best New Director for Enrique Gato, and Best Adapted Screenplay. These recognitions were awarded to the film and its respective recipients.
- Capture the Flag won the Goya for Best Animated Film. Its Paramount agreement marked the first worldwide distribution of a Spanish animated feature by a major Hollywood studio.
- Tad the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas won the 2018 Goya Award for Best Animated Film.
Training connections
Working studio professionals teach at the affiliated Lightbox Academy, whose student projects support industry recruitment. The school offers master's degrees and diplomas in digital arts.
Notable credits
10 creditsOffices
Where Lightbox Animation Studios is based
- Calle de Albasanz, 75, 3º E, 28037 Madrid, SpainMadrid, Community of Madrid, Spain
Madrid Studio
HeadquartersPrimary production headquarters housing directing, pipeline engineering, IT, production management and supervisory personnel.
Open roles
Find your next role at Lightbox Animation Studios
No open roles right now
Check back for new opportunities at Lightbox Animation Studios.
Visit studio website