Kicking off a brand new chapter for one in all Europe’s premier unbiased animation studios, Marco Balsamo has taken over as President and CEO of TeamTO following its acquisition by Riva Studios Productions in December 2024.
The 33-year-old Italian-American filmmaker and entrepreneur will now oversee TeamTO’s operations, balancing govt and artistic duties whereas positioning the studio for progress in a quickly evolving animation trade.
“This studio has constructed a exceptional legacy, and we’re dedicated to making sure its long-term success,” Balsamo advised Number of the adjustments. “We additionally wish to develop our attain to worldwide companions, strengthen our presence within the international animation trade and set up TeamTO as a frontrunner in each authentic content material and premium manufacturing companies.”
Co-founded by Balsamo and Tara Sibel Demren, Riva partnered with filmmaker Jay Oliva (“Batman: The Darkish Knight Returns,” “Twilight of the Gods”) of Lex & Otis and investor Peter Bekkerman to type a brand new possession group with the only real goal of securing the studio’s long-term future. The acquisition coincides with TeamTO’s twentieth anniversary, marking a pivotal second within the firm’s historical past.
TeamTO collection ‘Jade Armor’
Credit score: TeamTo
As a part of its dedication to preserving TeamTO’s legacy, Riva Studios has retained 90% of the studio’s staff. The brand new administration construction contains long-term TeamTO executives Clélia Santi (Head of Studios, Paris), Carole Toledo (Head of Studios, Valence), Jean-Baptiste Spieser (Chief Expertise Officer), Olivier Plazas (Artwork Director) and Fanny Weber (Govt Producer). Different key roles embody Demren and Oliva as Govt Producers and Balsamo as Producer, with additional artistic appointments to be introduced within the close to future.
Notably, TeamTO co-founders and longtime studio leaders Guillaume Hellouin and Corrine Kouper, who initially deliberate to stick with TeamTO post-acquisition, won’t proceed with the corporate.
“We’ve identified them for years, and I can’t think about how tough this has been for them, however we respect their determination,” Balsamo defined. “As with all management transition, there are all the time shifts. A very powerful factor to us is that the guts of the studio that they constructed stays robust, and we’ve been in a position to retain 90% of its staff.”
Beneath its new management, TeamTO will develop its artistic slate, mixing its legacy of acclaimed kids’s animated collection like “Angelo Guidelines” and “Jade Armor” with a lineup of authentic IPs from Riva, broadening its attain into grownup animation. The studio is presently creating an bold slate that features titles reminiscent of “Akira’s Flying Wheelchair,” “Junichiro Jackson,” “Yellow Cello and the Sea of Reminiscences,” “The Adventures of Amir Hamza,” “Cradle: Unsouled,” “Period: The Legend of Lugh” and “Corvus Belli’s Infinity: Paradise Misplaced.”
‘Angelo Guidelines’
Credit score: TeamTo
Balsamo and the brand new TeamTO management are particularly enthusiastic about pushing into grownup animation, and the brand new boss says accomplice Oliva might be a significant affect in that regard. “Jay has directed among the greatest grownup animated collection ever, and we’ve bought 4 grownup IPs we’re engaged on, from comedy to psychological thrillers,” he stated.
One other of Balsamo’s key initiatives as CEO might be to diversify TeamTO’s manufacturing slate, guaranteeing it stays a aggressive drive within the trade. He’ll work intently with Oliva and Demren to develop daring new initiatives that push the boundaries of what the studio has executed prior to now. Past his govt function, Balsamo will tackle expanded artistic duties, serving as a showrunner, author and director on a number of initiatives.
Marco Basalmo
Credit score: Riva Studios
Balsamo and Demren, conscious of TeamTO’s tough monetary state of affairs final 12 months, had been exploring methods to forestall the studio from insolvency since early June, actively engaged on potential options. An opportunity assembly with Oliva in New York in mid-October—simply 4 days earlier than the bid deadline—led to their determination to accumulate the studio collectively.
“The way in which this deal got here collectively—so serendipitously, so rapidly—nonetheless feels surreal,” stated Balsamo. “In an trade the place animation studios are struggling, gifted animators are being laid off and a long time of labor are liable to vanishing, we couldn’t let a studio with TeamTO’s pedigree be misplaced. We’ve all the time championed the unbiased spirit of filmmaking, and TeamTO embodies that very same spirit. I couldn’t ask for a greater workforce with whom to embark on this journey.”
